Hoosick Falls' Alex Hansen looks for running room behind his offensive line in the Panthers' Section II Class C quarterfinal victory over Canajoharie on Oct. 23. (Photo by J.S. Carras - The Record).

The Hoosick Falls field hockey team dispatched Bronxville 1-0 in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C opening round and the football team will try for the clean sweep Saturday afternoon.

(Hoosick Falls' field hockey team lost to Port Jefferson Friday afternoon in the NYSPHSAA Class C semifinals in Vestal).

Things we know about Bronxville: their front line is very big. The average Bronxville offensive lineman is 6-foot-2, 265 pounds. The average Hoosick Falls lineman? 5-foot-10 and 223 pounds.

"It’s just pride," Alex Hansen said. "The other team might be bigger, but our team has a heart."

That's the attitude the Panthers have carried with them all season, as Hansen, Steve Colvin and Garrett Foster admitted after a practice this week that the team has often felt like it's been labeled the underdog almost all year long. In what many folks in and around Hoosick Falls envisioned to be the dreaded "rebuilding year," the Panthers are on the verge of reaching the Carrier Dome for the first time since 2003.

Here was what Kevin McMahon told me during the Panthers' second or third day of practice for my season-preview story on Hoosick Falls:
"We were good last year. We only lost one regular season game. We didn't do so well in sectionals, but I think we're even better than we were last year."

Make sure to check out Saturday's edition of The Record for a story on how Hoosick Falls' little guys have been able to match up against much larger linemen week after week.

Keys to the game:
Hoosick Falls is going to have to find a way to grind out the clock, control the ball and beat Bronxville at its own game. They can do that on offense, especially if Mike Brewster is making good reads out of the spread option and isn't afraid to tuck the ball and run with it himself every now and again. Mix in a little of the Panthers' short passing game and it's easy to see how their essentially fool-proof scheme can keep drives alive and lull the defense into allowing Hansen to get his big runs.

Bronxville also switches between a pair of defensive fronts - a 4-3 and a 6-1 - which is going to complicate Brewster's reads. The Panthers can't afford too many misreads that lead to Hansen and Brewster being dragged down behind the line of scrimmage.

They'll also have to get last week's game, a 51-6 blowout of Ogdensburg, out of their heads. This one won't be that easy.

Here was the expert opinion from Kevin Devaney at the Journal News downstate.

Hoosick Falls' Alex Hansen scampers across midfield against Chatham in the Section II Class C Super Bowl. (Photo by Mike McMahon - The Record).

Hoosick Falls (11-0) vs. Bronxville (10-0, Section I)
Saturday, Nov. 21, Noon
New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C semifinal
Dietz Stadium, Kingston

Hoosick Falls Panthers 2009 game-by-game results

Schuylerville, W 39-19
HOOSIC VALLEY, W, 37-0
Tamarac, W, 40-13
STILLWATER, W, 51-6
RENSSELAER, W, 21-7
CAMBRIDGE, W, 21-19
Corinth, W, 21-7
CANAJOHARIE, W, 36-0 *
Granville, W, 32-0 #
Chatham, W 17-14 $
Ogdensburg Free Acad., W, 51-6 %

Home games in CAPS

*= Section II Class C quarterfinal
#= Section II Class C semifinal at Stillwater
$= Section II Class C Super Bowl at Stillwater
%= Regional final at Stillwater

Avg. points per game: 33.3
Avg. points allowed: 8.3
Leading rushers: Alex Hansen (206-1,554-24) and Mike Brewster (80-450-13)
Leading passer: Mike Brewster (96-155-1,344-17-2)
Leading receivers: Logan O’Brien (29-362-2) and Kevin McMahon (17-323-4) and Tanner Williams (20-250-2) and Alex Hansen (15-304-5)

