High School Fridays: Columbia @ Troy (Football), 4/9/21

 Traditionally, Homecoming precedes Senior Night.

This year, of course, due to COVID, the script has been flipped more often than a gymnast on a floor exercise. At Troy High, Homecoming is traditionally the 3rd home game of the season, and for that reason, they had Senior Night last week, clearing the decks for a rare spring Homecoming. 

Soccer player Marianna Grande was given the crown by the previous Homecoming Queen, her former teammate, Grace Collins, in a pre-game ceremony that saw the six members of the court wearing color coordinated matching gowns & masks for COVID precautions, and with no traditional escorts.

And, then, it was time for the main event, with Columbia providing the opposition.

Troy High won the coin toss, and elected to receive. It didn't take long for them to strike, either, as Alex Wolfe found Xavier Leigh for a 40 yard touchdown toss to give Troy a quick 7-0 lead, less than two minutes into the first quarter. 

With apologies to the late John Lennon, Troy's defense didn't give Columbia QB David Peace much of a chance in the opening frame, as Wolfe picked him off twice. Late in the frame, Wolfe ran it in himself from 4 yards out to give Troy a 14-0 lead.

However, things were different in the 2nd quarter. Columbia recovered a punt muffed by Troy's Avvon Smith, and Peace, given a chance to extend the drive, found Derek Ouimette for a 40 yard score, matching Wolfe's pass to Leigh. At the half, the lead was cut in half at 14-7. 

Frustrated by defensive breakdowns, coach Bob Burns had to have lit into his team at the break, and it certainly showed. After a Columbia punt, Leigh busted loose for a 31 yard TD catch from Wolfe, restoring the lead to 14 at 21-7. 2 1/2 minutes later, Wolfe had his 3rd TD toss, this one for 13 yards to Tyrell Penalba, and the Flying Horses threatened to pull away at 28-7.

However, Columbia's David Romer tried to bring his team back, returning the ensuing kickoff 70 yards for a score. However, Dakota Bennett's extra point was blocked, and that left the score at 28-13. With under 2 minutes left in the quarter, Leigh scored his 3rd TD, this time on the ground from 23 yards out, and Troy had this one wrapped up at 35-13.

In the 4th quarter, special teams got in on the act.

Successive Columbia possessions ended in blocked punts for punter Aiden Larange, as Jalen Riggins and Ryan Lefebvre reached the end zone. Placekicker/punter Phil Ryan converted six straight PAT's before having one blocked following Lefebvre's score. After Troy turned it over on downs with under a minute to go, Columbia decided to take a knee and end the game. Troy goes to 4-0 with a dominating, albeit somewhat sloppy, 48-13 victory. They'll be on the road next week at Albany. Game time there is at 5:30 pm.

Wolfe, had Spectrum News carried the game, almost certainly would've been the game MVP with 3 TD passes, a rushing TD, and 3 interceptions on defense, accounting for half of Columbia's turnovers, as Peace had 5 picks total.

Now, enjoy the video:

If you took a close look at Troy's cheerleaders, they have one male on the team for the first time in years. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the school's first male cheerleader, Lead Bennett, who made the team in the fall of 1981.

Columbia's women's volleyball team hosted Troy earlier in the day, but that result is not available as of press time.

News & notes

 Siena College now has 4 open scholarships for the 2021-22 season after Jalen Pickett announced Thursday he was entering the transfer portal after three seasons at Siena, and take his talents elsewhere. Pickett, a former MAAC Player of The Year, follows this year's Player of The Year, Manny Camper (turning pro) and former CBA star Jordan King out of Loudonville.

Suddenly, the Saints aren't the prohibitive favorites in the MAAC next season.

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Thursday's high school scoreboard:

Men's soccer:

Colonial Council:

Albany Academy 4, Schalmont 2.

Lansingburgh 1, LaSalle 0.

Cobleskill-Richmondville 7, Catholic Central 3.

Cohoes 2, Ichabod Crane 0.

Foothills Council:

Broadalbin-Perth 3, Gloversville 0.

Scotia-Glenville 2, Queensbury 1.

Western Athletic Conference:

Middleburgh 13, Schoharie 1.

Galway 9, Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons 0.

OESJ 6, Fort Plain 0.

Women's soccer:

Central Hudson Valley League:

Germantown 5, Loudonville Christian 1.

