Troy High head coach Jack Burger (left) asks his team, "Where are we going?" "The Dome!" they replied, in unison. (Photos by Mike McMahon - The Record).

KINGSTON — The letters Z and E were missing from the back of Jordan Canzeri's jersey Saturday night and a few more were hanging by a thread.

It was that type of game for the Troy High football team.

For the second consecutive week, the Flying Horses came from behind late in the fourth quarter. This time, however, Troy did not earn another trip to Kingston. The Flying Horses instead punched their ticket to the Carrier Dome with a 20-19 New York State Class AA eastern semifinal victory over New Rochelle at Dietz Stadium.

“All we do is play Troy High football,” Canzeri said. “They were a good team. They were strong. They were fast. We didn't give up even though they were ahead. We've been down before at halftime and we've been down in the fourth quarter. We kept fighting and it was a great win.”

For video highlights from the game, click here.

Canzeri, pictured above, scored his second touchdown of the game on a 50-yard run with 11:10 to play in the fourth quarter, but New Rochelle's Jordan Lucas returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for the go-ahead score.

Both teams lost possession of the ball on fumbles midway through the fourth quarter, but Troy made the most of a eight-play drive that started at midfield after a New Rochelle fumble. Senior quarterback Brian Marsh scored on an eight-yard run to put the Flying Horses ahead 20-10 with 1:54 to play.

Troy withstood a New Rochelle drive to Troy's 34-yard line in the final minute, forcing a turnover on downs that essentially ended the game.

Troy (12-0) will face Section V champion Rush-Henrietta (12-0) in the New York State Class AA championship game Sun., Nov. 28 at 3 p.m. at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.



Canzeri, a senior running back and cornerback who finished with 183 rushing yards on 23 attempts, was named Troy's Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the Game.

Senior linebacker Kyle Geraci, who recovered a New Rochelle fumble in the third quarter that did not ultimately result in any points for the Troy offense, was named the team's Defensive Player of the Game.

New Rochelle (9-1), the five-time defending Section I champion, ran just eight plays in the first half, but gained 161 yards of total offense. Troy, comparatively, ran 36 plays before halftime, gaining 205 yards.

Capri Corn scored on a 67-yard run on the second play of New Rochelle's first offensive drive and Khaliq Butts ran for an 80-yard score (pictured, at left) on the first play of the Huguenots' third series.

“We didn't make the plays when we needed to,” Geraci said of the defensive effort in the first half. “We just needed to tackle and we came up big at the end. That's all that counts right now.”

Troy finished with 298 rushing yards on 54 attempts. Marsh, who ran for 74 yards on 13 attempts, added 96 passing yards on a 6-of-11 performance.

The Troy defense, led by Stephaun Grinage, seen here tackling New Rochelle's Jordan Lucas, played its best when it needed to in Saturday's state semifinal victory in Kingston.

New Rochelle has allowed more than 22 points in a single game just four times since the start of the 2004 season. While that stingy streak continued for the Huguenots, Troy's defense was just a little bit better Saturday night.

“Defense wins championships,” said senior wide receiver and safety Ian Blair. “We knew our offense was going to take care of it. We've got Jordan Canzeri and Shatiek (Lewis) running it. And Josh (Blaauboer, a receiver). Our O-line is the best in the section.

“It's all to our defense and our defense did it,” Blair continued.

Troy, which won state championships in 1996 and 1998, returns to the Carrier Dome for the first time since that 1998 season, a fact the players could barely believe as they were mobbed on the Dietz Stadium turf by parents and well-wishers after the victory.

“I'm not processing anything right now,” a teary-eyed Blair said. “It's the best feeling in the world.”

TROY 20, NEW ROCHELLE 19

Troy (12-0) 0 7 0 13 - 20
New Rochelle (9-1) 7 6 0 6 – 19
First Quarter
NR – Capri Corn 67 run (Shaquille Evans kick) 4:39
Second Quarter
T – Jordan Canzeri 43 run (Badro Talbi kick) 7:47
NR – Khaliq Butts 80 run (kick failed) 6:49
Third Quarter
No scoring
Fourth Quarter
T – Canzeri 50 run (Talbi kick) 11:10
NR – Jordan Lucas 85 kick return (pass failed) 10:57
T – Brian Marsh 8 run (run failed) 1:54
Individual Statistics
Rushing: Troy (54-298): Canzeri 23-183, Marsh 13-74, Lewis 12-30, Geraci 4-11, Grinage 2-0. New Rochelle (24-200): Butts 7-70, Corn 3-67, Desir 5-28, Lucas 7-24, Cargill 2-11.
Passing: Troy: Marsh 6-11-0-96; Felder 0-1-0-0. New Rochelle: Butts 3-4-0-22.
Receiving: Troy (6-96): Blaauboer 2-64, Felder 1-13, Lewis 1-12, Blair 1-9, Canzeri 1-(-2). New Rochelle (3-22): Corn 1-12, Lucas 1-8, Evans 1-2.

--
Our Ed Weaver was at the game and penned the following sidebar story:

KINGSTON -- Some time today and perhaps Monday, the Troy Flying Horses will look back and think, if we hadn't been able to pull out that 20-19 victory over New Rochelle on Saturday night, what a terrible loss that would have been to relive -- for the rest of their lives.

The Flying Horses will play for the New York state Class AA championship at the Carrier Dome one week from today. Despite their outstanding defensive play on Saturday at Kingston's Dietz Stadium -- while they certainly deserved to win -- they were fortunate to gain the state title berth.

Take away three big plays -- one on a kickoff -- and Troy held the Huguenots to four first downs and 76 yards.

When Jordan Lucas picked up his own fumble -- which had been kicked ahead about 15 yards -- and returned a kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown, the Flying Horses trailed, 19-14.

