Football: Tartans' turnaround continues with Section II playoff berth

PHOTOGRAPHER: Jim Schiltz

Scotia-Glenville coach Kevin Warren handed out T-shirts to his football team Friday with the word “respect” stenciled across the back.

On Saturday afternoon the Tartans went out and earned a little bit more of that with their fourth straight victory and fifth overall, a Class A Southeast Division comeback effort over Bishop Maginn to conclude regular-season play.

“This is not about what I’ve done. It’s about what they’ve done and what they’ve put into it,” said Warren. “The big thing is how hard the kids have worked, and now they’re reaping the benefits of it.”

The toil has resulted in Scotia-Glenville’s finest season in a decade in terms of wins, and its first Section II playoff berth since 2006. The Tartans (3-1, 5-2), as the No. 2 seed from their division, will host a quarterfinal game Friday against Queensbury (No. 3, 2-2, 4-3) of the Northwest Division.

Pairings for the Section II tourn-ament’s four largest classes were released Sunday, and Scotia-Glenville will be hosting its first postseason contest since 1999.

“I don’t know if they realize the magnitude of what they’ve done,” said Warren. “They’ve brought an excitement to the school. You hear the other teachers and the students talking about it.”

There’s a lot of good things to say about this team that prevailed once in nine games last season, and that win was against Green Tech’s first-year varsity.

Scotia-Glenville last won five games in 2002 (5-4), and none of the nine teams that followed tasted success more than three times. The last year Scotia-Glenville won more than five games was 1994 (6-3).

“It’s been an expectation of everyone,” said Warren. “As coaches, last year we knew we had a special group of kids. I knew what we had. I coached these seniors when they were freshmen, and they have been successful in other sports. Why not be successful in this?

“It was a matter of them believing.”

Scotia-Glenville displayed its will in an opening-week 36-35 loss to Lansingburgh, when the Tartans rallied from a 21-7 halftime deficit to take a 29-28 lead against the Class B Reinfurt Division titlists. The Tartans then beat Gloversville (39-21), lost to Southeast Division champion Troy (55-6), and knocked off Averill Park (34-22), Mohonasen (29-6), Albany (25-0) and Bishop Maginn (42-23).

“Someone told me we had not won at Gloversville in 18 years,” said Warren.

Scotia-Glenville trailed at the half Saturday, 21-20, and put up 22 fourth-quarter points to avenge last season’s 27-0 loss to the Golden Griffins and add to their momentum heading into the playoffs. Quarterback Dan Zeglen and running backs Jacob Goldman and Andrew Tabbert scored fourth-quarter touchdowns, and Nick Schaub recovered a fumble to quell a Bishop Maginn threat.

“They fight hard, and they have a short memory. When things don’t go their way, they bounce back and get right after it,” said Warren, the Tartans’ second-year coach. “They want it. They want it just as bad as the community wants it and the coaches want it.”

Scotia-Glenville has displayed an offensive firepower not seen in several years. Last year’s team produced more than 14 points just twice, in its 54-16 win over Green Tech, and in a 28-22 loss to

Mohonasen.

“This is the first time in a long time Scotia has been able to put points on the board,” said Warren. “I think our work over the summer was a big thing. We had a camp and installed the offense. Because I started late last year [following Carm DePoalo’s resignation due to health reasons], we weren’t able to do that. This year, we knew what we wanted to do.”

Warren said the Tartans offensive line group of center Jeff Chiarello, guards Nick Van Auken and Anthony Mazzucco, and tackles Luke Phillips and Schaub have been a chief component in the team’s offensive turnaround.

“Our line kind of goes unrecognized, but they’re a special group of kids, and they’ve done a wonderful job for us,” he said. “They worked so hard in the weight room getting ready for this season.”

Scotia-Glenville has many so-called no-name guys, like receivers Colin Evers and Kelsey Francois, whose biggest offensive contrib-ution has been their downfield blocking for Tabbert, Zeglen, Goldman and Nick Georgelas.

