Watervliet High School varsity girls basketball head coach Gordie Johnson and his staff are hosting a three-day skills clinic camp at the school over Columbus Day Weekend. (Photo by Mike McMahon - The Record).

Girls in grades 3-10 may attend the sessions, which run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 10, 11 and 12.

The fee is $30 per player. Coach Johnson may be contacted at 783-5270 for more details.

Checks should be made payable to Arsenal City Basketball, Attn: Gordie Johnson, 38 Duncan Drive, Latham, NY, 12110.

Maple Hill junior striker Meeghan Arno (20) is mobbed by teammates after scoring her 79th career goal in a 7-0 Patroon Conference victory over Taconic Hills Wednesday behind the Maple Hill Middle School. Arno became Maple Hill's all-time leading scorer with the tally. (Photos by J.S. Carras - The Record).

There wasn't too much pressure on Arno to break the record heading into Wednesday's game. She admitted she didn't even know about the scoring record until lunch period on Wednesday.

Arno scored a quick pair of goals in the first half of Wednesday's game. Her teammates surrounded her on the record-breaking goal and Maple Hill head coach Shelia Golden pulled her from the game immediately after the score for a quick meeting and hug on the sidelines.

Arno, of course, thanked her teammates first, especially Ashley Cross and Sierra Legge, who have been setting her up for goals all season long.

"I always dreamed of having my name up on the banner, but I couldn’t have done it without the team, obviously," Arno said. "We have a fantastic team this year. We’re young still, but we’re a team. We work together and I couldn’t have done it without the amazing passes they’ve given me all year."

Arno shakes off a Taconic Hills defender during Wednesday's game. She scored a pair of goals and added two assists, making her the leading scorer in Section II so far this season with 19 goals.

Check out the full story on Arno and the full recap of Wednesday's game in Thursday's edition of The Record.

The Wildcats have a number of big games coming up on the schedule, including a Columbus Day contest against Ichabod Crane that will likely determine the Patroon Conference regular season champion.

Here is the latest New York State girls soccer poll, released Wednesday evening.

2009 NYSSCOGS & NYSSWA
NYS Girls Soccer Poll
Week No. 3 (through Sept. 23-29)
Poll editor: Perry L. Novak

Class AA
1: 7-1-0 John Jay EF-1
2: 9-0-0 Union-Endicott-4
3: 8-0-0 Williamsville North-6
4: 9-0-0 Webster Thomas-5
5: 3-0-1 Massapequa-8
6: 8-1-0 Bethlehem-2
7: 7-0-1 North Rockland-1
8: 8-1-0 Shenendehowa-2
9: 6-0-0 Warwick-9
10: 6-0-0 Sachem East-11
11: 6-1-0 Baldwinsville-3
12: 7-0-2 Brockport-5
13: 6-2-0 Liverpool-3
14: 2-1-1 East Meadow-8
15: 4-1-2 West Islip-11
16: 6-1-0 Washingtonville-9
17: 6-0-0 Kenmore East-6
18: 6-2-0 Vestal-4
19: 4-1-2 Connetquot-11
20: 6-1-0 Irondequoit-5

Class A
1: 5-0-0 Rye-1
2: 3-0-1 Rockville Center SS-8
3: 8-0-0 Williamsville East-6
4: 6-0-1 Victor-5
5: 4-2-0 Hauppauge-11
6: 3-2-0 Islip-11
7: 0-3-2 Garden City-8
8: 5-3-1 Burnt Hills-2
9: 7-0-0 Grand Island-6
10: 7-0-1 Scotia-Glenville-2
11: 7-2-1 Honeoye Falls-Lima-5
12: 6-1-0 Wallkill-9
13: 7-1-0 Cortland-3
14: 8-0-1 Whitesboro-3
15: 4-1-0 Shoreham-Wading River-11
16: 6-0-1 Ichabod Crane-2
17: 7-2-0 Maine-Endwell-4
18: 5-2-0 Cornwall-9
19: 5-1-0 Byran Hills-1
20: 6-1-1 South Glens Falls-2
20: 6-1-0 Holy Names-2

Class B
1: 5-0-0 Briarcliff-1
2: 8-0-0 Lansing-4
3: 6-0-0 Schalmont-2
4: 9-0-1 Chenango Forks-4
5: 4-1-0 Mattituck-11
6: 7-1-0 Palmyra-Macedon-5
7: 6-1-1 Westhill-3
8: 6-1-1 Mechanicville-2
9: 6-1-0 Marcellus-3
10: 9-1-0 Potsdam-10
11: 2-2-1 Cold Spring Harbor-8
12: 8-1-0 Holley-5
13: 6-0-2 Bronxville-1
14: 7-1-1 East Aurora-6
15: 7-2-0 Owego-4
16: 7-2-0 Nichols-AIS
17: 3-1-1 Burke-9
18: 6-0-0 Beekmantown-7
19: 7-1-1 Schuylerville-2
20: 6-3-1 Stillwater-2

Class C
1: 7-1-0 Marathon-4
2: 8-1-0 Hoosick Falls-2
3: 5-0-1 Plattsburgh Seton-7
4: 7-0-0 Bloomfield-5
5: 8-0-0 Allegany-Limestone-6
6: 3-1-1 York-5
7: 5-0-2 Maple Hill-2
8: 8-0-0 Tully-3
9: 7-0-1 Keshequa-5
10: 6-2-0 Florida-9
11: 2-2-1 Stony Brook-11
12: 7-1-0 Middleburgh-2
13: 8-0-0 Sauquoit Valley-3
14: 7-1-0 Elmira Notre Dame-4
15: 8-0-1 Unatego-4
16: 6-1-0 Berne-Knox-Westerlo-2
17: 2-4-1 North Salem-1
18: 9-1-0 Mohawk-3
19: 7-1-0 Watertown IHC-3
20: 7-1-0 Addison-5
20: 5-2-0 Holland-6

Class D:
1: 9-0-0 Davenport-4
2: 11-0-0 McGraw-3
3: 8-0-0 Chazy-7
4: 9-1-0 Arkport-5
5: 11-0-1 Harrisville-10
6: 5-2-1 Ellicottville-6
7: 8-0-0 Schenevus-4
8: 5-0-0 Oriskany-3
9: 2-1-0 Smithtown Christian-11
10: 5-1-1 Livingston Manor-9
11: 6-2-0 Genesee Valley-5
12: 8-1-0 Chateaugay-10
13: 6-0-1 Poland-3
14: 5-1-0 Bolivar-Richburg-5
15: 6-1-0 Remsen-3
16: 7-2-0 Hamilton-3
17: 6-1-1 Panama-6
18: 6-3-2 Heuvelton-10
19: 6-3-0 Edmeston-4
20: 6-1-0 Alfred-Almond-5

Kyle Geraci, David Jabour, Dorrel Williams (left to right) have solidified the Troy High defense this season, which has not allowed a single point over the last 15 quarters. (Photos by Tom Killips - The Record).

Troy senior defensive tackle - and offensive left tackle - David Jabour attended Averill Park High School as a freshmen. He's very excited to play the Warriors this Saturday in the Flying Horses annual Homecoming contest.

“Every year I can’t wait for this game,” Jabour said. “I know some of them and they know me. We all go back and forth. This is my game. I wait for this every year.”

Defensive end Dorrel Williams is in his third season of football, having switched over from basketball two years ago at Albany High. He's worked very hard the past two seasons in Troy to become a run-stopper and a pass-rushing force for the Flying Horses.

“We got really mad when we gave up the first touchdown,” Williams said. “Honestly, it never should have happened, but we have worked really hard on not giving up any points. We go out there with 100% effort and don’t let up on anybody.”


Check out the full story on the Flying Horses' defense in Friday's weekly high school football preview section in The Record.

