High School Fridays: Shaker @ Guilderland, 9/20/24

  If there was any journalistic sense, Spectrum News 1 would've had Troy at Bethlehem as this week's Friday Night Matchup. in the wake of the swatting hoax a week ago, which wiped out the Eagles' original home opener vs. CBA.

Instead, Spectrum decided to send its camera crew to Guilderland, as the Dutchmen hosted undefeated Shaker. The furor over the swatting at Bethlehem had died down, making their game less important.

To the game, then. Shaker won the toss, and elected to take the opening kickoff. The Blue Bison marched down the field, culminating with Marcus Snipes, Jr. scoring his first rushing touchdown of the season. However, the PAT failed, and Shaker led, 6-0, after the first quarter.

The quarter ended with Guilderland driving, and Travis Berschwinger matched Snipes with a 1 yard run of his own. However, an improvised 2 point conversion attempt failed, and the score was tied just under 3 minutes into the 2nd quarter.

It was all Shaker after that. Mark Royce scored his 1st touchdown of the season from 7 yards out. Jake Smith added the extra point, and, for all intents & purposes, that was the game winner. A little more than a minute later, after a Dutchmen turnover, Smith ran it in from 20 yards out. Guilderland's next possession ended with a 3 & out. However, the subsequent punt was fielded by Smith just before midfield, and the sprinted down the sideline, 51 yards in all, to extend Shaker's lead. The Bison went into the break up 27-6.

The first half was played relatively clean in that there were no penalties. That changed in the 3rd quarter, as the yellow hankies started coming out, and it became a war of attrition. Royce ended the scoring in the 4th quarter with his 2nd touchdown. Connor Sullivan replaced Smith as the placekicker, and added the PAT, making the final score 34-6 in favor of Shaker.

Next week's Friday Night Matchup sees Shenendehowa vs. CBA.

Other action: Bethlehem earned a cathartic, emotional 27-8 win over Troy, squaring their record at 1-1. Troy falls to 2-1, and will have Homecoming next week. That's the good news. The bad is that undefeated Columbia comes to town after beating LaSalle, 28-12. The Cadets drop to 1-2, while Columbia, like Shaker, is 3-0.

Also:

Averill Park 30, Amsterdam 12.

Ravena 21, Schalmont 6.

Saratoga 29, Queensbury 8.

Fonda-Fultonville 45, Hudson 0.

Niskayuna 47, Schenectady 0.

Warrensburg-Lake George-Bolton 30, Schuylerville 28.

Glens Falls 40, Hoosick Falls-Tamarac 7.

Shenendehowa 49, Colonie 0.

Cobleskill-Richmondville 42, Canajoharie-Fort Plain 6.

Cohoes 13, Ichabod Crane 8.

Ballston Spa 56, South Glens Falls 0.

Watervliet-Heatly 28, Chatham 0.

Stillwater 41, Taconic Hills 0.

Mechanicville-Hoosic Valley 31, Gloversville 12.

RPI played its last night game of the season, blowing away Worcester Poly, 51-7, for the Transit Trophy.