They had just taken the lead on the previous play, on Jordan Canzeri's second touchdown run of the game.

"That would have been horrible," said linebacker Stephaun Grinage. "Horrible. "We'd have been real upset. But we're going to the Dome! I'm so happy."

"That would have been the most devastating loss ever," said senior linebacker Sean Peabody. "I couldn't have lived with it."

Flying Horses receiver Ian Blair dropped a sure touchdown in the end zone and dropped another pass that stalled another Troy drive. He played well in the secondary but he would have had a horrible bus ride home had the Horses not pulled out the victory.

"That would have been the worst thing in the world," Blair said. "The worst. I don't want to think about it."

Troy defensive end Luis Lind, who had two big tackles for losses, was asked if he was worried when Lucas scored on the weird kickoff.

"Well, we just had to continue to play hard and in the and never give up."

"We were worried," Grinage said. "But we got it back and got the lead back."

Defensive lineman Jay Yaskanich said, "to get to the Dome, what we worked for all year, I can't describe the feeling right now."

Had the Horses lost on New Rochelle's big play?

"Devastating," Yaskanich said. "I probably would have gone home and thought about all the things I could have done better."

Canzeri had his bell rung in the second quarter and had to leave for a couple plays.

"Yeah, I saw some worried faces (on the Troy sideline)," he admitted.

"I knew I had to do a little extra tonight," Canzeri said. "Everybody came up to me on the sidelines and they were just waiting for me to break something because I have a lot of weight on my back. My team depends on me to make plays like this and I just expect it."

Almost lost in everything that Canzeri did, was the two big receptions -- both on Troy scoring drives - made by receiver Josh Blaauboer.

"I feel great; we won," Blaauboer said. "Coach called my name in a couple big situations and the quarterback (Brian Marsh) came up big and made throws the defenders couldn't get to and I made the catches I had to make."

Yaskanich looked over at the stark disappointment on the New Rochelle sidelines.

"It almost didn't happen for us," he said. "But we did it. We're going to the Dome."

• Notes: Here is a story on Rush-Henrietta's victory over Clarence in the regional round from the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle.
• Here is a preview on the Baldwinsville team from the Syracuse Post-Standard.
• This will be the final post on the Off The Record blog. Saturday was my final day at The Record. I would like to take a minute to thank all of the folks in the sports department for their support and help over the years in giving me the time to expand our digital efforts. And of course, I'm also thankful for the reporting of Ryan Kircher, who authored a great deal of the posts on this blog in its first year. Last but not least, thanks to all of the players and coaches that graciously gave me a few minutes of their time for the sake of telling their stories. I couldn't have done it without all of you and I wish the best of luck to all of you in the future.

-30-

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Troy's Evan Vadney raises his arms in celebration following the Flying Horses' 32-21 victory over Monroe-Woodbury in the New York State Class AA regional playoff game at Dietz Stadium. (Photos by J.S. Carras - The Record).

KINGSTON – One of the staff members at Dietz Stadium said it all as the Troy High football team left the field Saturday night.

“See y'all next week.”

Troy High rallied from a one-point deficit with 4:38 remaining in the fourth quarter to post a thrilling 32-21 victory over Monroe-Woodbury in a New York State Class AA regional round game.

On the first play after Monroe had taken a 21-20 lead, senior running back Jordan Canzeri ran 53 yards to the end zone for the game-winning touchdown. He added a 33-yard run with 40 seconds to play to cap the Flying Horses' triumph.

Troy High senior running back Jordan Canzeri runs against Monroe-Woodbury in Saturday's regional Class AA playoff game.

“They were ranked first in the state and a lot of people doubted us,” Canzeri said. “They didn't think we could do it. We were happy to play the first team in the state and show what we could do and show how Troy football is really played. We were happy that we fought hard and came out with the win tonight.”

A Class AA team from the Albany area had not won a game beyond the Section II Super Bowl since Shenendehowa won a regional game in 2002.

Troy High senior wide receiver Josh Blaauboer snares a pass from quarterback Brian Marsh in Saturday's victory at Dietz Stadium in Kingston.

Canzeri, who was named the Offensive Player of the Game, finished with 172 rushing yards on 23 attempts. He also scored on a 58-yard punt return in the second quarter.

Troy (11-0) tied the game at 7-7 in the second quarter on a 52-yard pass from Brian Marsh to Josh Blaauboer. The Flying Horses forced a three-and-out on the ensuing drive and Canzeri returned the following punt all the way for Troy's second touchdown in a 65-second span.

Marsh ran in for a six-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter to put Troy ahead by two touchdowns.

The Flying Horses had a chance to put the game away with 10 minutes to play in the fourth quarter, but Noah Thomas dropped a pass in the end zone.

Monroe-Woodbury (10-1) drove 98 yards for a touchdown on the ensuing drive, as quarterback Ryan Spelman scored from 16 yards out with 7:03 to play. The Crusaders, seven-time defending Section IX champions, took the lead with 4:38 to play, when Trevor Officer broke a number of tackles on a 56-yard option run and Matt Valentini booted to go-ahead extra point.

The Troy High defense stops Monroe-Woodbury quarterback Ryan Spelman behind the line of scrimmage.

“People don't realize what we went up against,” said Troy High head coach Jack Burger. “We went up against a team that was averaging 46 points per game. That was a phenomenal job on the defensive side.”

Spelman finished with 171 passing yards and Officer rushed for 167. Monroe-Woodbury just barely outgained Troy offensively, 359-349.

Monroe's Jared Gennett was named the Defensive Player of the Game.

No. 7 Troy advances to a New York State Class AA eastern semifinal against Section I champion New Rochelle (9-0, No. 4 in the state), which earned a regional round bye. That game will be played as part of a Dietz Stadium semifinal tripleheader, on Sat., Nov. 20 at 8 p.m.

