Section 2 football playoff preview, part 1

 Classes A & C begin postseason play Friday. Classes AA, B, & D will enter the postseason the following week.

Class A quarterfinals:

South Glens Falls @ Niskayuna. Funeral services for the Bulldogs will begin sometime around 9 pm, because, based on recent performance, Nisky will run up the score again. It'll probably be over at or before halftime.

Amsterdam @ Ballston Spa. This is a better matchup, one that could go either way. The Rams have been demoralized after losses to Nisky & Troy the last two weeks, the latter costing them a home game. If they somehow win this game, the Rams will get a rematch vs. Nisky. However, they cannot look past the Scotties in hopes of getting that rematch.

Pick: Ballston Spa.

Burnt Hills @ Troy. For years, under Matt Shell, the Spartans had Troy's number, until Bob Burns broke the hex a few years back. Kevin DeBonis' club cannot rely solely on do-everything Logan Tomlinson. If Troy, winners of 4 in a row, run out to an early lead, it's over. If Spectrum News 1 chooses this game, someone should prepare a plate of crow for James Allen.

Pick: Troy.

Columbia @ Queensbury. It's been a down year for Jake Preston & the Blue Devils. Playoff contenders last year, to just lucky this year. Still, because of the shaky sitch at quarterback, this could be an upset in the making. Remember, Columbia played Troy very tough earlier in the season before losing.

However, it would seem as though Queensbury would provide the toughest challenge to Niskayuna, so....

Pick: Queensbury.

Class C:

Watervliet-Heatly @ Fonda-Fultonville. To borrow from Bob Seger, it seems like yesterday, but it was actually long ago that Watervliet, before the merger with neighboring Heatly, was a state champion, and shared a photo op on the bridge linking Troy & Watervliet. This one will be a one sided affair.

Pick: Fonda-Fultonville.

Johnstown @ Granville-Whitehall. The Sir Bills have had a better year this year than they have in recent times. The union of Granville & Whitehall is just a product of the hard times today's schools face in the post-COVID era. 

Pick: Johnstown.

Hudson @ Schuylerville. Not much needs be said here. The Black Horses will gallop into the next round.

Hoosick Falls-Tamarac @ Cobleskill-Richmondville. This one could go either way, and if there is a true upset among the 8 games listed, this is it.

Pick: Hoosick Falls-Tamarac.

Of course, I could be wrong. Part 2 next Monday.