Troy High School takes on an old rival Friday night when they travel west to take on the Amsterdam Rugged Rams. The schools have two of the more storied programs in Section II having each won state titles. Amsterdam in 2005 and Troy in 1996 and 1998.

Amsterdam is coming off a season opening 27-13 loss to Bishop Maginn in which the Griffins scord two times in the final 53 seconds.

The Rams are young this year having lost most of last years squad that went 11-2 to graduation. Quarterback Frank Peluso threw for 145 yards and two touchdowns but also threw two picks in the loss. Amsterdam head coach Pat Liverio said his team will be in for a battle with Troy's physical line up. "We need to match their physicality in the trenches on both sides," Liverio said.

Troy dominated the line of scrimmage in its 40-13 win over Queensbury. Bryan Chattoo, Fred Fitch and Maurice Parker all benefited with solid games running the football. Chatoo had 93 yards and two touchdowns and Fitch had 147 and two scores.

Troy head coach Jack Burger said his team is looking forward to the trip to Amsterdam because of the high quality field and the packed crowds the Rams draw.

"It's awesome," he said. "It's like a small college enviroment."

Fred Fitch breaks off a big run in Troy's 40-13 win over Queensbury in week one. (Mike McMahon--The Record)

Bryon Chattoo tackles Queensbury's Jeremiah Ellement during Saturday's game at Troy High School. (Mike McMahon--The Record)
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Aunje Newell (24) leads a host of Knights defenders in Lansingburgh's week one victory over Glens Falls. (Tom Killips - The Record)

Lansingburgh vs Burnt Hills – The Series

Nov. 4 2006, Class A Super Bowl
Burnt Hills 37, Lansingburgh 7

Sept. 28, 2007, Regular season
Burnt Hills 35, Lansingburgh 22

Nov. 3 2007, Class A Super Bowl
Lansingburgh 28, Burnt Hills 25

Burnt Hills quarterback Paul Layton eludes a would-be tackler during a 2007 game.
(Matthew Turri - The Saratogian)

It all adds up to be one of the biggest regular season games of the year:Friday night, Lansingburgh at Burnt Hills. These two teams have met in the 2006 and 2007 Class A Super Bowl and they both get an early-season test in week two.

One of the key players to watch will be Lansingburgh's Marcus Hepp. The senior running back and linebacker is relied on on both sides of the ball and if the Knights need a big drive at the end of the game - you just know they will be calling his number.

The Knights defense is coming around after graduating all 11 starters from the 2007 state finalist team - and Hepp explained how it all comes down to each player knowing his responsibilites and executing on game night.

"It’s a real big test," Hepp said of the matchup with Burnt Hilss. "So we have to come out and play strong and execute and focus on our jobs. Everybody has to do their 1/11th."

"Nothing’s changed, not on offense, not on defense," said Lansingburgh head coach Pete Porcelli. "We’ve got to make plays, we have to force turnovers, we have to run the football and we have to move the chains. Nothing’s changed. We’re Lansingburgh - this is what we do."

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Class AA

1. Schenectady (0-0, 1-0) Marc Thompson scored a rushing touchdown, a receiving touchdown and returned an interception for a score in the Patriots big win over Shenendehowa in week one.
2. La Salle (1-0, 1-0) Lou DiNovo tallied over 200 yards receiving in week one and the Cadets look to air it out against Liberty Division foe Niskayuna tonight.
3. Saratoga Springs (1-0, 1-0) The Blue Streaks used two rushing touchdowns and 83 yards on the ground from Tony Deloatch to beat Saratoga County rival Ballston Spa in week one.
4. Bethlehem (1-0, 1-0) The Eagles head to Saratoga tonight for a crucial early-season Empire Division matchup.

5. CBA (1-0, 1-0) Jack Reilly led the Brothers with 156 yards rushing in their season-opening victory over Albany last week.