Check out stats, standings, game capsules, power polls, staff picks and a preview of Saturday's undefeated Lansingburgh-Albany Academy showdown for first place in the Reinfurt Division, all in our weekly preview section.

We'll also have plenty on the upcoming Grout Run in Central Park and RPI's first Liberty League football game against Rochester on Saturday. The Engineers are also hosting a big fan fest outside the football stadium on Saturday in a grand-opening celebration for the East Campus Athletic Village facility. The Record is publishing a 16-page commerative section on the grand-opening in Saturday's paper.

--
Remember, we will be hosting the second week of our high school football live chat here on the site Thursday night beginning around 6 p.m.

I'll keep the window open until about 11 p.m., so feel free to drop in and talk football with fans from across the Capital District and share your thoughts and predictions on the week ahead. Tell your friends to drop by and don't be shy to pipe in with your thoughts!

With Rensselaer traveling to Hoosick Falls for an intriguing crossover game Friday night - both teams are undefeated and offer differing styles of play - I'm interested to hear which teams you think could beat teams in other classifications. Could Lansingburgh beat La Salle? Could Cambridge give Troy High a game? Would Schuylerville be 4-0 in Class B instead of 0-4 in Class C? Put your thinking caps on...

Sign up for an email reminder before the chat in the box below.

Cohoes junior running back was that kind of intense all afternoon against Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Saturday, scoring all three touchdowns in a come-from-behind 21-14 victory for the Tigers. (Photos by Tom Killips - The Record).

Fogarty scored on a reverse handoff as time expired in the second half (Josh Floeser ran out of bounds on a 22-yard scamper with 1.2 seconds remaining to set up the play), as the Tigers made it 14-7 heading into halftime.

Fogarty scored a 15-yard rushing touchdown in the third and returned an interception for a touchdown on the Indians' ensuing drive, capping the Tigers comeback in a 21-14 victory at Alumni Field.

"We do that play a lot because in game situations like that, where we really need a score, we use that play," said Fogarty of the reverse. He finished with 125 rushing yards on 19 attempts.

Ravena's Cory Watts scores his second touchdown of the game, giving the Indians a 14-0 lead early in Saturday's game.

Ravena’s (0-2, 1-3) Mike Garza (16 attempts, 84 yards) and Cory Watts (16 attempts, 66 yards) paced the Indians’ ground attack.

Cohoes (1-1, 3-1) hosts Hudson (0-1, 3-1) Friday in their second annual Homecoming under the lights.

A poor week of practice hampered them coming into the Ravena game, which led to a lackadaisical effort in the first half. The Tigers are putting full pads on Monday afternoon, getting ready for a short week of tough preperation for another talented Reinfurt Division opponent in Hudson High, which lost to Lansingburgh 56-6 Friday night.

"We definitely have work to do," senior lineman Josh LeMay said. "We definitely have to work to do and we have to take it out next week and stop making the same mistakes."

Lansingburgh's Marcus Little (39) looks for open field during Friday's 56-6 victory over Reinfurt Division rival Hudson High. Little also recovered a Hudson fumble, one of six Bluehawk turnovers in the game. (Photos by J.S. Carras - The Record).

The Knights rushed for 398 yards in the victory, bowling over would-be Hudson tacklers all game. Lansingburgh averaged just over 11 yards per carry in the first half and also took care of business on defense.

Lansingburgh's Sajae Pryor catches a touchdown pass in the second quarter of Friday's game. It was one of only three Knights passes and the only one caught for positive yardage.

McLaughlin (7) had perhaps the best game on the ground he'll ever have. The senior quarterback ran the ball twice for a grand total of 42 yards and two touchdowns.

Hudson entered the game 3-0, but the Knights continue to prove themselves to be the class of Class B in 2009.

Their biggest test of all, however, at least in the regular season, comes next Saturday at Albany Academy, who is also likely to be unbeaten after this Saturday's game against a winless Johnstown squad.

"Next week is going to probably be a bit of a challenge, because they’re a good team," Lansingburgh senior Zaquawn Gordon said. "We have to give them credit. We’ll just have to come out with the same intensity we had today."

There is a stats correction for CBA senior running back Jack Reilly.

He ran for 128 yards on 23 carries in a Week 3 contest against Guilderland, giving him 467 rushing yards this season on 66 attempts. That's a 7.1 yards per carry average. He's rushed for three touchdowns.

We did not originally get a report from this game in time for our stats package this week.

Reilly slides into seventh place on the Section II rushing totals list, behind Bishop Gibbons' Derrick Pitts and in front of Chatham's Josh Keyes and Bishop Maginn's Tymear Mallory, who both have run for 461 yards.

Our next high school football chat is coming up on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. Sign up in the box below for an email reminder before the event.

We're getting started a little early tonight, so feel free to fire away in the box above with any questions or comments you have about the 2009 Section II High School football season with myself and other fans from around the region.

SECTION II STAT PACK

Rushing
Player, School, Att., Yds., Avg., TD
Jordan Charbonneau, Corinth, 77, 628, 8.2, 4
Caleb Meroski, Lake George, 74, 591, 8.0, 8
Casiem Maxwell, Bethlehem, 64,569, 8.9, 5
Vince Gallo, Schalmont, 73, 565, 7.7, 6
Zay Richardson, Albany Academy, 59, 512, 8.7, 9
Derrick Pitts, Bishop Gibbons, 47, 492, 10.5, 4
Josh Keyes, Chatham, 41, 461, 11.2, 8
Tymear Mallory, Bishop Maginn, 57, 461, 8.1, 4
Nick Knauer, Tamarac, 66, 390, 5.9, 4
Kyle Sipowicz, Hudson Falls, 72, 386, 5.4, 4

Receiving
Player, School, Rec., Yds., Avg., TD
Jesse Lybert, Cambridge, 13, 258, 19.8, 4
Dane O’Neill, Canajoharie, 10, 253, 25.3, 2
Keaton Flint, Burnt Hills, 11, 249, 22.6, 5
Matt McGowan, Lake George, 11, 226, 20.5, 1
Justin Salvione, Johnstown, 15, 220, 14.7, 5
Peter Quinn, Guilderland, 12, 217, 18.0, 2
Kyle Hanson, Fonda-Fultonville, 16, 217, 13.6, 2
James Currier, Voorheesville, 13, 215, 16.5, 1
Tyler Hall, Fonda-Fultonville, 11, 207, 18.8, 4
Steve Backus, Schuylerville, 9, 201, 22.3, 2
Brice McMahon, Catholic Central, 11, 201, 18.2, 3

Passing
Player, School, Comp., Att., Yds., TD, Int.
Seth Hidde, Fonda-Fultonville, 45, 79, 731, 10, 0
Ryan Smith, Guilderland, 49, 78, 671, 6, 1
Kyle Parmenter, Cambridge, 27, 50, 532, 8, 1
Mike Brewster, Hoosick Falls, 28, 39, 480, 7, 0
Adam Biron, Johnstown, 49, 92, 468, 6, 0
Ryan Macari, Averill Park, 25, 59, 432, 3, 4
T.J. McLaughlin, Lansingburgh, 21, 38, 409, 6, 0
Phil Neumann, Burnt Hills, 20, 26, 404, 8, 0
Mike Murray, La Salle, 24, 47, 392, 5, 3
Austin Bateman, Schuylerville, 27, 56, 374, 2, 4

