High School Fridays: Spartan destruction (Columbia @ Burnt Hills, 10/27/23)

 A couple of years ago, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, dealing with adverse conditions on the road against Buffalo, opted to use more of a run-centric offense, minimalizing the passing game. New England won the game.

Tonight, 1st year Burnt Hills football coach Kevin DeBonis decided to employ the same strategy in a Class A quarter-final vs. Columbia. The difference was in the weather and the scoring. On a mild late October night, the Spartans sought to take the first step toward a Super Bowl berth in 2 weeks.

Burnt Hills won the toss, and deferred to the 2nd half. This strategy nearly backfired, as Columbia, led by QB Dylan Maychack, similarly put greater emphasis on the run. However, after getting into Spartan territory, the Blue Devils turned the ball over on downs. The Spartans, then, took advantage, and marched down the field, their first drive ending with DJ Mosher running it in from 15 yards out. Lineman Logan Tomlinson added the extra point, and Burnt Hills led, 7-0, after the 1st quarter.

The 2nd quarter was more of a war of attrition, up until Burnt Hills' John Gload plunged in from a yard out. One Tomlinson PAT later, and it was 14-0 Spartans at the break.

Burnt Hills, noticing that Columbia's defensive line was already worn down, poured it on in the 3rd quarter. QB Myles Yannuzzi feigned a pass, then followed lead blocker Santino Mareno 31 yards to paydirt. A 2 point conversion extended the lead to 22-0. After a Columbia punt, Sam Karlitz shredded the defense for a 29 yard run. Maddie Tse took over the place kicking duties (Tomlinson is the punter), but her first try sailed wide. After another Columbia drive stalled, Yannuzzi scored again, this time from 19 yards out. Tse hit the PAT this time, and it was 35-0 going into the final quarter.

Burnt Hills' last touchdown came from Joe Frederick after DeBonis lifted his starters on offense. Frederick punched it in from 7 yards out, but Tse missed her 2nd extra point. Columbia broke the shutout as Maychack found Gavin Bielawa for a 10 yard score. Elle Hutton, profiled earlier today in the Albany Times-Union, converted the extra point, and that ended the scoring. Burnt Hills moves on, 41-7. Up next for the Spartans will be Averill Park, which beat South Glens Falls earlier.

Other scores:

Hoosick Falls 42, Coxsackie-Athens 0.

Niskayuna 62, Troy 0. Troy finishes 0-8, and even though they were given this game just five days ago, the team, while they might've been there physically, were overmatched again.

Bethlehem 47, Queensbury 13. Bethlehem will travel to Queensbury next week.

Schalmont 29, Broadalbin-Perth 12.

Ravena 55, Gloversville 0.

Glens Falls 48, Ichabod Crane 14.