The Magic Conch: Section 2 Football, Quarterfinal Style

It’s sectional time. 16 quarterfinal games in Section 2, since the Ds go straight to semis (that’ll be next week). I don’t think there’s any debating that football in this region has certainly been lopsided this year with clear front-runners, so many of these quarterfinal matchups aren’t the most compelling. However, there are a few potential gems. Let’s pick em!

AA

Colonie @ Shenendehowa – No team has been able to stop the aerial attack of the Plainsmen. Ryan Van Galen can throw the cheese, and he’s got a few guys (starting with Jordan Zlogar) who know what to do with it. Colonie is an interesting team, tough to beat at their best, but they’re pretty inconsistent – hence being the 4^th in their division. No problem here, Shen 41-7.

Bethlehem @ CBA – This is one that I could see being interesting. There’s no question what Bethlehem will do, and that’s throw Ben Zonca at you over and over again with reckless abandon. He’s one of 6 backs in Section 2 with over 1,000 rushing yards on the season and they give him the pill quite often, including 41 times against Colonie and 36 against La Salle. CBA can beat you on the ground or in the air – Jaylen McIntyre has breakout potential and Joe Kolbe has thrown for 10 TDs on the year. Home team gets my vote, CBA 28-13.

Ballston Spa @ Shaker – Spa is coming off a loss to Saratoga Springs that I was surprised they really hung around in. They’re in sectionals with just 2 wins, and the wins (Albany, Guilderland) aren’t impressive. Shaker has improved quite a bit since an opening week loss to CBA, giving up just 37 points in the last 6 games compared to 34 that week. Allllll Shaker. 34-0.

Saratoga @ La Salle – This is a rematch of opening week, when Saratoga won 49-28 on their home field. They haven’t been able to get any real momentum, going 4-3 this season and alternating wins & losses each week. QB Brian Williams had his most productive night of the season last week in their W over Ballston Spa, accounting for 5 TDs and over 200 total yards. They’ll need more of that from him. It’s tough to get a read on LSI, considering how crazy inconsistent they’ve been. How does a team beat Colonie by 25 and lose to Bethlehem by just 1, but only beat Columbia by 1? The world may never know. Whether Weeks 3-5 LSI or Weeks 6-7 LSI comes to play will determine this outcome. For now, I vote Saratoga making it 2 for 2, although closer this time: 35-22.

A

Averill Park @ Queensbury – I like Averill Park, but they just got picked apart by Scotia. Queensbury (#1 in the state in Class A) picked Scotia apart. AP’s option offense plays right into Queensbury’s hands. Game, set, match – The Q. Maybe they can recruit that soccer player who got the red card Saturday to get some tackles too. Spartans advance, we’ll say 49-8.

Troy @ Burnt Hills – The Flying Horses will glide over to the same place they got trounced at 5 weeks prior. I can’t act like I’m interested in seeing this, because I can expect the same thing (maybe worse) to happen – add that Burnt Hills will be playing angry after taking one on the chin against Queensbury, and this could get Susan Boyle ugly. Burnt Hills 34-6.

Gloversville @ Amsterdam – If for nothing else but the rivalry of it all, I could get myself pumped for this. The game itself? Ehh, not so sure. They already played… a high scoring 1^st quarter both ways turned into a high scoring rest of the game just one way in Amsterdam’s 55-22 win. Bryan Stanavich couldn’t be stopped, but no one can. He’s at over 1,300 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards on the season already, and it won’t stop after this week. Quantel McGee is tough for Gloversville, but not enough. Rams 41-13.

Scotia @ Bishop Maginn – Let’s face it, the Northwest division is much stronger than the Southeast. Scotia finished in 3^rd in NW behind the Q and Burnt Hills, Maginn took their 1^st loss Friday and finished in 2^nd in the Southeast behind Amsterdam. Maginn might be the home team, but watching both, Scotia’s the better squad talent-wise. The way Maginn will have a chance is by keeping it slower and low-scoring. If you let the pace be quick, Scotia's offensive prowess and balance takes over and it can become a long night. Long drives, limit possessions... this is where Bishop Maginn can find success. Home field could matter and it may be interesting with the contrasting styles, but I’m putting my money (I’m broke) on the Tartans. 24-14 for this one.

