Colonie secures much-needed Class AA win with late touchdown against Albany

When the Class AA schedule kicked off in Week 3, Colonie and Albany were each undefeated and looking to challenge for one of the four playoff slots available in the classification. The results from the first three weeks in Class AA, however, left the two teams near the bottom of the standings and in must-win mode Saturday afternoon when the Wolf Pack and Falcons met. 

No matter which squad prevailed, making the playoffs is a long shot, but a win Saturday was a must. Colonie and Albany engaged in a spirited back-and-forth contest that was tied in the waning moments. Ultimately, the Wolf Pack produced a game-winning drive culminating in a 13-yard touchdown pass from Steven Thomas to Cameron Frazier with 34.5 seconds left as Colonie edged Albany 28-22. 

"We tried to explain to the kids that this game was huge. I don't think they really understood it, but I think they do now," Colonie first-year coach Jon LaPoint said. "It is tough for high school kids when you win the first couple of games and then lose a couple of games where you are up and down, but this really is a good group."

Colonie (3-3 overall, 1-3 Class AA) had dropped consecutive contests against Shaker (27-21 in overtime), Shenendehowa (34-14) and Saratoga Springs (28-14) prior to Saturday's victory. On the play before the touchdown, Thomas converted on fourth down with a seven-yard run.

Frazier executed a perfect stop-and-go route to get open and Thomas rifled in the pass for the clinching score.

"He needed that game," LaPoint said of Frazier. "He's been great for us all season. The first couple of weeks were great for him and the last few things weren't going our way."

Colonie still has contests remaining against Schenectady, Guilderland and Christian Brothers Academy.

Albany (3-3, 1-3) led 8-0, then trailed 22-8 and rallied back with a pair of touchdowns from Rohan Edwards-Grant. The second score came following a blocked punt and senior running back Kahlil Beckett, who led all rushers with 136 yards, added a two-point conversion run to tie the score at 22.

"That kid is a great running back," LaPoint said of Beckett.

Glens Falls flexing its superiority in Class B

Glens Falls inched closer to earning the top seed for the Class B playoffs Friday with a convincing 41-14 decision over Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk, a contest featuring two programs that competed in the previous two Super Bowls.

The Black Bears used two touchdown runs and a pair of touchdown passes from Chase McTague in the first half to establish a 28-0 halftime cushion and Jordan Baker opened the third quarter with a kickoff return for a touchdown. 

"I think Chase McTague did a really good job of making plays when things broke down. That's really what it came down to with his ability to extend plays, whether it was him running when things broke down and finding guys open when he was scrambling," Glens Falls coach Pat Lilac said. "I thought Ravena had a pretty good game plan of taking away Jordan Baker out of the equation. Chase really did a good job."

Glens Falls (6-0, 6-0), the defending sectional champions, owns impressive wins over contenders in R-C-S, Averill Park and Schalmont. The Black Bears play host next against Lansingburgh (5-1, 5-1).

"We told the kids after the game, 'We haven't clinched anything.' We don't have a home playoff yet," Lilac said. "I have been in situations on both sides where you have to play teams twice. You beat them and they beat you. That is a hard thing to do. Right now, we are just trying to focus on getting better."

The Black Horses are starting to gallop

Schuylerville graduated several vital components from a 2024 squad that captured the program's first Class C state championship. This season's team opened its schedule with a resounding win against Broadalbin-Perth, then overcame a 21-13 deficit to post a 27-21 victory against Johnstown in Week 2.

Over the last four weeks, Schuylerville has raised the level of its play and has produced wins against Hudson (49-22), Granville/Whitehall (41-16), Hoosick Falls/Tamarac (44-8) and Watervliet/Heatly (56-0).

"It has been a lot of fun just watching," Schuylerville coach John Bowen said. "I am very vocal with them on how proud I am. In Week 1 against Johnstown for a lot of those kids, whether it was first day in a new position or never starting a varsity football game, and watching them bust through beyond any thoughts we had for them and it has continued growing each week. The schedule of their improvement has surpassed anything we could have set for them."

Bowen said he did not do a good job of preparing his team for the Johnstown game, stating he got "a little too cute."

The last three wins by Schuylerville all came in Class C East Division play. The Black Horses are now achieving convincing results, leaving their veteran coach pleased with their progression as they prepare to face Mechanicville (1-4, 0-2) next.

"They have just done so well and we're doing it differently," Bowen said. "We aren't doing this in the same fashion we did it a year ago when we were physically more dominant. This team has started to develop its own identity and it is much different than some of the teams we've had in the past. Our defensive group has been outstanding and they have played very physically. I felt we were a poor tackling team earlier in the season. Against Johnstown and Hudson, we didn't do a great job of tackling. We have come a long way since then."

This article originally published at Colonie secures much-needed Class AA win with late touchdown against Albany.