Bronxville Broncos 2009 game-by-game results

Valhalla, W, 21-0
Dobbs Ferry, W, 24-7
MAGNUS, W, 22-7
CROTON-HARMON, W, 30-14
Rye Neck, W, 34-0
TUCKAHOE, W, 40-0
LINCOLN HALL, W, 41-12*
HASTINGS, W, 38-7#
Croton-Harmon, W, 35-20$
Ellenville, W, 34-6%

*=Section I Class C quarterfinal
#=Section I Class C semifinal
$=Section I Class C Super Bowl at Mahopac
%=Regional final at Dietz Stadium

Avg. points per game: 31.9
Avg. points allowed: 7.3
Leading rushers: Brian Murray (124-1,268-19) and Liam Berney (79-668-4)
Leading passers: Dillon Mitchell (15-21-258-3-1) and Jack Near (11-16-212-2-0)
Leading receivers: James Karol (12-172-0) and Will Karol (6-146-5)

The chat window will open up tonight around 7 p.m., so feel free to drop in to discuss Hoosick Falls' upcoming game against Bronxville or any of the soccer and field hockey action going on this weekend as well. Click on the play button below to join in.

Two Bronxville football players will be chatting with a downstate paper this evening at 7 p.m. - you can see that here.
It will be interesting to see what the Broncos players have to say about their opponent.

Hoosick Falls senior running back and defensive end Alex Hansen (38) has been one of the top rushers and scorers in Section II. Rensselaer's Todd DeLuke tries to pull him to the ground during a game at Hoosick Falls. The Panthers are the only Rensselaer County football team still alive and they face Bronxville Saturday in Kingston. (Photo by J.S. Carras - The Record).

Here are your Section II statistical leaders through 11 weeks of the season. These numbers are based on my personal statistics I've collected through covering games and results phoned in from coaches...so if you have official stats, please send them in.

These will be updated in the coming weeks as four Section II teams are still alive in this weekend's NYS semifinals at Dietz Stadium in Kingston.

Section II's 1,000-yard rushers

According to my numbers, following last week's regional finals, 21 Section II rushers broke the 1,000-yard barrier this season. I have Saratoga Springs' Tony DeLoatch 73 yards away, a definite possibility for him in Saturday's game against New Rochelle.


Player, school - attempts, yards, TDs

Vince Gallo, Schalmont - 293, 2,215, 29
Josh Keyes, Chatham, - 158, 1,994, 36
Jordan Charbonneau, Corinth - 236, 1,791, 19
Alex Hansen, Hoosick Falls - 206, 1,554, 24
Bronson Greene, Shenendehowa - 187, 1,458, 18
Alex Tesoriero, Columbia - 189, 1,436, 10
Derrick Pitts, Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons - 164, 1,365, 20
Tymear Mallory, Bishop Maginn - 186, 1,363, 11
Caleb Meroski, Lake George - 181, 1,338, 16
Tyrone Nichols, Lansingburgh - 131, 1,314, 15
Casiem Maxwell, Bethlehem - 184, 1,266, 11
Shatiek Lewis, Troy - 108, 1,231, 21
Jordan Canzeri, Troy - 117, 1,204, 12
Dylan Slater, Canajoharie - 161, 1,147, 14
Dakota Drake, Hudson Falls - 147, 1,077, 14
Tyler Prukisma, Greenwich - 130, 1,075, 15
Zay Richardson, Albany Academy - 122, 1,074, 22
Brandon Beatty, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake - 121, 1,066, 16
Brad Lyon, Schuylerville - 140, 1,039, 14
Jayson Osborne, Granville - 193, 1,032, 6
Justin White, Fort Edward - 130, 1,013, 12

Section II's 1,000-yard passers

(Voorheesville's Ryan Duncan was a five-yard out away from cracking the 1,000-yard mark, so I've included the Blackbirds' signal-caller).