Class A

1. Troy (0-0, 1-0)-The Flying Horses looked impressive in a 40-13 win over Queensbury in week one. Fred Fitch and Bryon Chatto scored two touchdowns a piece on the ground and ran up over 200 yards of offense. Troy travels to old league rival Amsterdam tonight.
2. Burnt Hills (0-0, 1-0)-The Spartans won easily in week one crushing Scotia-Glenville 55-13. Senior quarterback/kicker Paul Layton tossed two touch downs, ran for one and kicked seven extra points. Layton and company face a big test tonight hosting Lansingburgh in a rematch of the 2007 class A Super Bowl.
3. Lansingburgh (0-0, 1-0)-Marcus Hepp and the Knights ran wild in the second half of a 45-26 season opening win over Glens Falls. Hepp ran for 274 yards and five touchdowns. We’ll learn a lot about just how good this years Lansingburgh team is when they travel to Burnt Hills tonight.
4. Bishop Maginn (0-0, 1-0)-The Golden Griffins broke a 13-13 tie with two scores in the final minute of the game to secure a 27-13 win over Amsterdam in week one. Maginn has the talent on paper to be a top team in the A’s. They have an intriguing match up at 1-0 Gloversville tonight.
5. Averill Park (0-0, 1-0)-Justin Collen led the Warriors to victory in week one rushing for 150 yards and two touchdowns, one on the ground and one on a fumble recovery. The Warriors look to go 2-0 traveling north to Queensbury on Saturday.

Class B

1. Cobleskill-Richmondville (0-0, 1-0) The defending Section II champs got off to a great start, crushing Cairo-Durham 43-13 in the season-opener.
2. Hudson Falls (0-0, 1-0) Joe McMurry is picking up right where he left off last year – the senior scampered for 265 yards and four scores against Ravena in the Tigers’ first game.
3. Cohoes (0-0, 1-0) The Tigers opened convincing on the road in week one, with Tom Durant and Mark Gallerie each running for a pair of touchdowns in a 32-6 victory over Johnstown.
4. Albany Academy (0-0, 1-0) Senior wide receiver Jimmer Bennett caught five passes in week one, adding to his career total of 116, a Section II record for receptions in a career.
5. Broadalbin-Perth (0-0, 1-0) Sophomore Cody Menge scored three rushing touchdowns in the Patriots’ 20-6 victory over Hudson.

Class C

1. Fonda-Fultonville (1-0, 1-0)-One of the leagues most potent offenses exploded for 65 points against South Division opponent Catholic Central last week. Josh Nethaway tossed four touchdowns and ran for three in the win. The Braves look for more of the same hosting 0-1 Hoosic Valley on Saturday.
2. Schuylerville (1-0, 1-0)-The Black Horses shut out Corinth 21-0 in week one scoring all of its points in the second half. That defense will be tested tonight as Schuylerville will try to shut down Kevin Woods and the Hoosick Falls air game in an early season North Division showdown.
3. Hoosick Falls (1-0, 1-0)-The Panthers beat defending class C champ Cambridge in convincing fashion week one. Quarterback Kevin Woods threw for 402 yards and five touchdowns. Can he do it again against a tough Schuylerville defense? We’ll find out tonight.
4. Chatham (1-0, 1-0)-The Panthers pulled off an upset in week one knocking off preseason favorite Watervliet 14-6. The Panther defense was impressive allowing only one second half score in the opener. The Panthers travel to Coxsackie on Saturday.
5. Watervliet (0-1, 0-1)-The Cannoneers could only manage six points in a road loss at Chatham. The good news is their defense only allowed two scores and they return for their home opener against 0-1 Voorheesville on Saturday.

