Category: Football

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Two Section 2 coaches pass away over the weekend

Edited on Jan. 23, 2019, at 1:25 p.m.

Mike Ambrosio, Frank DeMasi were long-time coaches and physical education teachers at their respective schools

By ROB JONAS

Former Colonie varsity football coach Mike Ambrosio and current Duanesburg cross country coach Frank DeMasi passed away over the holiday weekend from heart attacks.

“Last couple of days have been terrible,” said Joseph Guardino, Colonie Central High School Athletic Director. “This was not anywhere forseen in any way. He was still very active with us.”

Ambrosio, 64, was Colonie’s varsity football coach from 1997 to 2011, guiding the Garnet Raiders to three Section 2 Super Bowls. DeMasi coached cross country at Duanesburg from 1998 until his passing Sunday. Continue reading “Two Section 2 coaches pass away over the weekend” →

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Six Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake football players named to Class A All-State team

The New York State Sportswriters Association revealed its Class AA and Class A All-State Football Teams Tuesday, Jan. 15.

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake had the most players chosen to the All-State team among Section 2 programs with six, led by first-team offense selection Vincent Daviero. The senior led all area running backs with 1,557 yards and 21 touchdowns as he helped the Spartans win the Section 2 Class A title.

Linebacker Bryce Mussen was a second team All-State selection on defense for BH-BL, while tailback D.J.  Lashley received a fifth team honor. Quarterback Darien LaPietro, lineman Victor Little and defensive back Logan Stubblebine were honorable mentions.

Averill Park had five players receive All-State recognition, while Queenbury had four players receive statewide honors. Shaker, Shenendehowa and Saratoga Springs all had four players named to the All-State team in Class AA. Continue reading “Six Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake football players named to Class A All-State team” →

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Joseph Girard III named Class B football Co-Player of the Year in New York state

Glens Falls quarterback Joseph Girard III was named the Class B Co-Player of the Year for the second year in a row when the New York State Sportswriters Association revealed its small school all-state football teams Tuesday, Jan. 8.

Girard threw for 3,084 yards and 36 touchdowns against six interceptions to lead the Indians to their second state Class B title in three years. He also carried the ball 107 times for 395 yards and 13 touchdowns, and he had three touchdowns on defense and special teams.

Girard split Player of the Year honors with Batavia running back Ray Leach, who set Section 5 records for rushing yards, touchdowns and points scored in leading the Blue Devils to the state final against Glens Falls.

Glens Falls kicker Sam Hogan and Hudson linebacker Spencer Goldstein were first team all-state selections in Class B. Hogan converted 57 extra point kicks and added a pair of field goals, while Goldstein was one of the top defenders for a Hudson team that finished second in the Reinfurt Division. Continue reading “Joseph Girard III named Class B football Co-Player of the Year in New York state” →

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Glens Falls football claims second Class B state title in three years

SYRACUSE – It’s not how you start, but how you finish that matters.

The Glens Falls football team followed that statement to the letter to claim its second New York State Public High School Athletic Association title in three years by racing past Batavia (Section 5) 55-32 in the state finals Saturday, Nov. 24, at the Carrier Dome.

After falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter, the Indians (11-2) tied the score on touchdown runs by quarterback Joseph Girard III and Aalijah Sampson. Ray Leach gave Batavia the lead back on an 83-yard touchdown run, but Girard connected with David Barclay on a 33-yard scoring strike and Sam Hogan added the extra point to put Glens Falls in front 21-20 at halftime. Continue reading “Glens Falls football claims second Class B state title in three years” →

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State football semifinals: Glens Falls pulls away from Marlboro, while Shaker and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake lose close contests

MIDDLETOWN – Glens Falls punched its ticket to the Carrier Dome after defeating Marlboro (Section 9) 48-28 in the Class B state football semifinals Saturday, Nov. 17, at Middletown High School.

The Indians (11-1) scored three unanswered touchdowns in the second half to break open a close game and advance to next weekend’s championship game against Batavia (Section 5) in Syracuse. Continue reading “State football semifinals: Glens Falls pulls away from Marlboro, while Shaker and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake lose close contests” →

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No change to Class A football semifinal between Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake and Cornwall

Despite a snowy forecast for eastern New York State Thursday night into Friday, the Class A state football semifinal game scheduled between Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake and Cornwall is still scheduled to be played Friday night at Middletown High School.

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association announced a couple of changes to its weekend schedule Thursday. The Class D semifinal football game between Moriah and Haldane has been moved from Friday afternoon to Sunday due to the snowstorm, and it is moving the start time of the girls swimming and diving championships back two hours to avoid the possibility of people traveling during the height of the storm.