Scoring
Player, School, TD, PAT, FG, 2PT., Tot.
Alex Hansen, Hoosick Falls, 10, 0, 0, 1, 62
Josh Keyes, Chatham, 9, 0, 0, 1, 56
Caleb Meroski, Lake George, 8, 0, 0, 3, 54
Zay Richardson, Albany Academy, 9, 0, 0, 0, 54
Vince Gallo, Schalmont, 7, 0, 0, 2, 44
Jordan Charbonneau, Corinth, 6, 2, 0, 2, 42
Mico De Los Santos, Rensselaer, 6, 3, 0, 1, 41
David Coon, Chatham, 6, 0, 0, 2, 38
Five players tied with 36 points apiece

Kicking
Player, School, PAT, FG, Tot.
Matt Beighey, Ballston Spa, 17, 0, 17
Matt Best, Cambridge, 14, 0, 14
Nick Daley, Saratoga Springs, 7, 2, 13
David Ha, Troy, 13, 0, 13
Evan Nusbaum, Burnt Hills, 13, 0, 13
Tim Pompa, Saratoga Catholic, 3, 3, 12
Jarrett Lucas, Gloversville, 8, 1, 11
Rob Redman, Bishop Gibbons, 8, 1, 11
Five players tied with 10 points apiece

Section II High School football standings

Class AA League Overall
Liberty Division W-L W-L PF PA
Columbia 1-0 1-2 31 96
La Salle (12) 1-0 3-0 76 23
Schenectady 1-0 2-1 94 54
Bethlehem 0-1 1-2 41 98
Colonie 0-1 1-2 42 72
Shaker 0-1 1-2 27 47
Empire Division
Ballston Spa (19) 1-0 3-0 137 31
Guilderland 1-0 2-1 80 49
Saratoga Springs 1-0 2-1 65 34
Albany 0-1 0-3 20 72
CBA 0-1 0-3 48 85
Shenendehowa 0-1 2-1 73 75

Class A League Overall
Division I W-L W-L PF PA
Bishop Maginn 1-0 2-1 51 75
Niskayuna 1-0 2-1 57 60
Troy (8) 1-0 3-0 147 7
Averill Park 0-1 1-2 40 86
Mohonasen 0-1 0-3 26 88
Scotia-Glenville 0-1 0-3 28 135
Division II
Burnt Hills (2) 1-0 3-0 138 27
Glens Falls 1-0 2-1 78 50
Queensbury 1-0 2-1 73 44
Amsterdam 0-1 0-3 31 112
Gloversville 0-1 2-1 97 64
South Glens Falls 0-1 1-2 33 51

Class B League Overall
Reinfurt Division W-L W-L PF PA
Albany Academy (8) 1-0 3-0 107 66
Lansingburgh (1) 1-0 3-0 128 48
Hudson (20) 0-0 3-0 86 58
Cohoes 0-1 2-1 91 71
Ravena 0-1 1-2 70 103
Ichabod Crane* 0-0 0-3 12 122
West Division
Hudson Falls 1-0 1-2 41 69
Schalmont 1-0 1-2 82 103
Cobleskill 0-0 0-3 39 73
Broadalbin-Perth 0-1 1-2 77 82
Johnstown 0-1 0-3 53 101

Class C League Overall
North Division W-L W-L PF PA
Granville 3-0 3-0 81 46
Hoosick Falls (11) 3-0 3-0 116 32
Cambridge (8) 2-0 3-0 125 7
Mechanicville 2-1 2-1 88 47
Corinth 1-1 2-1 62 54
Tamarac 1-1 1-2 47 80
Hoosic Valley 0-3 0-3 26 98
Schuylerville 0-3 0-3 54 113
Stillwater 0-3 0-3 14 110
South Division
Chatham (15) 3-0 3-0 122 42
Watervliet 2-0 3-0 111 0
Fonda-Fultonville 2-1 2-1 93 53
Voorheesville 2-1 2-1 90 65
Canajoharie 1-1 1-1 45 21
Taconic Hills 1-2 1-2 37 106
Cairo-Durham 0-2 1-2 26 76
Coxsackie-Athens 0-2 1-2 70 92
Catholic Central 0-3 0-3 33 73

Class D League Overall
W-L W-L PF PA
Rensselaer (10) 3-0 3-0 107 35
Lake George 2-0 2-1 87 43
Warrensburg 2-1 2-1 79 54
Bishop Gibbons 1-1 2-1 85 74
Greenwich 1-1 1-2 46 61
Fort Edward 1-2 1-2 62 57
Salem 1-2 1-2 22 91
Saratoga Catholic 1-2 1-2 58 68
Whitehall 0-3 0-3 20 107

*Ichabod Crane playing a Class C schedule ineligible for postseason
Numbers in parentheses indicate New York State Sportswriters Association ranking

Week 4 - Friday

Class AA
Empire Division

Albany at Ballston Spa 7 p.m.
Guilderland at Shenendehowa 7 p.m.
Saratoga Springs at CBA 7 p.m.
Liberty Division
Bethlehem at Schenectady 7 p.m.
Columbia at Colonie 7 p.m.
Shaker at La Salle Institute 7 p.m.
Class A - Division I
Bishop Maginn at Scotia-Glenville 7 p.m.
Niskayuna at Averill Park 7 p.m.
Division II
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake at Amsterdam 7 p.m.
Glens Falls at South Glens Falls 7 p.m.
Queensbury at Gloversville 7 p.m.
Class B - Reinfurt Division
Hudson at Lansingburgh 7 p.m.
West Division
Broadalbin-Perth at Cobleskill 7 p.m.
Class C - North Division
Schuylerville at Mechanicville 7 p.m.
Stillwater at Hoosick Falls 7 p.m.
South Division
Cairo-Durham at Taconic Hills 7 p.m.
Coxsackie-Athens at Chatham 7 p.m.
Non-division
Ichabod Crane (Class B) at Canajoharie 7 p.m.
Salem (Class D) at Granville 7 p.m.
Class D
Saratoga Central Catholic at Rensselaer 7 p.m.
Warrensburg at Lake George 7 p.m.

SATURDAY

Class A - Division I
Mohonasen at Troy 1:30 p.m.
Class B - Reinfurt Division
Ravena at Cohoes 1:30 p.m.
Non-division
Johnstown at Albany Academy 1:30 p.m.
Schalmont at Hudson Falls 1:30 p.m.
Class C - North Division
Corinth at Hoosic Valley 1 p.m.
Tamarac at Cambridge 1 p.m.
South Division
Catholic Central at Fonda-Fultonville 1 p.m.
Watervliet at Voorheesville 1 p.m.
Class D
Greenwich at Fort Edward 1 p.m.
Whitehall at Bishop Gibbons 1 p.m.

Watervliet jack-of-all-trades Kyle Touzin leads the undeafeted - and un-scored upon - Watervliet Cannoneers into a critical Class C South Division matchup Saturday at Voorheesville. Look for more on Touzin and the Cannoneers' shutout streak in Friday's edition of The Record. (Photo by Tom Killips - The Record).

Shaker (0-1, 1-2) at La Salle (1-0, 3-0), Friday, 7 p.m

About Shaker: The Blue Bison could keep up the steam after blanking Albany in Week 2, scoring only one touchdown in a loss to Schenectady last week. Shaker’s two-headed quarterback team of Ben Capeless and Michael Parzych were a combined 2-for-12 for 38 yards against Schenectady and they’ll need to fix that passing game against a speedy La Salle secondary.
About La Salle: President Obama drove past Sutton Field Monday morning and the Cadets are hoping to keep drives alive tonight in their homecoming contest against the Blue Bison. The Cadets shut out Colonie last week and have allowed only 23 points through three games. Tyler Washington added 112 yards and two rushing touchdowns to his totals, proving more than and adequate replacement for Marquis Terrell.
Notable: In their 2008 meeting in Latham, La Salle trumped the Bison 40-7. In fact, La Salle owns a four-game winning streak against Shaker, dating back to the 2005 season. The Cadets have outscored the Bison 125-44 during that span.