Saturday’s Class AA semifinal will be preceded by the Class C semifinal, which pits Saranac Lake against Bronxville and begins at noon. The Class B semifinal featuring Schalmont and Croton-Harmon is set to start at 4 p.m.

“I can't wait to play New Rochelle,” Blaauboer said. “We're just trying to win. This isn't our goal. Our goal is to get to the dome, but first, we have to beat New Rochelle.”

Monroe-Woodbury's Tom King attempts to tackle Troy's Josh Blaauboer during Saturday's Class AA regional playoff game in Kingston.

Troy had last won a Section II Super Bowl in 2000. The Flying Horses won five straight Section II titles from 1996 to 2000, capturing state championships in 1996 and 1998.

“It's a team effort. The staff, we do our thing and we ask the kids to do their thing,” Burger said. “It's 42 people strong and we push the kids awful hard. I think that when you have moments like this, they don't question why.”

Members of the Troy High football team celebrate during Saturday's regional victory over Monroe-Woodbury.

TROY 32, MONROE-WOODBURY 21

Troy (11-0) 0 14 6 12 – 32
Monroe-Woodbury (10-1) 0 7 0 14 – 21
First Quarter
No scoring.
Second Quarter
MW – Ryan Spelman 51 run (Matt Valentini kick) 10:19.
T – Josh Blaauboer 52 pass from Brian Marsh (Badro Talbi kick) 5:14
T – Jordan Canzeri 58 punt return (Talbi kick) 4:09
Third Quarter
T – Marsh 6 run (kick failed) 6:14
Fourth Quarter
MW – Spelman 16 run (Valentini kick) 7:03
MW – Trevor Officer 56 run (Valentini kick) 4:38
T – Canzeri 53 run (Marsh run failed) 4:12
T – Canzeri 33 run (kick failed) 0:40.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: Troy (46-272): Canzeri 23-172, Lewis 11-65, Marsh 10-31, Geraci 2-4. Monroe-Woodbury (31-188): Officer 15-167, Spelman 14-21, Patrignelli 2-0.
Passing: Troy: Marsh 3-5-77-1-0. Monroe-Woodbury: Spelman 7-19-171-0-0.
Receiving: Troy (3-77): Blaauboer 2-69, Blair 1-8. Monroe-Woodbury (7-171): Perez 3-132, Patrignelli 1-27, Tolosi 1-8, Cardone 1-4, Officer 1-0.

• Notes: It was so cold Saturday night that my flipcam froze and refused to work....of course, right when everything started to get good late in the fourth quarter. Luckily, I had the company iPhone with me and was able to capture some interviews after the game on that. Apologies for a sub-standard video on this game.
• In iPhone news, here is a glance at some web traffic stats for OTR:
• 
  

• You can see how the traffic, which stretches back one week in this chart, dramatically spiked during the hours I was live tweeting the Troy game from Dietz Stadium. Dear bigwigs at the Journal Register Company...providing reporters with the tools to report from the scene...this is how you drive traffic to the website. So, the moral of the story is, thanks for reading.
• Back to the game, there were a number of highlights on defense I couldn't get to in the main story.
• Stephaun Grinage was great for the Flying Horses at the linebacker position. He sacked Spelman in the first quarter and recovered a M-W fumble early in the second. He added another sack later in the second quarter.
• Ian Blair broke up a screen play with a huge hit late in the second quarter. It almost looked like the receiver held on to the ball long enough before fumbling, but it was called an incomplete pass. Blair dropped what would have been an interception two plays later.
• In the third quarter, Grinage and Nick Valenti combined on another sack. 
• Danny Danahy had a huge hit that broke up a M-W pass attempt on a third down midway through the third quarter.
• Luis Lind made a tackle for a loss that ultimately forced a M-W punt later in the quarter. He added a sack in the fourth quarter.
• Pastore fittingly closed out the game with a big sack of Spelman on a third down play.
  

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Arlina Anderson, one of two seniors on the Loudonville Christian team, leaps for a kill in front of Voorheesville's Anna Feller during Thursday's Section II Class CC/C playoff game at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School. (Photos by J.S. Carras - The Record).

BURNT HILLS — The Loudonville Christian School’s girls volleyball team expected the fastball from Voorheesville’s hitters in Thursday’s Section II Class CC/C playoff match, but the Blackbirds, time and time again, fooled the Eagles with the changeup.

As the Loudonville defense crept back to defend the powerful kill shots from Voorheesville’s hitters, the Blackbirds adjusted and started softly tipping the ball into open space in the frontcourt, piling up the points in a 3-0 victory at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School by scores of 25-11, 25-23 and 25-18.

“Voorheesville completely deserved to win that match,” said Loudonville head coach Rosemary Burgher. “They’re a well-balanced team, defensively and offensively. They have a great setter and they have a smart attack. They knew where our holes were and they controlled the tempo of the game.”

The Blackbirds watched Loudonville score the first point of the match, but Voorheesville charged back on an 8-0 run that forced the Eagles to call timeout. Voorheesville poured it on offensively late as well, closing out the first game on a 9-1 run.

Loudonville Christian (16-3, Section II’s Class CC champion) led for much of the second game, but Voorheesville closed that game with an 11-5 run, to steal a 25-23 victory.

In the third game, the Blackbirds also finished strong on a 9-2 run to capture their first trip to regionals since 2007.

“Like I said to my team, it’s the ultimate team sport,” Burgher said. “Who remembers the third mistake on the third point? No one does. We win together, we lose together.”

Voorheesville senior libero Ellie Wagner paced the team with 34 digs and five service points, while senior outside hitter Morgan Vandervort added 11 kills and 10 digs. Libby Bjork, a freshman setter, added 34 assists and eight service points. Rebecca Bablin (eight service points, six kills) and Mariel McGinnis (seven kills, seven digs) also chipped in for the Blackbirds.