Player, school - completions, attempts, yards, TDs, INTs

Ryan Smith, Guilderland - 135, 240, 1,649, 16, 7
Kyle Parmenter, Cambridge - 77, 164, 1,467, 18, 10
Mike Brewster, Hoosick Falls - 96, 155, 1,344, 17, 2
Phil Neumann, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake - 82, 130, 1,328, 18, 5
Seth Hidde, Fonda-Fultonville - 83, 145, 1,319, 16, 3
Chad McCloskey, Gloversville - 85, 148, 1,134, 14, 4
Adam Biron, Johnstown - 99, 206, 1,112, 14, 5
Cullen Hanna, Cobleskill-Richmondville - 80, 164, 1,046, 9, 5
T.J. McLaughlin, Lansingburgh - 50, 96, 1,045, 16, 4
Talib Barksdale, Hudson - 42, 88, 1,014, 11, 2
Kyle Bayly, Niskayuna - 74, 138, 1,010, 8, 9
Ryan Duncan, Voorheesville - 81, 161, 995, 12, 8

Section II's 400-yard receivers

Player, school - receptions, yards, TDs

Jesse Lybert, Cambridge - 27, 570, 6
Justin Salvione, Johnstown - 39, 563, 9
Justen Markley, Cobleskill-Richmondville - 35, 562, 7
James Currier, Voorheesville - 33, 560, 6
Keaton Flint, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake - 32, 554, 8
Aaron Hall, Gloversville - 31, 502, 9
Dane O'Neil, Canajoharie - 24, 496, 5
Lou DiNovo, La Salle Institute - 27, 454, 8
Nevin Sheldon, Hudson - 17, 445, 5
Tyler Hall, Fonda-Fultonville - 24, 434, 8
Kyle Hanson, Fonda-Fultonville - 27, 411, 4
Ryan Alden, Niskayuna - 27, 410, 3
Mico De Los Santos, Rensselaer - 25, 404, 3
Steve Backus, Schuylerville - 17, 403, 3

Section II's 100-point scorers

Player, school - TDs, PATs, FGs, 2-pts., Total points

Josh Keyes, Chatham - 40, 0, 0, 1, 242
Vince Gallo, Schalmont - 31, 0, 0, 3, 192
Alex Hansen, Hoosick Falls - 29, 0, 0, 3, 180
Mico De Los Santos, Rensselaer - 23, 17, 0, 7, 169
Evan Nusbaum, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake - 16, 56, 0, 0, 152
Zay Richardson, Albany Academy - 24, 0, 0, 2, 148
Jordan Charbonneau, Corinth - 21, 7, 0, 3, 139
Shatiek Lewis, Troy - 22, 0, 0, 1, 134
Derrick Pitts, Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons - 20, 0, 1, 2, 127
Bronson Greene, Shenendehowa - 20, 0, 0, 0, 120
Tyrone Nichols, Lansingburgh - 19, 0, 0, 1, 116
Caleb Meroski, Lake George - 17, 0, 0, 6, 114
Anthony Fogarty, Cohoes - 19, 0, 0, 0 114
Brandon Beatty, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake - 18, 0, 0, 0, 108
Ryan Alden, Niskayuna - 17, 0, 0, 2, 106
Tyler Prukisma, Greenwich - 15, 0, 0, 7, 104
Justin White, Fort Edward - 14, 0, 0, 8, 100

--
Latest state rankings
Hoosick Falls was ranked No. 4 in the latest Class C poll. This week's opponent, Bronxville, was plugged at No. 3.

For the complete list, visit www.roadtosyracuse.com

Former La Salle Institute student and South Troy Dodgers player Amar Lewis has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for Division II Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn., beginning in the 2011 season. (Photo courtesy South Troy Dodgers).

Here is an excerpt from the news release from his former school, Herkimer County Community College.

Lewis, who is finishing up his two-year career at nationally-ranked Herkimer County Community College, was signed to a baseball scholarship by the Railsplitters and will play for head baseball coach Jeff Sziksai. Lewis had an outstanding freshman season at Herkimer, hitting .463 in 134 at-bats, while posting a school record 20 doubles and adding 49 runs batted in. "I am extremely happy for Amar and his family with their choice of continuing his education and playing career at Lincoln Memorial University," stated HCCC head coach Jason Rathbun.