Wasaren League:

Waterford 4, Cambridge 0.

Western Athletic Conference:

Schoharie 7, Middleburgh 0.

Galway 5, Duanesburg 1.

Men's volleyball:

Suburban Council: All matches ended in straight sets:

Columbia def. Shaker.

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake def. Colonie.

Shenendehowa def. Niskayuna.

Bethlehem def. Colonie (score was reported late).

Women's volleyball:

Foothills Council:

Gloversville def. Scotia-Glenville in straight sets.

Suburban Council:

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake def. Columbia in straight sets.

Western Athletic Conference: All matches ended in straight sets:

Mayfield def. Canajoharie-Fort Plain.

Mekeel Christian def. Duanesburg.

News & notes

 Siena College is reaching back into its past for its next women's basketball coach.

Jim Jabir, most recently at Florida Atlantic, was hired earlier this week to succeed Ali Jaques, who was let go last month after 9 seasons in Loudonville. Jabir guided Siena from 1987-90 before leaving for Marquette, and his resume also includes stops at Dayton and Buffalo.

File photo acquired from the Albany Times-Union.

The Lady Saints underachieved this past season, and Siena decided they needed not so much a fresh voice on the bench, but an experienced one to communicate with the current generation.

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The Albany Empire will begin play next month with 25% capacity at Times-Union Center. However, coach Rob Keefe has lost his top assistant, as veteran Les Moss is heading to the Indoor Football League to coach another former Arena Football League team, the Iowa Barnstormers, the same club that introduced America to future Hall of Famer Kurt Warner some 25-odd years ago.

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Wednesday's high school scoreboard:

Men's soccer:

Wasaren League:

Berlin-New Lebanon & Waterford played to a 3-3 draw.

Tamarac 6, Hoosick Falls 3.

Mechanicville 12, Stillwater 0.

Women's soccer:

Foothills Council:

Scotia-Glenville 5, Broadalbin-Perth 0.

Non-league:

Bethlehem 5, Queensbury 2.

Women's volleyball:

Suburban Council:

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake def. Guilderland in straight sets.

Columbia def. Schenectady, 3-2.

Albany def. Shaker, 3-1.

Niskayuna def. Troy in straight sets.

Troy has now lost three matches in a row, falling to 1-7. Other outlets have them at 1-6, missing one earlier loss.

Wasaren League:

Tamarac def. Stillwater in straight sets.

Mechanicville def. Berlin-New Lebanon, 3-1.

Colonial Council:

Schalmont def. Watervliet in straight sets.

Non-league:

Mekeel Christian def. Maple Hill in straight sets.

 

News & notes

 Monday's high school scoreboard:

Men's soccer:

Colonial Council:

Albany Academy 9, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk 1.

Wasaren League:

Waterford 5, Stillwater 1.

Western Athletic Conference:

Mekeel Christian 11, Schoharie 0.

Middleburgh 10, Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons 4.

Galway 8, Berne Knox-Westerlo-Duanesburg 0.

Northville 3, Fort Plain 0.

Women's soccer:

Foothills Council:

Queensbury 11, Hudson Falls 0.

Wasaren League:

Stillwater 5, Berlin/New Lebanon 0.

Western Athletic Conference:

Schoharie 8, Mekeel Christian 0.

OESJ3, Fonda-Fultonville 2.

Duanesburg 4, Middleburgh 2.

Galway 2, Berne Knox-Westerlo 0.

Men's volleyball:

Suburban Council:

Bethlehem def. Niskayuna in straight sets.

Columbia def. Colonie in straight sets.

Women's volleyball:

Colonial Council:

Ichabod Crane def. Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk, 3-2.

Foothills Council:

Broadalbin-Perth def. Scotia-Glenville in straight sets.

Suburban Council: Except where noted, all matches ended in straight sets.

Guilderland def. Colonie.

Niskayuna def. Schenectady.

Shenendehowa def. Columbia.

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake def. Albany.

Shaker def. Troy, 3-1.

There was some confusion with the scheduled start time for the Shaker-Troy match. Troy's website promoted it as a 12:45 start, but it was listed on Schedule Galaxy and in the papers as a 6:15 start, which means a late change was made. Troy (1-6) is on the road the rest of the week, at Niskayuna tomorrow and at Columbia on Friday afternoon, the latter so they can clear the schedule for the football game at Picken Field between Troy & Columbia.