Loudonville Christian's Sam Parry leaps for a block during Thursday's Section II Class CC/C playoff game at Burnt Hills.

“That was a big adjustment for us,” Voorheesville head coach Sandra Vorse said. “Usually, we like to hit the ball hard. We’re a power team. The first game, we were hitting well and then they pulled their defense way deep. When that happens, you have to adjust, so we starting going offspeed and doing some tips.”

Loudonville Christian posted a 3-0 victory over Voorheesville in the 2009 Section II Class C championship game (there was just one bracket) and the memory of that loss certainly inspired Voorheesville Thursday afternoon.

“When we walked in here, I remembered coming out in the hall and feeling pretty lousy and I didn’t want to do that again,” Vorse said. “They went to a strength trainer this summer and they did ‘Loudonville Christian’ push-ups. They’ve been thinking about this for a long time.”

Voorheesville (20-0, Section II’s Class C champion) advances to face Section VII champion AuSable Valley (9-9) in a regional final match Saturday at 4 p.m. at Niskayuna High School.

AuSable Valley had knocked off Section X champion Potsdam (13-8) in a regional semifinal Wednesday night. This is the first year Section VII teams are a part of the New York State tournament, as girls volleyball in the Plattsburgh area had been played as a winter sport in the past.

The New York State Final Four begins Saturday, Nov. 20 and continues through Sunday at the Glens Falls Civic Center.

Junior outside hitter Hattie Burgher paced the Eagles with 10 digs and eight kills. Senior middle hitter Arlina Anderson added five kills.

Following the match, the Most Valuable Players from the leagues with teams in Class C were honored at center court. Burgher, the Central Hudson Valley League MVP, and Wagner, the Colonial Council’s top individual player, were joined by Nancy Vickerson (Sr., Tamarac, Wasaren League), Katie Roth (Sr., Maple Hill, Patroon Conference), and Katy Munzenmaier (Sr., Lake George, Adirondack League).

Loudonville will lose Anderson and senior captain Chelsea Brown to graduation in June, but the rest of the team will return in 2011.

“We’ll be back. We’ll be back next year,” coach Burgher said. “This isn’t too shabby, but they forget it. They don’t put it into perspective. How many high school programs get to come to sectionals? I’m proud of them. I love them so much.”

Members of the Voorheesville High School girls volleyball team pose with the Section II trophy after defeating Loudonville Christian in the Section II Class CC/C playoff Thursday afternoon at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School. (Photo by Will Montgomery - The Record).

Other Section II championship scores from Thursday:

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake head coach Gary Bynon hugs one of his players after the Spartans captured their ninth straight Section II championship Thursday evening at Niskayuna High School. (BH-BL photos courtsey The Saratogian).

BURNT HILLS — The Shenendehowa High School girls volleyball team won its first Section II title in 20 years, defeating Bethlehem, 3-1 in the Section II Class AA championship match Thursday morning at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School.

The Lady Plainsmen (16-4), the No. 2 seed, upset No. 1 Bethlehem (17-3) in the finals.
Shen will play Section III champion Baldwinsville on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Union College.

Class A

Burnt Hills 3, Queensbury 0: The No. 1 seeded Spartans (18-0) cruised to victory in the Section II Class A championship match at Niskayuna High School.

It was the ninth straight Section II title for Burnt Hills.
Burnt Hills will next play Section III champion Oswego on Saturday at Union College at 1 p.m.

Class B

Ravena 3, Johnstown 2: The No. 1 seeded Indians (18-1) held off the No. 3 Lady Bills (13-5) in the Section II Class B championship match at Burnt Hills.
Ravena will next play Section VII champion Beekmantown Saturday at 6 p.m. at Niskayuna.

Class D

Argyle 3, Hartford 1: The No. 3 seeded Scots (18-3) topped No. 4 Hartford (14-4) in an all-Adirondack League Section II Class C championship match at Burnt Hills.
Argyle will next play Section VII champion Northern Adirondack on Saturday at 5 p.m. at Union College.

The 2010 Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake girls volleyball team celebrates its ninth consecutive Section II title Thursday evening at Niskayuna High School.

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Class C regional playoff game

Hoosick Falls (10-0) vs. Saranac Lake (9-0, Section X)

Saturday, 1 p.m., AuSable Valley High School, Clintonville

HOOSICK FALLS — As a freshman and a sophomore at Hoosick Falls High School, Quinn Rasmus wasn’t the happiest camper on the Panthers soccer team.

Prior to his junior year, Rasmus, at right, tried out for the football team and caught on as the team’s kicker and he made 22 extra points and one giant field goal – the game-winner in the Section II Class C Super Bowl against Chatham.

This season, Rasmus has emerged as one of the major weapons in Hoosick Falls’ air attack. Rasmus, a wide receiver, has caught 18 passes for 328 yards and three touchdowns. On defense, he has intercepted three passes.

“Freshman and sophomore year I just hated soccer and my brother told me to give it a shot and I did,” Rasmus said. “I did a lot of sitting around and kicking, but it worked out. And this year, I’m starting, so it’s good.”

Rasmus, however is just one of five targets senior quarterback Mike Brewster has consistently found this season. Tanner Williams, at left, (26 recs., 398 yds., 7 TD), Brad Burns (11, 229, 2), Josh Mulready (11, 149, 1) and Randy Tutunjian (6, 107, 1) have backed Brewster, who has completed 80-of-121 passes for 1,254 yards and thrown 14 touchdowns against three interceptions.

The passing game has balanced out Hoosick Falls’ rushing attack, which has amassed a total of 2,295 yards on 306 attempts for 36 touchdowns.
Hoosick Falls head coach Ron Jones, in large part, gives credit for the Panthers’ passing success to assistant coach Josh Furnas, an Elmira native who played his college football at the University at Albany.