Hudson (0-0, 3-0) at Lansingburgh (1-0, 3-0), Friday, 7 p.m.

About Hudson: Quarterback Talib Barksdale, the younger brother of Arizona Cardinals practice squad player Rashad Barksdale, injured his ankle midway through the Bluehawks game against Cobleskill and is doubtful for tonight’s game. His top receiver, Nevin Sheldon (shoulder) also missed the second half of last week’s game. The Bluehawks are undefeated through three games, outscoring opponents 86-58, but those three opponents – all from the West Division - have a combined record of 1-8.
About Lansingburgh: The Knights, despite a shaky first quarter, held off Cohoes on Homecoming night last Friday, thanks to three touchdown tosses from senior quarterback T.J. McLaughlin. Lansingburgh had three running backs rush for at least 100 yards in Week 1 and Tyrone Nichols ran for 176 yards in Week 2, but Zaquawn Gordon led the way against Cohoes with 70 yards on the ground in a balanced attack.
Notable: This will be the first meeting between the teams in almost exactly four years, as Lansingburgh handed the Bluehawks a 55-0 defeat on Sept. 23, 2005. It was the first of three consecutive shutouts for the Knights, who then blanked Taconic Hills and Cohoes in succession en route to a Section II Class B title.

Saratoga Central Catholic (1-2, 1-2) at Rensselaer (3-0, 3-0), Friday, 7 p.m.

About Spa Catholic: The Saints ran wild in a victory over perennial Class D power Fort Edward, as Dave Mulcahy (23 attempts, 221 yards, three touchdowns) and Jeremy Furey (13-100) took care of the Flying Forts. Three games into their second varsity season after taking a 19-year hiatus, the Saints are one victory away from jumping to the top of the Class D standings.
About Rensselaer: The Rams felt like they didn’t get any respect heading into last week’s game at Bishop Gibbons, having been ranked below the Knights in the NYSSWA Class D poll, but they’ll play the rest of the season with the front-runner’s target squarely on their backs. Mico De Los Santos piled up 278 all-purpose yards and with the return of a healthy Jashem Hamilton, the Rams should be even more powerful than they were a week ago.
Notable: The Rams won last year’s meeting, 43-7. The Week 2 game was Spa Catholic’s second contest on the varsity level.

Ravena (0-1, 1-2) at Cohoes (0-1, 2-1), Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

About Ravena: The Indians scored 35 points against Albany Academy last week, but still lost by 17 points in their Reinfurt Division opener. Cory Watts rushed for 192 yards and three touchdowns, but will be challenged by a Cohoes defense that did not allow a 100-yard rusher last week against Lansingburgh. The Indians have been outscored 70-103, their only victory coming by a mere one point over Cobleskill-Richmondville in Week 2.
About Cohoes: The Tigers scored on the last play of the game last week, but it was too late, as Cohoes had allowed six unanswered touchdowns to Lansingburgh in a 51-19 defeat. Anthony Fogarty stepped up as a big-play running back last week, averaging over 10 yards per carry on five rushing attempts.
Notable: These teams played an epic, three-overtime battle last season in Ravena. Cohoes’ Steve Weaver had a sack and the game-winning touchdown in the final overtime period, lifting the Tigers to a 13-7 victory.

The Record's Section II High School Football Power Poll

Class AA
Team League Overall Last Week
1. La Salle 1-0 3-1 1
The Cadets have plenty to play for on homecoming against Shaker High. If La Salle beats the Bison and Columbia beats Colonie tonight, it sets up a Week 5 matchup of 2-0 Liberty Division rivals with Greenbush-area pride on the line.
2. Ballston Spa 1-0 3-0 2
The Scotties’ victory over Shenendehowa last week – and a big second-half surge after a lackadaisical first half performance, shows that this team is for real. Troy, Burnt Hills, Cambridge and Watervliet are the only other teams to have scored at least 100 more points than they’ve allowed.
3. Schenectady 1-0 2-1 4
Quarterback Tim Cox passed for 148 yards and two touchdowns in a victory over Shaker last week, proving more than an adequate replacement for the grad¬uated Nick Ottati.
4. Guilderland 1-0 2-1 5
The Dutchmen offense sputtered for 43 minutes last week against CBA, but three touchdowns in the final five minutes of the game lifted them to an improbable come-from-behind victory over the Brothers. Ryan Smith has been one of the most prolific QB’s in Section II.
5. Saratoga Springs 1-0 2-1 NR
The Blue Streaks turned the ball over eight times against Albany High, but still found a way to keep the Falcons off the scoreboard in an 18-0 victory. Can they stop CBA’s punishing senior running back Jack Reilly tonight?

Class A
Team League Overall Last Week
1. Burnt Hills 1-0 3-0 1
It looked like it would be the most competitive Division II game of the year, but Burnt Hills scored 46 points for the third game in a row, blasting Gloversville to the bottom of the standings.
2. Troy 1-0 3-0 2
The Flying Horses posted their second consecutive shutout last week in Scotia, and now have scored 147 unanswered points after allowing a first quarter touch¬down to Queensbury in Week
3. Glens Falls 1-0 2-1 NR
Dan LaNoir ran for 218 yards and five touchdowns in a victory over Amsterdam in Week 2. This week the Indians take on archrival South Glens Falls in a Division II showdown.
4. Bishop Maginn 1-0 2-1 5
The Griffins bounced back after an embarrassing loss to Gloversville with a big win over Averill Park, marked by Tymear Mallory’s career-high four touchdowns. Now that their younger players are gaining experience, the Griffins look to con¬tinue their improvement at Scotia tonight.
5. Queensbury 1-0 2-1 4
The Spartans scored 48 points in a win over Averill Park in Week 2 and then pitched a shutout against South Glens Falls in Week 3. If they can control the tempo of the game, maintain possession of the ball and establish a ground game, the Spartans may be a dangerous team come the postseason.

Class B
Team, League, Overall, Last Week
1. Lansingburgh, 1-0, 3-0, 1
The Knights looked a little sluggish in the first quarter of their game against Cohoes last week, but the offense woke up, scoring six unanswered touchdowns in a Homecoming game rout. Terrance Kemp, Tyrone Nichols and Zaquawn Gordon have all split carries, meaning they should be fresh for the stretch run.
2, Albany Academy, 1-0, 3-0, 2
The Cadets sure can light up the scoreboard – only Lansingburgh has scored more points among Class B teams – but they will have to shore up the defense if they want to be playing meaningful games late in October.
3, Hudson, 0-0, 3-0, 4
The Bluehawks have been beating up on the weak teams in the West Division, but they are still one of three undefeated teams in the Reinfurt Division. Tayron Bryant stepped up last week in Talib Barksdale’s absence and may be counted on in a big spot in Lansingburgh.
4, Cohoes, 0-1, 2-1, 3
The Tigers played well in the first half against Lansingburgh, shocking the crowd when they took the lead minutes into the game, but fumbles cost them a number of opportunities. They’ll look to sharpen up the defense and their ball-handling this week against Ravena.
5, Schalmont, 1-0, 1-2, NR
Vince Gallo romped for 236 rushing yards and five touchdowns last week and he alone makes the Sabres a dangerous team week-in and week-out. Schalmont, however, has to travel to Hudson Falls tomorrow for a game that may well decide who earns the No. 1 seed out of the West Division.