Wasaren League:

Mechanicville def. Berlin-New Lebanon, 3-2.

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The Albany Times-Union's small school men's basketball all-star teams were announced in today's editions:

1st team: 

Royal Brown (Cohoes). A sophomore, Brown was also named Player of The Year.

Zaveon Little (Voorheesville).

Rodney Parker (Schalmont).

Brett Richards (Ichabod Crane).

Ja'Nyve Smith (Bishop Maginn).

Coach of The Year: Rian Richardson (Mechanicville).

2nd team:

Robert Jordan (Fort Plain).

T. J. Kelley (Waterford).

Zeke Pulliam (Berne Knox-Westerlo).

Trent Randle (Schalmont).

Tanner Tedesco (Voorheesville).

3rd team:

Hayden Day (Saratoga Central Catholic).

Blake Decker (Maple Hill).

Devin Garland (Mechanicville).

Anthony Girard (North Warren).

Todd Williamson (Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons).

News & notes

 The Masters golf tournament starts on Thursday, but a Queensbury teen had the day of his life on Easter Sunday.

Braydon Dock, 14, placed 2nd in the national Chip, Drive, & Putt tournament, winning the putting portion. Nice start to spring vacation.

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Stanford women's basketball coach Tara VanDerveer spent part of her childhood in the 518, growing up in Schenectady. Local media is treating her like she's one of our own, anyway.

Photo courtesy of the Daily Gazette.

VanDerveer won her 3rd national title Sunday night, as Stanford clipped Arizona, 55-54, to win the NCAA women's basketball championship. Stanford last won the title in 1992. VanDerveer is now tied for 3rd all-time in coaching wins with Baylor's Kim Mulkey, behind UConn's Geno Auriemma and the late Pat Summitt of Tennessee.

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Troy High is being treated like Rodney Dangerfield when it comes to the Albany Times-Union's basketball All-Star teams.

The men's large school all-stars were revealed in today's editions, and while some of the selections shouldn't surprise readers, Troy, which reached the finals of the Suburban Council tournament before falling by 3 to Shenendehowa, may feel disrespected.

1st team all-stars:

Marcus Jackson (Albany Academy)(Player of The Year).

Alex Barnhill (Mekeel Christian Academy).

Chris Dufort (Saratoga).

Devin Dzikas (Shen--father Tony, who resigned after winning the tournament, was named Coach of The Year).

Preston Graber (Albany Academy).

2nd team all-stars:

Mason Courtney (Shen).

Josh Rodriguez (Troy).

Hagen Foley (CBA).

Dayshaun Watson (Green Tech).

Marko Gibbons (Bethlehem).

3rd team all-stars:

Isaiah Austin (Albany).

Luke Britton (Saratoga).

Trevon Gifford (Green Tech).

Kenyon Coleman (Niskayuna).
Gabe Lucarelli (LaSalle).

Rodriguez being named to the 2nd team, after Jenalyse Alarcon was a 3rd team all-star for the women, is hard to argue. Consider, too, that the 1st team has just 2 players from the Suburban Council in Dzikas & Dufort, as Academy is an independent in basketball and Mekeel, like Troy, is a Class A school, albeit in a smaller league (Western Athletic Conference). Ye scribe is just not digging the anti-Troy bias, but, as we know, things can change after football season ends later this month.....

News & notes

 Saturday's high school scoreboard:

Football:

Class AA:

Shaker 49, Saratoga 0.

Schenectady 28, Bethlehem 7.

Class A:

Mohonasen 40, Scotia-Glenville 0.

Class B:

Hudson 30, Holy Trinity 0.

Class C:

Mechanicville 20, Fonda-Fultonville 10.

Non-league:

Schalmont 27, Niskayuna 13.

Chatham 26, Voorheesville 6.

Lake George/Hadley-Luzerne 54, Cairo-Durham-Catskill 8.

Men's soccer:

Foothills Council:

Glens Falls 4, South Glens Falls 1.

Gloversville 9, Johnstown 1.

Non-league:

Scotia-Glenville 3, Ballston Spa 2.

Men's volleyball:

Bethlehem defeated Guilderland in straight sets.

Women's soccer:

Foothills Council:

South Glens Falls 5, Glens Falls 0.