“Josh Furnas, he has done a great job with these guys teaching them very, very specific ways to run routes,” Jones said after Wednesday’s practice at the town park. “And that has been a very big advantage for us.”

Josh Mulready, above, is wearing a pink Mohawk during Hoosick Falls' playoff run.

Another reason the Panthers excel at throwing the football is the dedication Brewster and his receivers put in to route-running and catching following daily weight lifting sessions at the high school all summer long.

“That has been going on way before Mike was here,” Jones said. “We’ve had four or five QBs in a row to take the time and throw with the receivers. It’s made a big difference for us.”

Saturday, Hoosick Falls will see its mirror image in Section X champion Saranac Lake (9-0) in a regional playoff game at AuSable Valley High School. The Red Storm have won the Class C North Country championship two the past three years.

Saranac Lake, which runs a spread option offense like Hoosick Falls, also sports a 3-5-3 defensive alignment.

Randy Tutunjian, above, has over 100 receiving yards this season.

“They run the same defense we do and they run the same offense, mostly,” Jones said. “They’re pretty good. They hustle to the ball. They do a lot of things that good teams do well.”

Saranac Lake senior running back C.J. Stewart missed a chunk of the regular season with a knee injury, but rushed for 55 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Red Storm’s 55-6 championship victory over AuSable Valley last week.

Saranac Lake rushed for 225 yards and four touchdowns and passed for 237 yards and three touchdowns against AuSable Valley.

“It definitely helps knowing what they’re going to do,” Williams said. “The scouting report helps. Our coaches do a great job of letting us know what they’re going to do.”

Whether they’re relying on the run or the pass in Saturday’s regional game, the Panthers also have a stout defense. Hoosick Falls’ starting defense has allowed just six touchdowns this season and four of those came in the first half of last week’s 61-28 Section II Class C Super Bowl victory over Chatham.

“I think we just have to keep the emotions high and stay focused and strive to win,” Burns, at right, said.

Note: A version of this story will appear in the paper Friday or Saturday.

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Meg Volz (right) and Becca Pratt (left) sign their National Letters of Intent in the Lansingburgh High School library Wednesday afternoon. (Photo by Mike McMahon - The Record).

TROY — Lansingburgh High School seniors Becca Pratt and Meg Volz both put pen to paper Wednesday afternoon on National Letters of Intent to compete athletically in college at the Division I level.

One will be staying close to home and the other will be going far, far away.

Pratt, the captain of Lansingburgh's varsity bowling team for the past two seasons, has committed to bowl at the University of Nebraska, one of the nation's elite collegiate programs.

Volz, who captained the Lansingburgh softball team this past spring, will join a host of former Section II standouts at Siena College.

“I've really been looking to go to Nebraska. It's my dream school,” said Pratt, pictured at right. “I can't believe it's actually happening.”

Women's bowling, which was established as an NCAA-sanctioned sport in the fall of 2003, has just 29 participating schools at the Division I level, 15 more in Division II and six in Division III. Nebraska, which finished as the runner-up to Farleigh Dickinson last season, has won three national titles since 2004.

Pratt's statistics intrigued the Cornhuskers, as she rolled a 219 average en route to a Colonial Council MVP season in 2010. She also has a 300 game to her credit and was listed in Bowler's Journal Top 30 High School Prospects in 2009 and 2010.

Pratt led the Section II All-Star team to a New York State title in March, scoring a high six-game tournament total of 1,320.

Outside of high school competition, Pratt won the Troy Annual Prestige Tournament each year from 2007 to 2010 and won the Maria Rapp Award as the City Tournament all-events champion in 2009 and 2010.

The challenges of long-distance recruiting required Pratt to send video clips of her form and technique to Nebraska, which led the Huskers to offer her an invitation for an official visit.

“We did team bonding and they took me to a football game and we just had a lot of fun,” she said. “I just felt really comfortable at the school.”

On her visit, she met Alney Tobias, a former star for the Lansingburgh cross country and track and field teams who currently runs at Nebraska. His recommendation helped seal the deal for Pratt, who plans on double majoring in business law and Spanish.

“It was amazing there,” Pratt said. “Like the coaches said, as long as you have the red 'N' on you, everyone is going to be cheering for you.”

For Volz, at left, a catcher on the softball diamond, Siena, which has heavily recruited local players in recent years, was a natural choice. This summer, Volz played with a pair of former Troy High stars who currently shine for the Saints in the Empire State Games. The Adirondack team took home the bronze medal.

“I played with Shannon Jones and Courtney Brinkman on the Empire State team and they're just awesome to play with,” Volz said. “It definitely played a part.”

Volz's varsity career began in seventh grade at Catholic Central High School, but she transferred to Lansingburgh for her freshman season. She helped lead the Lady Knights to a Section II Class A title in 2009.

“Basically what they told me is you earn your spot, so that's what I'm going to try to do,” Volz said. “Just earn my spot, whether it's outfield, infield or catching. As long as I'm playing, I'll play wherever the team needs me.”

A first team All-Area selection by The Record in 2009 and 2010, Volz batted .474 with 37 hits – 14 for extra bases – and 17 RBI during the 2010 high school season. She was a second team All-State selection this past spring.

Volz, like Pratt, is in the top 10 in her class at Lansingburgh and plans to major in business and minor in psychology at Siena.

