HOME SICK: Ballston Spa football getting back to work ahead of game against Mohonasen
BURNT HILLS, NY » The routine for the Ballston Spa football team is a bit different than it normally is. Aside from playing in the fall, to begin the season, the Scotties are practicing and playing home games on the turf at Burnt Hills.
“It’s a little different, but we’re making due. I don’t mind it too much, but I really can’t wait to be back on our home field,” said senior Brandon Stedry. “We’re used to getting out there at like 3:30 after school, practicing, then you go home and have time to do homework and eat. It’s a little weird not getting home until nine. It throws you off a bit.”
Ballston Spa is coming off a tough loss to Burnt Hills in their Week 1 opener, falling 35-12.
“It wasn’t great for us last week. I think we were where we needed to be, we just weren’t executing,” said senior John Veirs. “We weren’t finishing out blocks and being as physical. This week we’ve really been working on hitting and being a physical team, like we were last year.”
The Scotties will be up
against Mohonasen for their Week 2 matchup on Friday at 7 p.m.
“We need to get penetration on our defensive line and we need to be solid up front and we all need to communicate,” Veirs said on how they will be successful on Friday night.
Veirs, a left guard and defensive end, spent the summer and fall watching film and working out, hoping they would get to play at some point in the fall.
“Nothing was even being talked about, so we didn’t think we were going to have anything,” he said. “It was definitely a rough fall, it was hard not having football.”
He explained the moment that all sports received approval in January.
“I was excited. The day that I heard, I jumped out of my chair and almost started yelling. It was awesome. I’m so happy to be out here with all these guys, who I’ve played with forever. I’m just happy that we can get on the field, regardless of what happens in the games.”
Stedry, a left tackle and defensive end, spent his summer and fall hoping for football, though his winter was a bit outside the normal.
“I would work out three days a week, just in case. You never know, they might have said yes. They didn’t,” Stedry said. “During the winter, I did try bowling, just so I could have some fun, but I’m really excited for this season.”
Stedry is also the goalie for the Scottie’s lacrosse team, though he admits he’s not focused on that right now.
“Right now it’s all football, all the time. I’m not even thinking about anything else.”
Not that the pair of Ballston Spa seniors are back on the football field, their next goal, aside from winning football games, it to return home.
“It means everything. Like John, I’ve waited six years for this. Being under the lights, it’s just a feeling that you can’t put into words,” Stedry said.
“I can’t wait. I’ve been dreaming of playing on that field and the sooner we can get back, the better,” Veirs added. “It’s actually kind of cool that it’s at the end of the year - that we can play football and go right into the summer to end my high school career.”