Class C
Team, League, Overall, Last Week
1, Hoosick Falls, 3-0, 3-0, 1
Alex Hansen scored four touchdowns in last week’s victory over Tamarac, marking the second consecutive week he entered the end zone four times. A dangerous runner who is quickly becoming one of junior quarterback Mike Brewster’s favorite targets, Hansen leads the area in scoring.
2, Chatham, 3-0, 3-0, 2
The Panthers made a big statement last week when they defeated Fonda-Fultonville on the road, making them the early favorite in the South Division. Running backs Josh Keyes and David Coon are both among the area’s top point-scorers.
3, Cambridge, 3-0, 3-0, 4
The Indians easily handled long-time rival Greenwich in Week 3, as quarterback Kyle Parmenter tossed for 131 yards and three scores. Tamarac’s spread option could pose trouble for the Cambridge defense, however, which has allowed a mere seven points thus far.
4, Granville, 3-0, 3-0, NR
The Golden Horde have quietly entered the discussion in the North Division with quality wins over Corinth and Mechanicville. Next three games are against Salem, Stillwater and Schuylerville, meaning Granville could easily be 6-0 heading into a Week 7 showdown with Cambridge.
5, Watervliet, 3-0, 3-0, 5
Cannoneers will have their hands full with Voorheesville’s traditional Power-I offense, but will the Blackbirds throw any wrinkles into the gameplan? Voorheesville is riding a two-game winning streak after a Week 1 defeat against Chatham.

Class D
Team, League, Overall, Last Week
1, Rensselaer, 3-0, 3-0, 1
Rams proved that they are the team to beat in Class D, demolishing Bishop Gibbons 49-14 in Schenectady last Saturday. Rensselaer has a power running game in Jashem Hamilton and Nate Butler and Mico De Los Santos provides the fireworks on the outside.
2, Lake George, 2-0, 2-1, 3
Caleb Meroski is one of only four Section II running backs with more than 550 rushing yards and the Warriors, a year after an undefeated season as a Class C team barred from the playoffs are looking forward to their Week 7 showdown with Rensselaer, a possible Super Bowl preview.
3, Warrensburg, 2-1, 2-1, NR
Brendan Frye has passed for over 100 yards in each of his last two games. The Burghers, however, get a big test tonight against Lake George.
4, Bishop Gibbons, 1-1, 2-1, 2
The Golden Knights still have senior quarterback extraordinaire Derrick Pitts, so they can be competitive in any game in which Pitts runs free. Trouble is, can they devise a Plan B when defenses target Gibbons’ main man?
5, Spa Catholic, 1-2, 1-2, NR
Dave Mulcahy rushed for 221 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s victory over Fort Edward and the Saints look to even their record at .500 for the first time in a long time. Spa Catholic’s last winning season (5-3) came in 1975, when they competed in the Southern Division of the now-defunct Northern Conference.

Here are the NFL quarterback rating leaders after Week 3 of the regular season, among quarterbacks with at least 300 yards passing

157.9 - Phil Neumann - Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake

155.4 - Hunter McCarthy - Albany Academy

152.8 - Mike Brewster - Hoosick Falls

132.6- T.J. McLaughlin - Lansingburgh

127.7 - Seth Hidde - Fonda-Fultonville

122.7 - Kyle Parmenter - Cambridge

113.3 - Vinnie Corcitto - Lake George

110.6 - Ryan Smith - Guilderland

105.9 - Chad McCloskey - Gloversville

99.8 - Brendan Frye - Warrensburg

96.1 - Josh Floeser - Cohoes

89.4 - Adam Biron - Johnstown

88.3 - Mike Murray - La Salle

86.7 - Peyton Stahler - Canajoharie

71.4 - Ryan Duncan - Voorheesville

56.5 - Ryan Macari - Averill Park

52.2 - Austin Bateman - Schuylerville

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Remember, the NFL QB rating is a formula that balances out four major components of a quarterback's performance - completion percentage, yardage, high number of touchdowns thrown and a low number of interceptions thrown.

The maximum rating is 158.3 and anything over 100 is generally considered as very good.

Check out the full stats package in Friday's edition of The Record, along with polls, staff picks, a complete Week 4 schedule, standings and a preview story on the Watervliet High defense pitching three straight shutouts to open the season.

We had a lot of success with these live chats during high school basketball season, so I'm bringing them back for football.

For the rest of the season, let's plan on having a little pow-wow Thursday nights from 6 p.m. until...well, whenever it seems like the room has quieted down.

We can talk about the Week 4 matchups and any other ideas you'd like to bring up about the season so far, but let's keep it civil and the criticism constructive.

In the meantime, I'll post a few stats, the QB ratings and game capsules for Week 4 in the coming days.

Sign up for a reminder email below and I'll see you on Thursday night.

Who knew The Record's weekly high school football picks chart could create so much controversy?

Three of our staff members picked Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons this week over Rensselaer - the New York State Sportswriters Association also ranked Gibbons ahead of Rensselaer in the initial Class D poll - which led Rams running back Mico De Los Santos to pose me this question when I approached him after the game:

"Who did you pick? I'm not talking to you if you picked them!"

De Los Santos took the picks to heart and let it all pour out on the field, gaining 278 all-purpose yards in a 49-14 statement victory over the Golden Knights.

The Rams proved themselves to be top dogs in Class D - at least for now. Their next big game is at Class C opponent Hoosick Falls on Friday, Oct. 2, which will give us a really good idea of the talent level of this Rams team.

Still, Saturday's victory over another undefeated Class D power meant a great deal to the Rams, especially in light of the public snubbings.

"The only reason it was big was because of what the paper has been saying," De Los Santos said. "All these people picked them to win. They shouldn’t have picked them. We got hyped off of that. Everybody got mad. We weren’t even going to talk to any papers. Everyone was saying that. It really was a big game and we made a big statement."

De Los Santos leaps over Bishop Gibbons' Ryan Maxwell during Saturday's game at Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons High School. (Photos by J.S. Carras - The Record).

"It was definitely a big game," said Rensselaer head coach Joel Preston. "The kids read into those state rankings that really don’t mean anything. They saw Gibbons ranked above us and they got a little chippy."

Preston also wished to clear the air about a controversial fourth quarter play. The Rams held a big lead and had the ball on Bishop Gibbons' 32-yard line late in the game. Rensselaer sent out the punting team, only to have the punter attempt a fake and pass the ball toward the end zone.
It fell incomplete, but Preston insisted the Rams were not trying to run up the score.

The Rams practice a play, as does every team in the area, where they send a gunner out to the sideline in punting situations. If left uncovered, the punter throws to a wide-open receiver running down the sideline.

The Rams players did what they practiced, no harm meant.

"I didn’t call that play on the fake fourth down," Preston said. "I had every intention of punting and giving them the ball, pinning the ball deep and letting the clock run. That’s an automatic read, where if no one is on him, we practice that and he throws it automatically. I certainly don’t want to run the score up on anybody."

De Los Santos practices his Heisman Trophy pose during Saturday's Class D game against Bishop Gibbons.

I was also impressed with junior lineman Jason Brown, who addressed the team after the game. Although the Rams passed only three times - Timmy Foust was a perfect 3-for-3 for 98 yards and a touchdown - Brown praised the line for keeping Foust's jersey an unblemished white.

Lansingburgh's Tyrone Nichols turns upfield during Friday's homecoming game against Cohoes. The Knights scored six unanswered touchdowns (and a safety) after the Tigers scored on their opening drive, posting a 51-19 victory at Lansingburgh High School. (All photos by Mike McMahon - The Record).

Lansingburgh junior tight end Blake Mosley scampers into the end zone for a touchdown in Friday's game. A converted lineman, Mosley drew plenty of praise from Lansingburgh head coach Al McNall after the game for his dedication to the position switch and his toughness going over the middle of the field.

Lansingburgh's Terrance Kemp loses a fumble in the first quarter of Friday's ballgame. Cohoes' Kyle Farley (44) recovered the ball.

Cohoes quarterback Josh Floeser tucks the ball and runs during Friday's game. He rushed for 17 yards and added 72 passing yards and two touchdowns through the air.