2010 high school stats

POS., NAME, AB, R, H, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI, BA, SB

c, Meg Volz, Jr., Lansingburgh, 78, 24, 37, 8, 2, 4, 17, .474, 1

2009 high school stats

POS., NAME, AB, R, H, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI, BA, SB

c, Meg Volz, So., Lansingburgh, 92, 32, 47, 9, 7, 3, 23, .511, 3

2008 high school stats
POS., NAME, AB, R, H, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI, BA, SB
DH, Meg Volz, Fr., Lansingburgh, 68, 20, 30, 5, 4, 3, 25, .441, 0

Former Section II players on Siena College softball roster:
Courtney Brinkman, Troy
Sara Gallacchi, Schenectady
Shannon Jones, Troy
Mandy Ferro, Shenendehowa
Lindsey McKeever, Mechanicville
Taylor Guerin, Shaker
Pitching coach, Abby Arceneaux, Mechanicville
Assistant coach, Stacy Simpson, Shenendehowa
Head coach, Bill Lajeunesse, former head coach at Waterford, Shaker and Cohoes

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Hattie Burgher tips the ball over the net for the Loudonville Christian School during Tuesday's Section II Class CC championship match against Tamarac at Hudson Falls High School. (All photos by J.S. Carras - The Record). 

HUDSON FALLS — Hattie Burgher saved her biggest kill for last Tuesday evening in the Section II Class CC girls volleyball championship match against Tamarac.

Burgher, a junior outside hitter at the Loudonville Christian School, put an exclamation point on the Eagles’ 3-1 victory over the Bengals with her 19th kill of the match. Her teammates stormed the court to hop up and down and hoist the Section II trophy together following a topsy-turvy battle against Tamarac at Hudson Falls High School.

Loudonville (16-2), the No. 1 seed and the Central Hudson Valley League’s regular season champion, won the first game 26-24 and posted a 25-15 triumph over the Bengals in game two. Tamarac, however, rallied to win game three, 26-24 and was two points away from sealing a victory in game four. Loudonville won six of the final seven points in the fourth game, clinching the fourth Section II title for the program in the past five years with a 26-24 victory.

Tamarac's Roni Weeks (11) and Loudonville Christian's Sam Parry battle for the ball over the net during Tuesday's Section II Class CC championship match at Hudson Falls.

“We have a great coach and we have great talent,” said Burgher, at right, who added 17 digs. “As small as our school is, we all work hard. Everyone is willing to work hard and push themselves because they want to keep up the winning tradition.”

Chelsea Brown, at left, a senior captain, who like Burgher, is in her fourth year as an outside hitter on the varsity squad, recorded 19 service points and 10 kills, claimed Tuesday’s match was one of the toughest the team had played in all season.

“We’ve had a few matches that were pretty tough, but the girls pulled through every time,” she said.


Julia Brown added 46 assists, 22 digs and 11 service points for the Eagles, while Arlina Anderson chipped in with 14 kills. Sam Parry bolstered Loudonville’s offensive attack with 11 kills.

Tamarac's Alyssa Bonesteel and Loudonville Christian's Arlina Anderson collide at the net during Tuesday's Section II Class CC championship match at Hudson Falls.

Loudonville had defeated Tamarac 3-0 in a non-conference matchup during the regular season.

“Every time we pass the ball and put it to the setter’s hands, we have a kill. So that’s my secret,” said Loudonville head coach Rosemary Burgher. “It’s not a big secret. Everybody wants to be the glory hitter, the killer, the attacker. You can’t get there unless you have good, effective passing.”

Tamarac (14-5), the No. 2 seed, was making its first appearance in a Section II championship match. The Bengals, who won a Wasaren League championship for the first time in school history in 2009, repeated that feat in 2010.

Head coach Judy Burton will miss a number of her seniors next season, including three-time reigning Wasaren League MVP Nancy Vickerson, but she hopes the path blazed by the team in the last two seasons inspires future generations of Tamarac players.

“This is as far as anybody’s ever gotten,” Burton said. “We have nothing to be ashamed of and nothing to cry about. This is as good as we’ve ever done.”

Loudonville advances to the Section II Class CC/C playoff Thursday at 3 p.m. at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School against Class C’s No. 1 seed Voorheesville (19-0), which defeated Galway 3-0.

Loudonville Christian's Arlina Anderson leaps to block a Tamarac shot during Tuesday's Section II Class CC championship match at Hudson Falls.

A season ago, when there was just one Class C bracket, Loudonville defeated Voorheesville in the championship match, 3-0.

The Eagles know it won’t be easy defending their title, but they’re hoping that the strong team chemistry that has served them well so far carries over into the playoff match.

“We haven’t had a leader in terms of one person to get them all into gear,” said coach Burgher. “They play very emphatically. It’s like a wave. If one is down, they all come down. If one is up, honestly, they’re really unstoppable. They really, really are.”

--
In Clifton Park, the Catholic Central girls team was defeated by No. 2 seed Queensbury (17-0), three games to one in a Section II Class A semifinal at Shenendehowa High School. CCHS, the No. 3 seed and Big 10 Conference regular season champion, finished the season with a 16-3 record. Our Ed Weaver was there, so look for his account of the game in Wednesday's edition of The Record.

Catholic Central's Gena Russo (8) and Caitlin Whelan (16) leap to block a shot during Tuesday's Section II Class A semifinal at Shenendehowa.

Catholic Central's Hannah Kutny leaps for a kill shot during Tuesday's Section II Class A semifinal against Queensbury at Shenendehowa.

Catholic Central's Maddie Coneys leaps to block a shot during Tuesday's Section II Class A semifinal at Shenendehowa.

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Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake's terrible trio of running backs - clockwise, from top left, Brandon Beatty (22), Keaton Flint (2) and Evan Nusbaum (4) torched the Lansingburgh defense for at least 131 rushing yards apiece in Saturday's Section II Class A Super Bowl at Steuerwald Stadium. (Photos by Mike McMahon - The Record).