The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake-Cornwall football game was the only one featuring a Section 2 champion scheduled for Friday. Class AA champion Shaker and Class B champion Glens Falls play their state semifinal contests Saturday at Middletown High School.

The NYSPHSAA boys and girls volleyball tournaments are scheduled to start Saturday. The boys tournament will be held at Albany’s Capital Center, while the girls volleyball tournament will be held at the Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls.

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Section 2 football: A look back at the Super Bowls, and a look ahead to regionals (with photo gallery)

Three Section 2 football teams have regional playoff games this weekend, while two others await their semifinal opponents.

Class AA champion Shaker (10-0) received a bye into the state semifinals after defeating Saratoga Springs 28-14 in the championship game Friday, Nov. 2, at Casey Stadium on the University at Albany campus. This bye is rotated between Sections 2, 1 and 9 on an annual basis. Shaker meets either Section 1 champion New Rochelle or Section 9 champion Newburgh Free Academy Saturday, Nov. 17, at Middletown High School.

Class A champion Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (9-1) also received a bye into the semifinals after Section X decided not to play in the regional round. The Spartans face the winner of the John Jay (Section 1)-Cornwall (Section 9) regional in the state semifinals Friday, Nov. 16, in Middletown.

Glens Falls (Class B), Cambridge/Salem (Class C) and Warrensburg (Class D) all play in this weekend’s regional round. Glens Falls meets Section 7 champion Beekmantown Friday, Nov. 9, at Shenendehowa High School, while Cambridge/Salem travels to Potsdam High School to play Section 10 champ Ogdensburg Free Academy. Warrensburg faces Section 7 champion Moriah Saturday, Nov. 10, at Schuylerville High School. Continue reading “Section 2 football: A look back at the Super Bowls, and a look ahead to regionals (with photo gallery)” →

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Scenes from Section 2 football: Saratoga Springs fends off Shenendehowa in Class AA semifinals

CLIFTON PARK – No. 3 Saratoga Springs avenged last week’s loss to No. 2 Shenendehowa by beating the Plainsmen 34-26 in the Section 2 Class AA football semifinals Friday, Oct. 26, at Brent Steuerwald Stadium.

Carter Steingraber returned a kickoff 83 yards for one touchdown and caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Jake Williams to help the Blue Streaks (7-2) advance to the Class AA Super Bowl. Chris Klimek and Will Bonacio returned interceptions for touchdowns to help Saratoga build a 34-12 lead.

Quarterback Brendan Belott threw a pair of touchdown passes for Shenendehowa (7-2), which defeated Saratoga 35-7 one week earlier to clinch the No. 2 seed for Sectionals. Continue reading “Scenes from Section 2 football: Saratoga Springs fends off Shenendehowa in Class AA semifinals” →

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Section 2 football playoffs: Semifinal match-ups set in all five classes

Semifinal match-ups are set for all five classes in Section 2 football, as well as the final round of crossover games. Here is a look at who’s playing, and how they got there.

Class AA – All semifinal games Friday, Oct. 26
No. 1 Shaker (8-0) vs. No. 4 Guilderland (5-3)
How they got there: Shaker capped an undefeated regular season by defeating crosstown rival Colonie 31-7, while Guilderland clinched the No. 4 seed by pulling away for a 41-19 victory over Christian Brothers Academy (3-5) Friday, Oct. 19. Guilderland’s victory avoided a four-way tie for fourth place, as both Bethlehem (4-4) and Niskayuna (4-4) won their final regular season games

No. 2 Shenendehowa (7-1) vs. No. 3 Saratoga Springs (6-2)
How they got there: Shen wrapped up the No. 2 seed by defeating Saratoga 35-7 at home. Brendan Belott threw for one touchdown and ran for another to lead Shen to victory. The Plainsmen’s reward is to host the Blue Streaks for the second week in a row.  Continue reading “Section 2 football playoffs: Semifinal match-ups set in all five classes” →

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Section 2 football: Tamarac shuts out Taconic Hills in crossover game

Tamarac defeated Taconic Hills 20-0 Friday, Oct. 19, in a Section 2 Class C football crossover game.

Frank Zotto caught two touchdown passes from Bo Catherwood, and the Tamarac defense returned an interception for a touchdown to earn the victory. The Bengals also recovered a pair of fumbles and intercepted a second pass.

Donovan Mier rushed for 78 yards to lead Taconic Hills’ offense.