B

Johnstown @ Schalmont – I’m not going to say much about this one besides if Johnstown won, it would be the biggest upset since Gary Busey beat cocaine. 66-7 Sabres.

Glens Falls @ Cohoes – This is another rematch from the middle of the season, where Glens Falls won at home 40-20. Cohoes was up at half, but gave up 20 points in the 4^th quarter. Things have changed since then. A very injury-plagued Tiger team is still banged up, but they’ve been able to figure out their way. They had a big 4^th quarter last week, scoring 20 unanswered of their own, in beating #21 Ravena 27-16. Glens Falls had a monster win against Johnstown as well, but with renewed life (and a field they can finally call home) on their side, I’m rolling with Cohoes here in a good one. 27-21 is the prediction.

Albany Academy @ Schuylerville – Academy got in by virtue of a week 7 win over Hudson. Congrats! You play an undefeated team. Schuylerville has been trouncing opponents, with 5 of their 7 wins being by 30+ points and the other two being by 27 and 16. Oh yeah, one of the 30+ point wins was over Academy. Black Horses gallop away with a 48-14 win.

Ravena @ Broadalbin-Perth – Oooh yeah (Affordable Furniture jingle voice.. if you remember that). I like this one. B-P took back to back losses to Schuylerville and Hoosick Falls mid-season, but are back to handling business. Ravena has been state-ranked for most of the year, but will probably drop out after last week’s loss. The state ranking means nothing to them though, it’s about this game. This may be the most competitive quarterfinal game – unlike the classes above them, these two divisions are relatively balanced. Now that Vinny DiCaterino has also made his way back to B-P, I’ll give them a little bit more of an edge. Home team advances, 28-20.

C

Chatham @ Hoosick Falls – Chatham’s responded nicely over the last few weeks, not having lost since taking a 50 point drubbing to Fonda. To be fair, the opponents they’ve had certainly aren’t Hoosick Falls. HF has been rolling again, and I’ll expect them to do the same this Friday. Too much Davendonis, Pitt, & Co., Panthers 38-8.

Coxsackie-Athens @ Corinth – Coxsackie-Athens is on the road despite having a better record (5-2) than Corinth (4-3), but Corinth’s record is deceiving. Their 3 losses have come to the top 2 seeds in Class C – Hoosick Falls and Fonda – and Schuylerville, who won their division in Class B. Corinth nearly beat Fonda as well last week, coming back and losing by just 1 point, while Fonda trounced C-A the week before. With Corinth averaging nearly 300 yards per game on the ground, expect more of the ground & pound in a convincing home win, 38-15.

Mechanicville @ Voorheesville – Ooooh, a dandy. Probably where I’ll end up Saturday afternoon. These two played each other earlier in the season, and it was Mechanicville’s only loss. They’ve won their last 4 by a combined 160 points, probably raring for an opportunity to get back at the undefeated Blackbirds. Each side has an accomplished back leading the show – Matt Feller moved over the 1,000 yard mark on the season last week and has 1,046, and Chase DeLossantos moved past that number a longgg time ago, now at 1,527. This one’s a you pick ‘em type game, but I’m going for the slight upset. This was the only game that DeLossantos averaged less than 10 yards per carry, and I think they’ll get him some more room this time around. Mechanicville in a dandy, 21-18.

Greenwich @ Fonda – Greenwich has a nice season going for them, which includes a tight win over Coxsackie-Athens. Fonda has a win over C-A that wasn’t so tight. Siniscaro, Hart, and the rest of the gang has too much going for them and perhaps with renewed focus after nearly letting one slip away against Corinth, they’ll be ready. Picking the Braves to defend home field with relative ease, 42-20.