CLIFTON PARK -- Late in the second quarter of Saturday’s Section II Class A Super Bowl, Lansingburgh High’s defensive coordinator Andy Faragon was already out of ideas on how to stop Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake’s option-based rushing attack.

"Put 10 guys in the box! I don’t know," Faragon shouted in a coaches’ conference on the sidelines.

Burnt Hills’ triple-threat option offense of Evan Nusbaum, Brandon Beatty and Keaton Flint ripped the Lansingburgh defense apart as all three of those rushers finished with at least 131 yards apiece in a 42-21 victory at Steuerwald Stadium on the campus of Shenendehowa High School.

The win marked Burnt Hills’ third consecutive Section II championship and the program’s 30th consecutive victory over a Section II opponent.

Lansingburgh head coach Al McNall shows his displeasure with a call during Saturday's Section II Class A Super Bowl.

Lansingburgh was the last Section II team to top Burnt Hills, having done so in the 2007 Section II Class A Super Bowl.

Out of the Spartans’ pistol formation, where Flint, Burnt Hills’ senior quarterback, lines up three yards behind the center – shorter than a shotgun snap, hence the name – Burnt Hills had its options out of the backfield.

Beatty (16 atts., 139 yds., 4 TD), Flint (14 atts., 137 yds., 2 TD) and Nusbaum (12 atts., 131 yds., 1 TD) scored one touchdown apiece in the first quarter as Burnt Hills (10-0), the Northwest Division’s No. 1 seed, built an early lead.

Matt Shell, head coach of the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake football team, has won three straight Section II Class A Super Bowl titles. (Photo courtsey The Saratogian).

"Coming into this game, the one thing we wanted to do more than anything was make a statement," Beatty said. "We thought a lot of people thought we were on Lansingburgh’s level, but as a team, we didn’t feel like that. We felt like we could do more than just have a close game."

For video highlights from Saturday's game, visit www.troyrecord.com/video/sports

Burnt Hills’ backs were slippery, breaking tackles and sliding through the Lansingburgh defense no matter who got the ball.

"They’re fast," said Lansingburgh head coach Al McNall. "Like I said all year, they’re very well coached. We knew coming in it was going to be an uphill battle and we had to play mistake-free football."

The Spartans scored on five of their first six drives, and the defense held Lansingburgh’s offense to just one first down before halftime.

Lansingburgh senior Anthony Fogarty runs out of running room as four Burnt Hills defenders look to close in on the tackle during Saturday's Section II Class A Super Bowl.

Senior running back Anthony Fogarty led the way for the Lansingburgh offense, as he gained 119 receiving yards on five receptions and 71 rushing yards on nine attempts.

Fogarty scored on a 58-yard run just before halftime and caught an 86-yard touchdown pass from Carlos Grillo in the fourth quarter. Marcus Little added a touchdown reception later in the fourth.

Although his team could have thrown in the towel against the state’s No. 3-ranked Class A team, McNall was proud that his players fought right to the end.

"That’s the type of kids they are," he said. "They’re fighters. This is a bittersweet thing for our seniors and I feel bad for them. Hopefully it’s something we can build off of going into next year with our underclassmen."

Burnt Hills advances to a regional round game next week against Potsdam (9-1), the Section X/VII Class A playoff champion, at Massena High.

The Spartans have reached the New York State championship game each of the past two years, losing both times to Rochester-area champion Sweet Home. The Burnt Hills players were hoping that Saturday’s verdict puts them on a track for the Carrier Dome yet again.

“We thought we could make a statement and that’s how it came out,” said Beatty.

Lansingburgh (8-2) lost twice to Burnt Hills in 2010, including a 25-15 opening week victory at home. In between, the Knights won eight straight games and clinched the Southeast Division championship, which all adds up to a successful season in McNall’s eyes.

"A lot of good things came out of this year," he said. "When we got pushed up to the As, nobody expected us to be here. Nobody expected us to be in this game. It’s an honor to play a team like that when nobody thought you’d be there to do it.

"Our kids battled through the whole game. They never let down, even when things were real dismal."

Lansingburgh players, including Jake Luce, 44, lift their helmets at the end of the national anthem prior to Saturday's Section II Class A Super Bowl at Shenendehowa High School.

BURNT HILLS-BALLSTON LAKE 42, LANSINGBURGH 21

Lansingburgh (8-2) 0 7 0 14 - 21
Burnt Hills (10-0) 21 14 7 0 - 42
First Quarter
BH - Evan Nusbaum 39 run (Nusbaum kick) 9:26
BH - Brandon Beatty 44 run (Nusbaum kick) 6:20
BH - Keaton Flint 43 run (Nusbaum kick) 2:22
Second Quarter
BH - Beatty 8 run (Nusbaum kick) 6:57
BH - Beatty 8 run (Nusbaum kick) 2:30
L - Anthony Fogarty 58 run (Jake Shaw kick) 0:51
Third Quarter
BH - Beatty 30 run (Nusbaum kick) 2:40
Fourth Quarter
L - Fogarty 86 pass from Carlos Grillo (Fogarty run) 4:51
L - Marcus Little 16 pass from Grillo (Grillo pass failed) 3:00
Individual Stats:
Rushing: Lansingburgh (24-132): Fogarty 9-71, Little 8-32, Luce 7-29. Burnt Hills (54-435): Beatty 16-139, Flint 14-137, Nusbaum 12-131, Fialkowski 6-19, Guba 3-6, Porter 1-3, Ruppel 2-0.
Passing: Lansingburgh: Grillo 10-15-2-160. Burnt Hills: Flint 2-6-0-38.
Receiving: Lansingburgh (10-160): Fogarty 5-119, Luce 3-19, Little 1-16, Carty 1-6. Burnt Hills: (2-38): Parks 1-28, Beatty 1-10.

