Shenendehowa 35, Saratoga 6
When two people are not only better than you, but have a twin-like connection on the field, it's basically a foregone conclusion that they'll tear you to shreds. The Ryan VanGalen - Jordan Zlogar connection alone was on full display and more than enough for the Plainsmen to move up to 4-0. The fact that Shen has more than that going for them is what makes them scary.
Despite the final score, it was the visiting Blue Streaks who got on the scoreboard first. In a hostile environment for a rivalry game and Shen's student section rolling deeper than Adele (500-600 deep), Saratoga QB Brian Williams hit Nick Anderson on a quick out route on 3rd & 8. The corner covering him whiffed the tackle and Anderson was off to the races like the thoroughbreds in his city every summer. 65 yards to the house he went, and after a missed PAT it was 6-0 Saratoga in the opening minute & a half of the game. After the teams traded punts, Shen got going. A false start pushed them back to the 35 to start the drive, but VanGalen hit Brendan Marra for a 23 yard completion, and he finished with a 42 yard TD pass to Zlogar to put them up 7-6 midway through the 1st. Another 3 & out and a short punt gave Shen the ball back in 'Toga territory. They made it to the 7 before having a 24 yard field goal attempt blocked in the closing seconds of the 1st. Saratoga was again forced to punt, and Shen took advantage this time. A 26 yard completion to Eric Kromer and a 32 yard run by Matt Taft set up Oliver Robinson time. The punishing back had the next 4 carries in the red zone, the last being a 1 yard plunge on 3rd & goal to make it 14-6 midway through the 2nd. Once again, Saratoga punted after picking up one 1st down and Shen took over late in the half. Two completions to Jordan Zlogar for a combined 60 yards put Shen in dangerous position at Saratoga's 20, but a turnover on downs at the 12 ended that chance. Ryan VanGalen went 11/14 for 220 yards, Zlogar had 4 receptions for 111 yards, Shen was outgaining Saratoga 287-111, but it was still a 1-possession game.
That changed quickly. Shen got the ball to start the 2nd half, and even though a bad return made them start at their own 11, it didn't matter. On 2nd & 8, the Shen formation was bunched up and Saratoga's coaches were yelling 'COUNTER! COUNTER!'.. well, it fooled them too. The play resulted in a 52 yard completion to Kromer, which sprung the drive forward. It ended in - you guessed it - an 11 yard hookup from VanGalen to Zlogar. The best way to describe it was this - college-level play from both on that one. The throw was only where Zlogar could get it, and Zlogar made a phenomenal grab in the front corner of the end zone, falling the right way backwards to get one foot down. The PAT made it 21-6 early in the 3rd. Saratoga needed an answer, and although a couple completions from Williams got them around midfield, they'd be forced to punt once again. They started inside their own 20 once again, but it didn't matter... once again. Thing 1 (VanGalen) found Thing 2 (Zlogar) for a 27 yard play, followed by another 13 yard play. After that, offensive holding & defensive holding on consecutive plays gave Shen a 1st & 18 on the Saratoga 48. They'll pass, right? Everyone thought so - so of course they didn't. The draw to Matt Taft worked wonders, and he ran free for a 48 yard score which made it 28-6. The ensuing Saratoga drive was possibly its most sustained one, but after moving it 34 yards in 7 plays, a fumble gave it back to Shen - it was returned for a TD, but a personal foul on the return negated that and brought it back to midfield. Shen turned it over on downs at the Saratoga 21, but the Plainsmen D stepped up. Williams was sacked, a ball carrier was brought down for a loss, Williams sacked again & fumbled it away to Shen. The ensuing Shen drive was more like a walk - one play, seven yards, Oliver Robinson made it look easy, and Shen was up 35-6 with over 7 minutes to play. From then on, it was all over but the crying.
Ryan VanGalen cooled off in the second half, if you want to call it that. He went 16/25, throwing for 337 yards and 2 TDs. Mind you, this broke the Shenendehowa single game record for passing yards, previously held by his brother. Jordan Zlogar, Thing 2, caught 7 passes for 162 yards and both of those TDs. Can't forget about Eric Kromer, who had 5 receptions for 105 yards. Matt Taft rushed for 112 yards on 10 carries & a TD, and Oliver Williams had 2 TDs on the ground and 44 yards on 13 carries. Not much happened on the ground for Saratoga - no one rushed for over 21 yards. Brian Williams went 12/17 in the air, throwing for 137 yards and the lone Blue Streak TD, which went to Nick Anderson who had 6 catches for 96 yards.
So now, I pose this question... Who's stopping Shen?
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