Have a Canaday! (Burnt Hills vs. Averill Park @ Shenendehowa, 11/16/24)

 Averill Park has never won a Section II football title heading into today's Class A Super Bowl at Shenendehowa vs. Burnt Hills. The game was the 2nd half of a doubleheader at Steuerwald Stadium, after Glens Falls captured the Class B title, defeating Ravena, 20-14, thwarting Ravena's bid to duplicate CBA's 4-peat.

Burnt Hills came into the game as the hottest team in Class A, having won 8 in a row. The Spartans won the toss, but for much of the first half it was a war of attrition, as both offenses were slow to start. In the 2nd quarter, Burnt Hills' defense gathered the first turnover of the day, as Drew Canaday lost a fumble. However, Burnt Hills couldn't take advantage, as their running game had been stifled by the Averill Park defense.

Amazingly, it was scoreless at the break.

Averill Park marched down the field to start the 3rd quarter, and Canaday redeemed himself with an 8 yard touchdown run. Unfortunately, the soon-to-be-former-Warriors don't have a confident placekicker, so the two-point conversion came up short.

"I told Zach to find a kicker, but he wouldn't listen. This'll cost him later."

That remains to be seen. It didn't take long for Burnt Hills to respond, as John Gload found a rare hole in the defense, and scampered 43 yards to the house. However, Logan Tomlinson's point after was wide, and we were tied at 6 going into the 4th quarter.

Then, Jacob Phelps took over.

The senior put Averill Park back in front, catching a 25 yard pass from Derek Kilgallon. Again, the 2 point conversion failed, and it was now 12-6, in favor of Averill Park.

After Phelps forced a fumble on defense, Canaday took it in again, this time from 6 yards, and Phelps caught the 2 point conversion. The Spartans had one last chance, but Phelps ended that with an interception to lock up the A title. A couple of first downs and two kneel-downs later, Averill Park had finally won their first title, 20-6.

"Maybe now, Zach can relax until the next game."

Maybe, but up next for Averill Park is Somers, a downstate power that had been a roadblock for Burnt Hills during the Matt Shell era.

Other scores:

Greenwich won the Class D title, blowing out Cambridge-Salem for the 2nd time this season, 48-7.

RPI reclaimed the Dutchmen's Shoes, beating Union, 20-7

UAlbany wasted a 17 point lead, and fell to Rhode Island, 20-17.

Hmmmm. 20's been a lucky number today......