Class D

1. Fort Edward (1-0, 1-0) Senior quarterback Bob Phillips ran for three touchdowns and passed for another in the Flying Forts’ week one 44-8 rout of Warrensburg.
2. Salem (1-0, 1-0) Kyle McKeighan accounted for 240 yards of total offense and reached the end zone four times in the Generals’ 32-0 shutout over Whitehall.
3. Canajoharie (1-0, 1-0) In week one, the Cougars blanked Saratoga Catholic – a school that fielding its first varsity team in 20 years.
4. Rensselaer (1-0, 1-0) The Rams trailed Bishop Gibbons 9-2 at halftime, but rallied with 22 points in the second half for a South Division victory.
5. Lake George (0-0, 1-0) In a meeting of two teams that played in Class C in 2007, it took an overtime period for Lake George trump Greenwich, 26-20.

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Class B

Cobleskill-Richmondville (0-0,1-0) at
Cohoes (0-0, 1-0)
Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

About Cobleskill: The Bulldogs are the defending Section II Class B champions, and they played like they are still the best in the section in week one. Josh France caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Spencer LaMountain as Cobleskill exploded for 43 points in a rout of Cairo-Durham.
About Cohoes: The Tigers opened up the season in promising fashion with a 32-6 victory at Johnstown. Cohoes ran for four touchdowns and the Tigers were successful on two point conversions, going 4-for-4. Five Cohoes ballcarriers collected 240 yards on 32 carries in the win over Johnstown.
Notable: Cobleskill defeated Ravena in the 2007 Class B Super Bowl but fell in the state regional round to Peru 21-7. The Bulldogs finished the season with a 10-1 record. Cohoes’ last postseason victory came in 2002 when the Tigers defeated Ravena in the opening round of the Class B playoffs.
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Class C

Catholic Central (0-1, 0-) at
Tamarac (1-0, 1-0)
Friday 7 p.m.

About Catholic Central: There were few bright spots for the Crusaders in a 65-7 season opening loss to Fonda-Fultonville. Brice McMahon’s 45 yard fumble return accounted for all of the Crusaders offense. In the Crusaders defense Fonda does have one of the top offenses in the league and can put up points on most teams. Look for a better showing from Catholic Central in week two.
About Tamarac: The Bengals needed only one score, a Brent Matazinsky touchdown reception in the first, to pick up a 7-0 season opening win against Voorheesville. The Tamarac defense held the Blackbirds to just 67 yards of total offense in the shutout win.

Notable: Tamarac hasn't had a winning season since 1992 but the Bengals think this is the year to get back over the .500 mark. The 13 seniors on this year’s Tamarac team are the first group from the youth football program, the Brunswick

Class C

Hoosic Falls (1-0, 1-0) at
Schuylerville (1-0, 1-0) Friday 7 p.m.

About Hoosick Falls: Kevin Woods had a game for the ages in the Panthers week one 34-19 win over defending class C champ Cambridge. Woods threw for 402 yards and five touchdowns in the game. If Woods and company continue that type of play another super bowl title isn’t out of the question. The Panthers won the league title in 2006.
About Schuylerville: The Black Horses lost a heartbreaker to Cambridge in the class C championship last year. Most of that team is back for another try at the title and they got off on the right foot with a 21-0 win over Corinth in week one. Senior quarterback Austin Bateman ran for 65 yards and blocked a kick in the season opener.
Notable: This is an early season showdown of two of the top teams in the league. Regardless of who comes away victorious tonight both teams should still be standing when post season play starts. Hoosick Falls Kevin Woods goes up against a Schuylerville defense that pitched a shutout week one.

Class D
Saratoga Catholic (0-1, 0-1) at Rensselaer (1-0, 1-0), Friday, 7 p.m.

About Saratoga Catholic: The Saints were blanked in their first game in 20 years, losing 35-0 at Canajoharie. The Cougars held Spa Catholic to 63 yards of total offense a week ago.
About Rensselaer: In a game that featured two safeties before halftime, the Rams jumped on the back of running back Jasheem Hamilton and followed him to the end zone. Hamilton scored two running touchdowns and also connected on a 32-yard pass from quarterback Shane Brozowski in a 24-16 victory at Bishop Gibbons.
Notable: This is the first game to be played at the new Rensselaer High School field. Saratoga Catholic plays its home opener a week from tonight when they host Warrensburg at East Side Rec.