Lansingburgh's Terrance Kemp looks for an opening. Kemp rushed for 41 yards and as a team, the Knights gained 243 yards on 55 rushing attempts.

Lansingburgh senior quarterback T.J. McLaughlin spent plenty of time running Friday night - he finished with 31 rushing yards on 10 attempts - but he did the most damage through the air. McLaughlin tossed for 163 yards and three scores on a 9-of-15 performance, as the Knights developed a devastating play-action fake through strong running in the double-wing.

"We had a little jitters and everybody was a little nervous, especially after they scored on the opening drive," McLaughlin said. "I just told the team to let it go and the offense came out strong, we got the big safety and we made some big plays."

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Check out the full story on the Lansingburgh-Cohoes game, as well as stories from the Troy High vs. Scotia-Glenville and Hoosick Falls vs. Tamarac contests in Saturday's edition of The Record.

Bishop Maginn's Pierre Sandaire drags down Averill Park's Tyler Listing in Thursday's Class A Division I game at Bleecker Stadium. The Griffins sacked Averill Park quarterback Ryan Macari five times in a 25-7 victory. (Photos by J.S. Carras - The Record).

"I’ve always said, the best way to defend the pass is that the quarterback can’t throw it when he’s on his back," Bishop Maginn head coach Joe Grasso said.

Averill Park junior running back Tyler Dunworth looks to corral the ball during Thursday's game. Dunworth stole the show as the Warriors' punter, once pinning the Griffins on the one-yard line and again dropping the ball inside the five, only to have his cover team muff it into the end zone for a touchback.

"They played a heck of a game and they brought heat," said Averill Park head coach Zach Gobel. "They’re an athletic team and they disrupted our routes. They did a good job of disrupting our routes in the secondary."

A host of Warriors look to pounce on a loose ball during Thursday's game. Averill Park took a 7-7 tie and plenty of momentum into halftime, but was worn down by Bishop Maginn's Tymear Mallory, who finished with 218 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

"The line just opened up the holes and I just found the open spaces," Mallory said. "I did what I do. I ran fast."

Averill Park senior running back and linebacker Justin Collen left the game late in the first quarter, apparently re-injuring his left knee. He suffered an ACL tear in the same knee last season.

"It’s the same thing it’s always been," Gobel said. "We’re having trouble getting him through a game. He’s getting that dinged up, but he’s certainly playing his heart out when he’s in there."

Check out the full story, as well as a recap of La Salle's 21-0 victory over Colonie, in Friday's edition of The Record.

Not only do we get three nights of football this weekend, we also get a potential Section II Super Bowl matchup in each class. There are still five weeks to go in the regular season, so plenty of things may change, but many teams are playing coin-toss, 50-50, either way games this weekend.

With Divisional play beginning in Class AA, A and B this weekend, some teams that got off to a poor start have a quick shot at redemption with a first place tie after one victory. That should lead to a very interesting Averill Park-Bishop Maginn game Thursday night, since both teams were blown out last week.

Class AA

Shen at Ballston Spa, Thursday, 7 p.m.

The Plainsmen lucked out with a controversial win over Schenectady last weekend and can get a leg up in the Empire Division. The Scotties, however, look like the real deal, romping to early victories over Columbia and Bethlehem, keeping their starters fresh by removing them late in the games.

Shenendehowa senior Suhayb Banks sheds a Shaker tackler in a Week 1 contest. Banks was injured in a Week 2 game against Schenectady. He has a torn ACL and is likely out for the year. (Photo by J.S. Carras - The Record).

Both these teams run the ball with authority, which bodes well for postseason weather. La Salle and Schenectady like to throw the ball a little bit, which makes their run at another Super Bowl matchup a bit more challenging.
A prediction: Ballston Spa 35, Shen 14.

Don't forget: La Salle and Schenectady.

Class A

Gloversville at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, Friday, 7 p.m.
This is quickly becoming one of the area's best rivalries, not only for the quality of football, but for the backstory between these two communities with no natural bond.
Burnt Hills head coach Matt Shell and Gloversville head coach Tom Ciaccio played together on Gloversville teams in the late 1980s, and now face off on opposite sidelines.
With Amsterdam looking like a first round flop type of team through two weeks, the winner of this game likely takes the Division II title and homefield advantage in the playoffs.
PS - Section II coaches will wear "Shellstrong" shirts this weekend for Shell and his family. Section II coaches raised over $5,000 through the sale of shirts to players and fans, as well.
A prediction: Burnt Hills 42, Gloversville 21.

Don't forget: Troy.

Class B

Cohoes at Lansingburgh, Friday, 7 p.m.

The Knights were just named the No. 1 team in the state this week, but they have something to prove against No. 18 Cohoes Friday night. The Tigers won the Reinfurt Division last year - went undefeated, in fact, until the Class B semifinals - and will be throwing everything they have against their long-lost gridiron rival. The teams have not played since 2005.

Cohoes lineman Mike Jackson was a jack-of-all-trades last year on the offensive side of the ball, but he's settled into a two-way starting role in his senior season. (Photos by J.S. Carras - The Record).

Expect a lot of passing in this one, too. Lansingburgh's T.J. McLaughlin and Cohoes' Josh Floeser both love to light up the skies as a changeup to each team's powerful running game.
A prediction: Lansingburgh 20, Cohoes 7

Don't forget: Albany Academy, Hudson.

Cohoes senior quarterback Josh Floeser is also expecting to have a big game in the defensive backfield for the Tigers Friday night in Lansingburgh.

Class C

Chatham at Fonda-Fultonville, Saturday, 1 p.m.
These teams fall outside our coverage area, but they're two of the best and will certainly wind up fighting it out for the South Division title.
Fonda loves to pass and Chatham loves to run - just look at Josh Keyes, the Section II scoring leader. It will be a clash of styles out on top of the hill in Fonda, but the winner makes a claim for being the best team in the South Division, if not all of Class C.
Circle Friday, Oct. 9 on your calendar, because that is when Cambridge travels to Hoosick Falls for a similar North Division showdown.
A prediction: Chatham 21, Fonda 20.

Don't forget: Hoosick Falls, Cambridge

Class D

Rensselaer at Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons, Saturday, 1 p.m.
The Rams escaped in a rainy game Week 1 last season against the Golden Knights, but they'll have a much tougher task against an improved team on Saturday afternoon.
Derrick Pitts does it all for Gibbons, passing and running the ball, but Rob Redman is also an interesting player, a great place kicker and wide receiver.
The Rams, on the other hand, spread the ball around between a number of talented playmakers. Jashem Hamilton and Nate Butler lead the power running attack, while quarterback Timmy Foust has his pick of receivers in Mico De Los Santos and Chris Britt.
A prediction: Rensselaer 28, Bishop Gibbons 20

Don't forget: Lake George, Greenwich.

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After learning that this might be the last season for the New York State Sportswriters Association, here is the latest installment in our 'don't take your sports for granted' series.
Sports Illustrated has a piece on Grove City, Ohio, and the decision there to suspend ALL extra-curricular activities, including the high school's football team that averaged more than 11,000 fans per game.

Could it happen here? Remember, the NYSPHSAA has already limited the number of games basketball, baseball and softball teams can play, beginning this year. Some schools, such as Tamarac, have already chopped most of their assistant coaching positions to free up money in the school budget to buy books and supplies, pay teacher salaries and simply keep the lights on.

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For the boxing fans out there, Pugnacious Promotions has scheduled a fight for Friday, Oct. 23 at McDonough Sports Complex at Hudson Valley Community College.
Shawn Miller, Mike Faragon, Kimdo Bethel and Brian Miller are among the local fighters on the card - but we'll see how many fans show up on a high school football Friday night, the first week of the playoffs.