A Troy native, Lewis began playing with the Dodgers at age 11 and participated in the American Amateur Baseball Congress World Series as a 15 year old and a 17 year old. Lewis also represented the Dodgers on the AABC team at USA Baseball's Tournament of Stars in 2007.

He also led the La Salle baseball team to the New York State Class AA Final Four in 2008.

Hoosick Falls (11-0) vs. Bronxville (10-0, Section I)
Saturday, Nov. 21, Noon
New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C semifinal
Dietz Stadium, Kingston

Hoosick Falls Panthers 2009 game-by-game results

Schuylerville, W 39-19
HOOSIC VALLEY, W, 37-0
Tamarac, W, 40-13
STILLWATER, W, 51-6
RENSSELAER, W, 21-7
CAMBRIDGE, W, 21-19
Corinth, W, 21-7
CANAJOHARIE, W, 36-0 *
Granville, W, 32-0 #
Chatham, W 17-14 $
Ogdensburg Free Acad., W, 51-6 %

Home games in CAPS

*= Section II Class C quarterfinal
#= Section II Class C semifinal at Stillwater
$= Section II Class C Super Bowl at Stillwater
%= Regional final at Stillwater

Avg. points per game: 33.3
Avg. points allowed: 8.3
Leading rushers: Alex Hansen (206-1,554-24) and Mike Brewster (80-450-13)
Leading passer: Mike Brewster (96-155-1,344-17-2)
Leading receivers: Logan O’Brien (29-362-2) and Kevin McMahon (17-323-4) and Tanner Williams (20-250-2) and Alex Hansen (15-304-5)

Bronxville Broncos 2009 game-by-game results

Valhalla, W, 21-0
Dobbs Ferry, W, 24-7
MAGNUS, W, 22-7
CROTON-HARMON, W, 30-14
Rye Neck, W, 34-0
TUCKAHOE, W, 40-0
LINCOLN HALL, W, 41-12*
HASTINGS, W, 38-7#
Croton-Harmon, W, 35-20$
Ellenville, W, 34-6%

*=Section I Class C quarterfinal
#=Section I Class C semifinal
$=Section I Class C Super Bowl at Mahopac
%=Regional final at Dietz Stadium

Avg. points per game: 31.9
Avg. points allowed: 7.3
Leading rushers: Brian Murray (124-1,268-19) and Liam Berney (79-668-4)
Leading passers: Dillon Mitchell (15-21-258-3-1) and Jack Near (11-16-212-2-0)
Leading receivers: James Karol (12-172-0) and Will Karol (6-146-5)

--
View full Bronxville stats on their MaxPreps.com page.

--
It's been a rollercoaster season for the Broncos, as they suited only 21 players for their Week 1 game when 13 seniors were suspended for "violating team rules."

Still, Bronxville has rattled off 10 consecutive victories, setting up a New York State Class C semifinal meeting with Hoosick Falls.

What else do we know about Bronxville? Hoosick Falls head coach Ron Jones told me after the game against Ogdensburg that the Broncos are a big and physical team, but so was Ogdensburg. The Panthers have made due with their relatively undersized line by playing smart - Alex Hansen has racked up plenty of receiving yardage on screens when defensive linemen over-pursue - and using the essentially fool-proof spread option offense.

Like Hoosick Falls, the Broncos played an even first half with their opponent in the regional final before turning it into a rout, said the Journal News.

The Times Herald-Record said the Broncos controlled the line of scrimmage both ways in the 34-6 victory over Ellenville.

Here is an excerpt from the Kingston Daily Freeman (one of our sister papers):
"Bronxville rushed 46 times for 325 of its 350 total yards. Quarterback Jack Near completed one pass and ran 2 yards for the team’s final touchdown."

The Broncos are certainly not a pass-first team. Their two quarterbacks have combined for 470 passing yards on a 26-of-37 performance.

