(Blogger's note: Record reporter Andrew Santillo covered Albany High for the Kickoff 2010 section. I will post photos and a few brief notes for the Falcons, but since I was not on campus, I do not have video).

ALBANY -- Once again, the Albany High School football team has a new coach. John McClement replaced Pete Porcelli this past offseason, becoming the school's fourth football coach in the last four years.

After spending last year as the defensive coordinator, McClement has taken over the program with an uphill battle ahead.

The Falcons have won just one game over the past three seasons and haven’t posted a single victory in the last two years.

"That’s the definition of an uphill battle," McClement told The Record's Andrew Santillo. "We’re really trying to instill in them, you’re having successes, but the win is how it’s measured at the varsity level and that’s what they’re working towards."

For the full story on the Falcons, check out the Kickoff 2010 section tucked inside Thursday's edition of The Record.

Albany High school players work on a drill during a recent practice behind the high school. (Photo by J.S. Carras - The Record).

Albany High playbook
COACH: John McClement
STARTERS RETURNING: not provided
2009 RECORD: 0-9
NICKNAME: Falcons
OFFENSE: not provided
DEFENSE: not provided
LAST PLAYOFF GAME: 2004
LAST SECTION II TITLE: 1996 (Class AA)
DIVISION: Class AA, Empire

Albany High, 2009 game-by-game results
Schenectady, L 47-20
SHAKER, L 7-0
SARATOGA SPRINGS, L 18-0
Ballston Spa, L 28-14
Shenendehowa, L 49-20
Guilderland, L 19-14
CBA, L, 28-21
COLUMBIA, L 28-7*
Colonie, L 32-7*
*Crossover games
Home games in CAPS

Albany High, 2009 stats review
Rushing, Att, Yds., Avg., TDs
Dominique Daniels, 47, 334, 7.1, 3
Passing, Comp., Att., Yds., Avg., TDs
Kawan Nunnally, 14, 29, 148, 10.6, 2
Receiving, No., Yds., Avg., TDs
Nico Rios, 7, 99, 14.1, 1
Scoring, TD, 2-pt, PAT, FG, Tot.
Dominique Daniels, 4, 0, 0, 0, 24

Albany High 2010 roster
No., Player, Yr., Pos. Ht., Wt.
not provided

Albany’s three keys to the season
1, Dealing with adversity. This year’s Albany team will deal with adversity at some point during the season. It’s how the team deals with those things that will prove how good or bad this team will be.
2, Coaching transitions. It’s not just McClement who is in a new position. Albany has several new coaches, some that used to play for the team, when the team was strong, back in the mid 90s. The players are confident that these coaches can turn things around.
3, Offense change. The Falcons are going from a predominately running offense under Coach Pete Porcelli to a more balanced system. Under new Offensive Coordinator Jim Demidio, it looks like Albany will try their hand at going through the air with senior quarterback Michael Blair.

Albany High, 2010 schedule
Friday Sept. 3, Albany at Ballston Spa, 7 p.m.
Saturday Sept. 11, Shenendehowa at Albany, 1:30 p.m.
Friday, Srpt. 17, Albany at Saratoga Springs, 7 p.m.
Friday Sept. 24, Guilderland at Albany, 7 p.m.
Friday Oct. 1, Bethlehem at Albany, 7 p.m.
Saturday Oct. 9, Colonie at Albany, 1:30 p.m.
Friday Oct. 15, Albany at Christian Brothers Academy, 7 p.m.
Oct. 22/29, Playoffs/Crossovers, TBA

John McClement oversees a number of his linemen during a recent practice at Albany High. He is the fourth head coach at the school in four years.

--
Keep checking back on the blog for a training camp report posted every day between now and opening day of the high school football season on Thurs., Sept. 2. The schools will be posted in no particular order, so please be patient if you don't see your school right away.

Also keep your eyes open for our 48-page preview section - Kickoff 2010 - which hits the newsstands inside The Record on Thurs., Sept. 2. It will feature 21 team previews, columns, feature stories, statistics and pictures to preview the upcoming 2010 high school football season.

Previous training camp reports:
No. 1, Lansingburgh High School
No. 2, Cohoes High School
No. 3, Watervliet High School
No. 4, Columbia High School
No. 5, Catholic Central High School; head coach Ray Gaston update
No. 6, Christian Brothers Academy
No. 7, Rensselaer High School
No. 8, Hoosick Falls High School
No. 9, Averill Park High School 
No. 10, Tamarac High School
No. 11, Troy High School
No. 12, Bishop Maginn High School
No. 13, La Salle Institute
No. 14, Stillwater High School
No. 15, Shenendehowa High School
No. 16, Mechanicville High School
No. 17, Hoosic Valley High School
No. 18, Albany Academy


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