The New York State Sportswriters Association has released its high school football rankings today.
Visit www.roadtosyracuse.com for the lists, which feature team helmets in the polls.

Lansingburgh was named the No. 1 Class B team in the state and they'll take on No. 18 Cohoes Friday night in the 'Burgh. Look for a preview story on this game in The Record this week.

Burnt Hills and Gloversville make another ranked Week 3 battle, as will Shen-Ballston Spa, Rensselaer-Bishop Gibbons and Fonda-Chatham.

Big weekend for Section II football!

Local teams making the cut:
Class AA
La Salle - 16
Ballston Spa - 21
Shenendehowa - 23

Class A
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake - 2
Troy - 9
Gloversville - 15

Class B
Lansingburgh - 1
Albany Academy - 8
Cohoes - 18

Class C
Cambridge - 9
Hoosick Falls - 13
Chatham - 19
Fonda-Fultonville - 20

Class D
Bishop Gibbons - 9
Rensselaer - 14

Shenendehowa (0-0, 2-0) at Ballston Spa (0-0, 2-0), Thursday, 7 p.m.

About Shenendehowa: The Plainsmen got a gift of a victory last week against Schenectady – a referee’s incorrect call gave Shen a one-point win on a 2-point conversion late in the game – but they’ll need to be perfect all-around to beat Ballston Spa tonight. Senior tailback Suhayb Banks was injured early in last week’s game and did not play in the second half, finishing with 48 yards on eight carries. Running backs Bronson Greene and Cody Case-Therrien and quarterback Andrew Kalish will have to pick up the slack if Banks can’t go tonight.
About Ballston Spa: The Scotties have outscored opponents 103-13 this season, including a 61-13 drubbing at Bethlehem last week. Ballston Spa’s fabled flexbone option, spearheaded by senior quarterback Mark Seager, is a terror for opponents to defend. This game could easily wind up determining the Empire Division champion.
Notable: These teams met twice in 2008, splitting the series. Shen won the regular season finale 45-41, and after first round playoff defeats, the teams met again in crossover action in Week 9. Ballston Spa won that game, 32-31. Shen head coach Brent Steuerwald is three wins away from No. 300.

Troy (0-0, 2-0) at Scotia-Glenville (0-0, 0-2), Friday, 7 p.m.

About Troy: The Flying Horses handed Amsterdam its worst loss in program history last week, a 50-0 decision. Junior running back Shatiek Lewis has rushed for four touchdowns this season and he has a12.4 yards per carry average. Junior running back and return specialist Jordan Canzeri racked up 252 all-purpose yards in the game against Amsterdam, including a 95-yard opening kickoff returned for a touchdown.
About Scotia: The Tartans have been outscored by their opponents 28-68 in losses to Burnt Hills and Glens Falls. Running back Joe Angley has led the way for the Tartans with 212 rushing yards on 30 carries.
Notable: Troy posted a 34-0 shutout over the Tartans in Week 3 of the 2008 season. Scotia has appeared in the postseason five times this decade, losing in the first round each time.

Hoosick Falls (2-0, 2-0) at Tamarac (1-0, 1-1), Friday, 7 p.m

About Hoosick Falls: Senior running back Alex Hansen is the second-leading scorer in the Section II, having crossed the goal line six times already this season. Junior quarterback Mike Brewster has completed 75% of his passes for 277 yards, including four touchdown tosses. The Panthers have outscored opponents 76-19.
About Tamarac: The Bengals bounced back after a Week 1 loss against Class D opponent Bishop Gibbons with a victory over Stillwater in Week 2. Senior quarterback Nick Knauer has rushed for 252 yards on 42 carries, a six yards per carry average.
Notable: The teams did not play each other last season, as Tamarac played in the South Division. The last time these teams met was on Oct. 15, 2004, a 39-0 victory for the Panthers in the regular season finale.

Rensselaer (2-0, 2-0) at Bishop Gibbons (1-0, 2-0), Saturday, 1 p.m.

About Rensselaer: The Rams have allowed only 21 points in their first three games and only Greenwich, which allowed 20 points to Rensselaer in Week 1, has allowed fewer points among Class D teams. Mico De Los Santos has scored four touchdowns for the Rams, and Jashem Hamilton, with 248 rushing yards on 37 carries, has three scoring runs.
About Bishop Gibbons: The Golden Knights own a victory over Tamarac, a Class C team, and got off on the right foot in Class D with a 36-18 triumph over Spa Catholic last week. Do-it-all back Derrick Pitts is averaging 11.5 yards per carry (29 attempts, 333 yards) and has also thrown for 191 yards and three scores. Pitts is also a return threat on special teams.
Notable: The teams met in Week 1 last season, with the Rams capturing a 24-16. Gibbons finished with a 6-3 record in 2008 – the first winning season for the Schenectady-based team since 1976 – but missed the playoffs on a head-to-head tiebreaker with Canajoharie. Rensselaer, on the other hand, won its first Section II Class D Super Bowl since 1995.

The Record's Week 3 Power Poll

Class AA
Team, League, Overall, Last Week
1, La Salle, 0-0, 2-0, 1
Cadets held on to the Sabre last week by fending off a second quarter scare thrown their way by CBA. Tyler Washington rushed for three touchdowns on his birthday, but who will be the next to step up in the Cadets backfield?
2, Ballston Spa, 0-0, 2-0, 2
Scotties scored 61 points at Bethlehem last week, making them the only team in Section II to have scored more than 100 points thus far.
3, Shenendehowa, 0-0, 2-0, 3
Plainsmen squeaked out a win at home against Schenectady, but will they be without Suhayb Banks tonight at Ballston Spa? Perhaps Shen’s biggest problem tonight is trying to stop the Scotties’ powerful option offense.
4, Schenectady, 0-0, 1-1, 4
Patriots certainly played well enough to win at Shen, turns out it just wasn’t in the cards. They’ll have to find a way to score points at Shaker tonight – the Bison shut out Albany last weekend.
5, Guilderland, 0-0, 1-1, -
Ryan Smith’s 32 completions are the most of any Section II quarterback and the Dutchmen will certainly keep it entertaining through the air this season. Guilderland could set up a very interesting Week 4 game at Shen with a victory over CBA tonight.

Class A
Team, League, Overall, Last Week
1, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, 0-0, 2-0, 1
The Spartans scored 46 points for the second consecutive week, giving former Suburban Council rival Niskayuna a rude welcome to Class A. Keaton Flint is having another fine season at wide receiver, catching balls at a 20.1 yards per reception average.
2, Troy, 0-0, 2-0, 2
The defense was outstanding Saturday against Amsterdam, holding the Rams to -26 yards of total offense in a 50-0 victory. The special teams are pretty good, too, with Jordan Canzeri handling the return duties. He has two return touchdowns in two games.
3, Gloversville, 0-0, 2-0, -
The Huskies’ 51-6 blowout over Bishop Maginn last week sets up a big Gloversville-Burnt Hills Division II showdown tomorrow night. Gloversville head coach Tom Ciaccio and Burnt Hills head coach Matt Shell were former teammates at Gloversville in the late 1980s.
4, Queensbury, 0-0, 1-1, -
The Spartans quickly rebounded from a 30-7 loss against Troy in Week 1 to topple Averill Park 48-14 in Week 2. Queensbury gets it done on the ground – the team has thrown the ball only eight times through two games.
5, Bishop Maginn, 0-0, 1-1, 5
Griffins host Averill Park in the blowout bounce-back bowl tonight at Bleecker Stadium. The two teams lost by a combined 79 points last week. The winner, however, earns a tie for first place in Division I.