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Maple Hill's Ron Radley (6) celebrates with his teammates after receiving sectional patches following Saturday's 1-0 Section II Class B title game victory over Johnstown. (Photos by Will Montgomery - The Record).

COLONIE — The biggest save in Saturday’s Section II Class B boys soccer championship game wasn’t made by Maple Hill goalkeeper Derek VanAlstyne.

It was defenseman Matt Palmer who saved the day for the Wildcats.

Matt Palmer makes a crucial sliding kick save during Saturday's Section II Class B title game victory over Johnstown. (Photo by Mike McMahon - The Record).

Johnstown’s Kurtis Sprung passed to Kieran McCoy in front of the net and VanAlstyne came charging out to make the save. The ball, however, trickled away and rolled slowly toward the goal but Palmer, with a diving, sprawling kick save, punched the ball away from the goal mouth.

Paul Ancin scored a goal on a rebound off a direct kick by Jake Yeager and that was all Maple Hill would need to post a 1-0 victory at South Colonie High School.

“They got on a breakaway and it was about to go in the net. I just kept running like we’ve always been told,” said Palmer, a senior captain. “Don’t stop until you hear the whistle. I went back and kept it out of the net and the rest of the team kept it out of the net for the rest of the game.”

It wasn't the first time Palmer had made a play like that this season.

"We played Hudson a few weeks ago and it was the same thing, rolling in front of the net and I kicked it out," he said. "I’ve seen it before, but that was (Saturday's save) a little bit closer."

No. 1 seed Maple Hill (19-1-0), which has won 11 Section II Class C titles and four more at the Class CC level since 1988, captured its first Class B championship in school history.

It was the 17th Section II championship victory for Maple Hill head coach Dan Gillespie, who has been at the reins since 1976 (he also coached the team in 1974), which puts him alone in first place in Section II history in terms of sectional titles. His 21 league championship seasons and 538 career victories are also Section II records.

Saturday's Section II victory was a milestone win for Maple Hill head coach Dan Gillespie. (McMahon photo).

"This is our first time in Class B, so this is kind of a big deal for us to be up here," said Palmer. "To win sectionals the first time, it means a lot to us as a team to really pull it together at the end."

"Maple Hill’s tradition in soccer is really high and our expectations are really high," Ancin said. "Our goal was to get to sectionals and win it and even though we stepped up to Class B, we did it."

For video highlights from Saturday's game, visit www.troyrecord.com/video/sports

Maple Hill, ranked No. 10 in the latest New York State Class B poll, has advanced to the a regional semifinal game against Section VII champion Northeastern Clinton Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Plattsburgh High School. The winner of that game faces the Section X champion Potsdam (10-5-3) in a regional final.

“That (Palmer’s save) was crucial to save that goal so we could still be tied going into the second half,” said Ancin, a junior midfielder. “That really motivated us in the second half to get a goal and win this game.”

Maple Hill's Paul Ancin, right, celebrates his goal with teammate Drew Bourdeau in Saturday's Section II Class B championship game against Johnstown. (McMahon photo).

With less than six minutes expired in the second half, Maple Hill’s Jake Yaeger took a direct kick from the left side of the Johnstown net. The ball sailed over a sea of players and found Johnstown goalie Alex Simon near the far post. Simon, however, could not corral the ball and Ancin, in the right place at the right time, pounced on the loose ball for the Wildcats’ only goal.


“Jake had a good ball over the top and it was on the corner of the box,” Ancin, at left, said. “The goalie came out and I just kind of kicked it through. I looked up and the next thing you know, it was in the back of the net.”

The Wildcats had previously defeated No. 10 seed Johnstown, 1-0, in championship game of Maple Hill’s Fall Sports Tournament on Columbus Day.

Johnstown (10-9-1), which finished in sixth place in the Foothills Council regular season standings, upset No. 7 Coxsackie-Athens in the preliminary round and topped another Cinderella, No. 15 Stillwater, in the quarterfinals. Then, in the semifinals, the Sir Bills scored in the waning seconds of regulation and in overtime to defeat No. 11 Hoosick Falls, 2-1.

“Honestly, I’ve got a couple other sectional patches, but I got them from being pulled up to play on varsity after playing JV,” Palmer said. “This is the first one that I feel I really earned.”

Maple Hill has won three state titles in school history. Of course, none have come at the Class B level, at lest not yet.

“We want to go as far as we can,” said Ancin. “I think we have the potential to go all the way and our group is really motivated to win states.”

MAPLE HILL 1, JOHNSTOWN 0

Johnstown (10-9-1) 0 0 — 0
Maple Hill (19-1-0) 0 1 — 1
Scoring: MH: Ancin 1-0, Yeager 0-1.
Goalie saves: J: Simon, 10. MH: VanAlstyne, 5.
Corner kicks: J: 2. MH: 1.

• Notes: Maple Hill recorded three quick shots following Palmer's save, but none obviously went in.
• Johnstown rolled the ball across the top of the crossbar off a corner kick with 11 minutes to go in the first half. 
• A good number of Maple Hill shots were wide and right of the net, a problem that has plagued the team all season long. "We’re starting to understand how to play offense," Gillespie said. "We’ve missed a ton of shots all year. We outshoot somebody, 26-2 and miss them like mad. We’re trying to work it up a little bit more. Sometimes we’re a little too fancy, flicking it up there and nobody’s there."
• Johnstown's Kieran McCoy and Maple Hill's Matt Palmer received yellow cards in the second half as the game grew increasingly physical.
• Quotes from the notebook: "I told the kids this might be the only, ever time we get a B championship in the whole history of our school because we’re going back down to C next year and everybody’s population is dropping," Gillespie said.
• The Maple Hill girls lost to Chatham in the Section II Class B girls final, 2-1. Andy Santillo was at that game, so check out his report in The Record on Sunday.

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