Two weeks ago, Shenendehowa needed a 2nd half comeback to secure home field for their playoff game. Tonight, Saratoga returned to try to correct the mistakes that led to that comeback.
Shen won the coin toss, and deferred, just like last time. This time, it took two offensive plays for the Blue Streaks to take an early lead, riding the legs of senior running back Ben Coryea, who galloped 52 yards to the house, just 35 seconds into the game. Olivia Mancini's PAT, however, fell short, and Saratoga had a 6-0 lead.
Shenendehowa came right back. The Blue Streaks' defense keyed on running back Joey Cardinale, and had him bottled up, so quarterback Jack Clawson took matters into his own hands, and broke off a 49 yard run. With the extra point, Shen took a 7-6 lead.
Unfortunately, it didn't last.
On Saratoga's next possession, Coryea put the visitors back on top, this time for good, from 28 yards out. The 2 point conversion failed, and the Streaks led, 12-7, after the 1st quarter.
In the 2nd quarter, Saratoga quarterback Bobby Morris decided that, anything Clawson can do, he can, too, so he ran it in from 32 yards. Mancini added the extra point, and Saratoga took a 19-7 lead into halftime.
In the 2nd half two weeks ago, Shen used the running game, mostly Cardinale and Carter Toth, to take control of the game. Not so this time, as Clawson went to the air. However, nearly halfway through the 3rd quarter, Morris hit Coryea for a 15 yard touchdown pass, Coryea's 3rd touchdown of the game. Another Mancini extra point made it 26-7, as we went to the 4th quarter.
Things, however, were getting chippy. Back-to-back defensive major penalties prompted Saratoga coach Eric Hayden to call a time out to calm his squad down. Problem was, there were defensive lapses, as Clawson kept finding Jakub Tomaszewski open for big gains. In the 4th quarter, Clawson scored his 2nd touchdown of the game, to go with an interception on defense, this time going 50 yards, and Shen creeped closer, at 26-14. Another Saratoga turnover led to Toth toting the rock for 2 yards to paydirt with 3 minutes left, and, suddenly, it was 26-21.
However, Shen couldn't connect on an onside kick on two tries, and the last one sealed their fate, as Morris, Coryea, & the Blue Streaks ran out the clock. Saratoga reaches the Super Bowl for the first time in 7 years, and will face CBA, whose drive for five continues after throttling Colonie, 38-6.
Other scores:
Class A:
Niskayuna 35, Ballston Spa 0.
Troy 39, Queensbury 16. Troy has now won 5 in a row, and will seek revenge on Niskayuna in the Super Bowl next Friday night at Colonie.
Class B:
Glens Falls 27, Schalmont 6.
Averill Park 20, Ravena 14. The Golden Knights avenged a September loss to the Ravens, and now have a chance to do the same to the Black Bears. Good luck with that.
Class C:
Fonda-Fultonville 51, Granville-Whitehall 0.
Schuylerville 42, Hoosick Falls-Tamarac 28.
Class D:
Greenwich 41, Canajoharie-Fort Plain 0.
Also:
Johnstown 27, Gloversville 16.
Women's volleyball finals:
Class AA:
Columbia def. Bethlehem.
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