Class B
Team, League, Overall, Last Week
1, Lansingburgh, 0-0, 2-0, 1
The Knights took to the skies last week in Rotterdam, as T.J. McLaughlin passed for 190 yards in a victory over Schalmont. Lansingburgh teams haven’t thrown the ball like this since before Pete Porcelli and his double-wing system came to town.
2, Albany Academy, 0-0, 2-0, 2
Zay Richardson remains as one of the best backs in the area, picking up 6.6 yards per carry. Sophomore quarterback Hunter McCarthy has benefited, completing 71% of his passes for 208 yards and three touchdowns.
3, Cohoes, 0-0, 2-0, 3
Tommy Durrant scored three touchdowns in the Tigers’ big victory over the Sir Bills on Saturday. Cohoes staked a 20-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. Rivalry game against Lansingburgh tonight can’t rattle Tigers, as this one counts for Reinfurt Division positioning.
4, Hudson, 0-0, 2-0, 4
The Bluehawks might be having issues with the defense, but the offense is having fun scoring points at will. Talib Barksdale rushed for two touchdowns and passed for two more, making Nevin Sheldon a favorite target. Sheldon has three receptions for 178 yards – all touchdowns.
5, Broadalbin-Perth, 0-0, 1-1, -
Through two weeks, the five teams in the West Division have combined for one victory – one! – the Patriots’ Week 1 triumph over Ravena. Jeff Hoyt has already scored four touchdowns for the early favorites in the weak West Division.

Class C
Team, League, Overall, Last Week
1, Hoosick Falls, 2-0, 2-0, 1
The Panthers blanked Hoosic River rivals Hoosic Valley last week, with senior running back Alex Hansen adding four rushing touchdowns to his season total. The defense with have its hands full with Tamarac’s spread offense scheme this week.
2, Chatham, 2-0, 2-0, 2
The Panthers have watched Josh Keyes find the end zone seven times in two games, making him Section II’s most prolific scorer. Saturday’s game at Fonda-Fultonville will go a long way toward determining the South Division champion.
3, Fonda-Fultonville, 2-0, 2-0, 3
Seth Hidde continues the tradition at Fonda under center. He’s the top passer in Section II, having thrown for 435 yards and seven touchdowns in the Braves’ first two games.
4, Cambridge, 2-0, 2-0, 5
The Indians crushed Schuylerville in Week 2, knocking the Black Horses out of the top five. Kyle Parmenter is one of three Section II quarterbacks to have thrown for over 400 yards thus far.
5, Watervliet, 2-0, 2-0, -
So much for the worries about the defense in the Arsenal City. The Cannoneers are the only team in Section II to post shutouts in consecutive games to begin the season. Tamarac, Mechanicville and Schuylerville accomplished that feat in 2008.

Class D
Team, League, Overall, Last Week
1, Rensselaer, 2-0, 2-0, 1
It’s going to be a big-time showdown in Schenectady Saturday afternoon for the Rams. Rensselaer’s defense gets the ultimate test from Bishop Gibbons’ Derrick Pitts, who terrorizes opponents with his rushing and passing skills.
2, Bishop Gibbons, 1-0, 2-0, 3
Averaging 11.5 yards per rush and 11.9 yards per pass attempt, by the numbers, Derrick Pitts should record a first down every time he touches the ball.
3, Lake George, 1-0, 1-1, 2
The Warriors dropped a non-division crossover contest to Corinth, but still look like one of the best teams in Class D. Caleb Meroski is one of three running backs in Section II with at least 50 rushing attempts through two games.
4, Greenwich, 1-1, 1-1, -
After losing a battle with Rensselaer, the Witches blanked Salem 39-0. Greenwich has plenty of experience returning from last year’s team and look out for them this week in a crossover rivalry battle, hosting Cambridge.
5, Fort Edward, 1-1, 1-1, -
Flying Forts couldn’t stop Warrensburg in Week 1, but rallied with a victory over Whitehall last Saturday. Justin White averages over nine yards per carry.

Section II Stat Pack

Rushing
Player, School, Att., Yds., Avg., TD
Casiem Maxwell, Bethlehem, 45, 464, 10.3, 4
Jordan Charbonneau, Corinth, 51, 423, 8.3, 4
Caleb Meroski, Lake George, 53, 372, 7.0, 5
Jack Reilly, CBA, 43, 339, 7.9, 3
Derrick Pitts, Bishop Gibbons, 29, 333, 11.5, 3
Vince Gallo, Schalmont, 39, 329, 8.4, 1
Tyrone Nichols, Lansingburgh, 26, 311, 12.0, 3
Max Schuster, Voorheesville, 49, 305, 6.2, 4
Alex Hansen, Hoosick Falls, 26, 299, 11.5, 6
Justin White, Fort Edward, 32, 299, 9.3, 2

Receiving
Player, School, Rec., Yds., Avg., TD
Jesse Lybert, Cambridge, 9, 211, 23.4, 3
Nevin Sheldon, Hudson, 3, 178, 59.3, 3
Keaton Flint, Burnt Hills, 8, 167, 20.9, 3
Lou DiNovo, La Salle, 7, 166, 23.7, 3
Brice McMahon, Catholic Central, 6, 158, 26.3, 2
Dane O’Neil, Canajoharie, 5, 158, 31.6, 1
Steve Backus, Schuylerville, 6, 155, 25.8, 1
Connor Ferris, Albany Academy, 6, 151, 25.2, 1
James Currier, Voorheesville, 10, 146, 14.6, 0
Aaron Hall, Gloversville, 7, 146, 20.9, 2

Passing
Player, School, Comp., Att., Yds., TD, Int.
Seth Hidde, Fonda-Fultonville, 24, 39, 435, 7, 0
Ryan Smith, Guilderland, 32, 48, 423, 4, 1
Kyle Parmenter, Cambridge, 17, 26, 401, 5, 1
Ryan Macari, Averill Park, 19, 41, 399, 2, 4
Mike Murray, La Salle, 17, 33, 323, 4, 1
Austin Bateman, Schuylerville, 23, 48, 308, 1, 4
Mike Brewster, Hoosick Falls, 18, 24, 277, 4, 0
Josh Floeser, Cohoes, 14, 29, 264, 3, 2
Peyton Stahler, Canajoharie, 10, 29, 260, 3, 2
Talib Barksdale, Hudson, 8, 23, 256, 4, 0

Scoring
Player, School, TD, PAT, FG, 2PT., Tot.
Josh Keyes, Chatham, 7, 0, 0, 0, 42
Alex Hansen, Hoosick Falls, 6, 0, 0, 1, 38
Caleb Meroski, Lake George, 5, 0, 0, 2, 34
Tyrone Nichols, Lansingburgh, 5, 0, 0, 0, 30
Jordan Charbonneau, Corinth, 4, 1, 0, 1, 27
Jeff Hoyt, Broadalbin-Perth, 4, 0, 0, 2, 26
Mico De Los Santos, Rensselaer, 4, 1, 0, 0, 25
10 players tied with 24 points apiece

Kicking
Player, School, PAT, FG, Tot.
Matt Beighey, Ballston Spa, 13, 0, 13
Nick Daley, Saratoga Springs, 5, 2, 11
Jarrett Lucas, Gloversville, 8, 1, 11
Matt Best, Cambridge, 9, 0, 9
Evan Nusbaum, Burnt Hills, 9, 0, 9
Rob Redman, Bishop Gibbons, 6, 1, 9
Brandon Sealey, Canajoharie, 6, 1, 9
Isaiah Earing, Schenectady, 8, 0, 8
Michael Gilbert, Chatham, 7, 0, 7
Tom Shevlin, Queensbury, 7, 0, 7

Look for more coverage of Section II football in The Record this Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, including a preview of Friday's Cohoes-Lansingburgh showdown.