Wasaren League:

Mechanicville 8, Waterford 0.

Non-league:

Scotia-Glenville 4, Ballston Spa 2.

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Section 2 alumni watch:

Duanesburg native Mike Gwiazdowski reached the finals of the Olympic wrestling trials in his weight class, but fell in defeat to Gable Steveson, from the University of Minnesota. The following video covers the deciding round:

Steveson, for his part, has attracted the attention of WWE, which has Minnesota alum Shelton Benjamin on their roster, and of course, another ex-Gopher, Brock Lesnar, is on call whenever Vince McMahon wants to bring him back. We'll be seeing more of Gable, but Gwiazdowski, 28, who now lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, could get a look, too.

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Another day, another doubleheader loss for Pittsburgh in softball, as the Panthers were swept by Louisville, 6-4 & 7-4 on Saturday at home. Hunter Levesque (Troy) went 1-5 in the doubleheader with a walk, an RBI, and 2 runs scored in a losing effort for Pitt (9-20).

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The Albany Times-Union has announced its women's basketball all-stars for the 2020-1 season. Shenendehowa senior Meghan Huerter was named Player of The Year, and was joined on the 1st team by Olivia Olsen (Niskayuna), Valencia Fontanelle-Posson (Guilderland), Natasha Chudy (Saratoga), and Shen teammate Rylee Carpenter.

The large school 2nd team:

Anna Jankovic & Amelia Wood (Averill Park), Jillian Huerter (Shen), Abby Ray (Saratoga), & Antonia May (Amsterdam).

Large school 3rd team:

Jenalyse Alarcon (Troy), Jackie Stanovich & Andie Gannon (Amsterdam), Maddisyn Mahoney (Shaker), & Neveah House (Albany).

Small school 1st team:

Sophie & Lily Phillips (Cambridge) (Sophie is also Player of The Year), Payton Graber (Schalmont), Molly Brophy (Greenwich), & Alexis Wright (Berne Knox-Westerlo).

Small school 2nd team:

Janay Brantley (Catskill), Erin Huban (Albany Academy), Olivia Huneau (Cohoes), Allison O'Hanlon (Duanesburg), & Mackenzie Smith (Broadalbin-Perth).

Small school 3rd team:

Carly Atty (Fonda-Fultonville), Alexis Moses (Duanesburg), Hannah VanDerzee (Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk), and Amy DiSiena & Chloe Goverski (Mechanicville).

High School Fridays: Good Friday scoreboard, 4/2

 The cool part about Friday's slate of matinee football games, due to the start of Easter/Spring recess, is that this will give players a chance to get used to playing games in daylight when they go to college, unless, of course, you live in the North Country, where budgets don't allow for stadium lights.

Mark it on your calendars, friends. All three Troy schools are above .500 after three weeks. That hasn't happened in years.

Class A:

LaSalle 25, Amsterdam 8. The Cadets won their 1st (last week's game vs. Columbia was postponed, which is why it was never reported) after spotting the Rams a 2-0 lead on a 1st quarter safety. Eddie Yamin's pass to Brady Fenton went for 99 yards to put John Audino's club up for good. Amsterdam's offense never got going, and put up just 6 points for the 2nd straight week. The upside for Amsterdam (0-2), of course, is that they didn't get blown off the field. Unfortunately, they'll play Averill Park next week, after the Warriors were embarrassed by Troy on Thursday. Bo Catherwood ran for three scores for LaSalle (1-1).

Burnt Hills 49, Queensbury 0. The Battle of The Spartans was a 1-sided affair in the opener for Queensbury, which has been sidelined for 2 weeks due to COVID issues. 

Class B:

Green Tech 20, Gloversville 9. 

Glens Falls 50, South Glens Falls 34.

Lansingburgh 20, Cobleskill-Richmondville 12. Break up the Knights (2-0), as they're doormats no more.

Class C:

Schuylerville 54, Granville 0.

Coxsackie-Athens 19, Ichabod Crane 0.

Johnstown 7, Corinth-Fort Edward 6.

Hoosick Falls-Tamarac 38, Taconic Hills 8.

Class D:

Canajoharie-Fort Plain 34, Helderberg Valley 8.

Women's soccer:

Central Hudson Valley League:

Germantown 2, Heatly 0.