Hoosick Falls' Mike Brewster, on the other hand, is 96-of-155 for 1,344 yards and 17 touchdowns. He's been intercepted only twice this season. Brewster is also the Panthers' second-leading rusher, having run for 450 yards and 13 scores.

Few teams have held Hoosick Falls off the scoreboard this season. Chatham held the Panthers to 17 points in the Section II Super Bowl and Hoosick Falls scored 21 points in three consecutive weeks to conclude the regular season with tough games against Rensselaer, Cambridge and Corinth.

Bronxville, too, scores points consistently. Their 21-point output with a shorthanded team in Week 1 was their lowest total of the season.

Both teams have posted three shutouts apiece.

--
On paper, these teams look as even as could be when you concede a little of the power rushing game to Bronxville and the passing attack to Hoosick Falls.

But, Hoosick Falls can move the ball through the air consistently and I think that could be the key, especially in a two-minute drill situation. The Panthers run the two-minute drill every Thursday afternoon in practice and they are 3-for-3 on their most recent attempts. Brewster's drill performance against Ogdensburg just before halftime was a thing of beauty considering the windy and rainy conditions.

The Panthers have done a good job this season against other power running games. They shut down Rensselaer in a regular season game, but that might have been expected against a Class D team, no matter if the Rams were heads and shoulders above the other Class D teams in Section II.

Hoosick Falls gave up some yardage to Corinth's Jordan Charbonneau and Chatham's Josh Keyes, but effectively held them out of the end zone. That run defense needs to show up again if the Panthers wish to have a shot against the Broncos.

The Panthers finally lose the homefield advantage they had built at Stillwater, having played three consecutive postseason games there.

--
Other Section II football teams in action in Kingston this weekend:
Class AA
Saratoga Springs (9-1) vs. New Rochelle (10-0), Saturday, 8 p.m.
Class A
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (11-0) vs. Cornwall (8-2), Friday, 8 p.m.
Class B
Schalmont (9-2) vs. Nanuet (10-0), Saturday, 4 p.m.

TW3 TV will broadcast all Section II games except the Hoosick Falls contest.
Make sure to check out The Saratogian for ongoing coverage of Burnt Hills and Saratoga this week as well.

Player of the Year: Kaitlyn Martin, Bethlehem

Coach of the Year: Holli Mulholland, Shenendehowa

First team

Ashley Scofield, Sr., M/D, Averill Park
Kaitlyn Martin, Sr., F, Bethlehem
Kristina Maksuti, Jr., F, Bethlehem
Anna Gray, Sr., M/D, Bethlehem
Michelle Primomo, Sr., D, Bethlehem
Monica Wolf, Sr., CM, Burnt Hills
Jillian Beatty, Frosh., F, Burnt Hills
Renae Cairns, Sr., GK, Ballston Spa
Amanda Callanan, Sr., M/D, Ballston Spa
Rachel Schofield, Sr., F/M, Colonie
Conner O'Brien, Sr., D, Columbia
Marissa Page, Sr., GK, Guilderland
Stacey Sylvetsky, Jr., CM, Niskayuna
Elizabeth Boyer, Sr., F, Saratoga Springs
Morgan Berry, Jr., M/D, Shaker
Molly Popolizio, Sr., M, Shenendehowa
Sara Mikula, Sr., D, Shenendehowa

Second team

Marjana Maksuti, Jr., M, Bethlehem
Kristie Link, Jr., M, Bethlehem
Tara Teal, Frosh., F, Bethlehem
Nicole Shively, Soph., D, Burnt Hills
Nicole Collins, Sr.. M, Burnt Hills
Alaina Greco, Sr., F, Ballston Spa
Lauren Audi, Sr., M, Ballston Spa
Kelley Murphy, Soph., GK, Colonie
Jess Marini, Jr., D, Guilderland
Meghan Mosch, Jr., F, Niskayuna
Tyler Carr, Jr., D, Saratoga Springs
Julia Sirianni, Jr., M, Saratoga Springs
Kelli Wegner, Frosh., M, Saratoga Springs
Emily Johnson, Jr., GK, Shaker
Sarah Bassett, Sr., M, Shenendehowa
Elise Moinzadeh, Jr., M, Shenendehowa
Katie Trainor, Soph., F, Shenendehowa

Honorable mention

Emily Rebehn, Sr., M, Averill Park
Sarah Boyle, Jr., D, Averill Park
Kristen Ernest, Sr., D, Averill Park
Lindsey Bush, Sr., D, Averill Park
Stephanie Sica, Sr., D, Bethlehem
Heather Varcasia, Jr., D, Bethlehem
Brianne Hadcock, Jr., D, Burnt Hills
Emily McNutt, Sr., GK, Burnt Hills
Sarah Glowa, Jr., D, Burnt Hills
Skye Kaler, Frosh., CM, Burnt Hills
Carolyn Mansir, Jr., D, Ballston Spa
Julie Lowenstein, Jr., D, Ballston Spa
Demi Feder, Frosh., F, Ballston Spa
Annie Czlusniak, Sr., F, Ballston Spa
Maleesa Santos, Jr., D, Colonie
Megan Smead, Sr., CM, Columbia
Deanna Puentes, Sr., D, Columbia
Kyra Malamood, Jr., D, Guilderland
Erin Kelly, Sr., GK, Guilderland
Jackie Bassard, Soph., MF, Guilderland
Jenna Crupi, Sr., D, Guilderland
Elizabeth McMahon, Jr., M, Mohonasen
Alicia Cassels, Sr., M, Mohonasen
Michelle Baldwin, Jr., GK, Mohonasen
Schuyler Archambault, Jr., D, Niskayuna
Tara Bartkowski, Sr., D, Niskayuna
Amelia Esposito, Sr., GK, Niskayuna
Stephanie Maslyn, Sr., D, Niskayuna
Katie Cascino, Jr., CM, Niskayuna
Jenna Conklin, Sr., D, Saratoga Springs
Emily Crandall, Sr., D, Saratoga Springs
Carly Brundige, Sr., F, Shaker
Krista Pilla, Sr., M, Shaker
Alyssa Plue, Sr., F, Shaker
Rhiannon Spencer, Sr. GK, Shaker
Caitlin McGonnigal, Sr., D, Shaker
Kaitlyn Cheney, Soph., M, Shaker
Erica Vallecorsa, Soph., D, Shaker
Rebecca Pike, Sr., D, Shaker
Kristen Connors., Frosh., F, Shenendehowa

--
As submitted by Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake head coach Brian Bold.

First team

Jackie Sorensen, Sr., Waterford-Halfmoon

Sarah Bower, Soph., Emma Willard
Geneva Furlano, Sr., New Lebanon
Alisa Walek, Sr., Waterford-Halfmoon
Emily Dooely, Sr., Berlin
Joanna Jackson, Sr., Loudonville Christian
Ahsley Gross, Sr., Heatly
Lindsay Patterson, Soph., Emma Willard
Rachel Ferris, Soph., Berlin
Cassie Storm, Sr., Waterford-Halfmoon
Monica Yorio, Sr., Emma Willard
Juanita Eaton, Jr., New Lebanon

Goalkeeper

Marissa Mendetta, Jr., Rensselaer

Second team

Jenny Porter, Sr., Emma Willard
Jen Hines, Sr., Waterford-Halfmoon
Shannon Breen, Sr., Waterford-Halfmoon
Janelle Gazelone, Sr., Berlin
Deanna Nash, Berlin
Maggie Springer, Sr., New Lebanon
Erica Gross, Sr., Heatly
Tara Emery, Sr., Loudonville Christian
Mya Johnson, Loudonville Christian
Kathleen Kopaskie, Jr., Rensselaer
Tory Haltermann, Sr., Doane Stuart

Goalkeeper

Shannon Nolan, Doane Stuart

--
Sportsmanship award: Doane Stuart
League champions: Emma Willard