“No one cares who gets the credit. That’s what I like about this team, and it’s been a part of why we’ve been successful,” said Warren. “It’s an unselfish team.”

Scotia-Glenville will be looking to repeat history Friday in its Class A quarterfinal against Queensbury. The Tartans’ last postseason win came against the Spartans in that 1999 home game, 9-7, and a follow-up 14-0 loss to Amsterdam began a string of sectional setbacks, those coming in the first round in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2006.

Queensbury’s signature win this season came in Week 6 when it slugged Albany Academy, 35-0.

“Everyone knows about their wing offense. They like to run the ball. They like to pound it,” said Warren. “We’ve got to stop the run, but at the same time, we can’t be lulled to sleep. We’ve got to watch for that quick pop pass.”

A pair of former Foothills Council teams, Queensbury and Scotia-Glenville last met in a 2010 Class A crossover, with the Spartans winning, 23-0. Their playing history includes Scotia-Glenville’s 21-0 Section II Division II championship-game win over Queensbury in 1982.

Four-time defending Class A champion Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (4-0, 6-1) will host Mohonasen (1-3, 2-5) in one of Friday’s four quarterfinals. Gloversville (1-3, 2-5) travels to Troy (4-0, 5-2), and Averill Park (2-2, 3-4) goes to Amsterdam (3-1, 4-3) where the Warriors pulled off a 30-24 upset in Week 1.

Burnt Hills has made six consecutive Class A title-game appearances, and won its first of five sectional banners in 2006. The Spartans needed a late touchdown pass from Ryan McDonnell to Eric Dillon to edge Amsterdam for the 2011 flag, 26-23, and advanced to the state final for the third time.

Champs at home

Shenendehowa (6-0, 6-1) opens defense of its Class AA championship at home against Colonie (2-3, 3-4) in one of Friday’s four quarterfinals. Guilderland (4-2, 4-3) goes to 2011 runner-up Columbia (3-2, 4-3) for a televised game, Ballston Spa (2-4, 2-5) travels to Shaker (5-0, 7-0), and Schenectady (3-2, 5-2) goes to Christian Brothers Academy (5-1, 6-1) for a first-round rematch. The Brothers beat the Patriots last year, 40-0.

Three-time defending Class B champion Schalmont (6-0, 6-1) makes its sectional debut Friday at home against Ichabod Crane (3-3, 3-4), a first-time playoff participant. Broadalbin-Perth (4-2, 5-2) goes to Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk (5-1, 6-1) and Schuylerville (3-3, 3-4) goes to Lansingburgh (6-0, 7-0) for other games Friday, and Glens Falls (5-1, 6-1) hosts 2011 runner-up Albany Academy (4-2, 4-3) Saturday.

Schalmont has won 34 straight games against Section II Class B opponents, including a forfeit victory this year against Johnstown. Schalmont lost only to Burnt Hills in Week 2, 37-0, and has piled up 51, 62 and 64 points in its last three outings since shifting Devon Willis from quarterback to tailback.

Friday’s Class C quarterfinal slate has three-time defending champ-ion Hoosick Falls (5-0, 7-0) hosting Voorheesville (2-3, 2-4), Chatham (5-0, 7-0) hosting Stillwater (2-3, 2-5), and Mechanicville (3-2, 5-2) hosting Watervliet (3-2, 4-3). Fonda-Fultonville (4-1, 4-2), the 2011 runner-up, entertains Tamarac (3-2, 4-3) Saturday.

Hoosick Falls is riding a 37-game Section II winning streak. The Panthers have won their seven games this season each by least 31 points.

The Section II Class D pairings will be announced next weekend.

SECTION II TOURNAMENT

CLASS AA

Quarterfinals

Friday (7 p.m.)

Colonie (Liberty No. 4, 2-3, 3-4) at Shenendehowa (Empire No. 1, 6-0, 6-1); Guilderland (Empire No. 3, 4-2, 4-3) at Columbia (Liberty No. 2, 3-2, 4-3).

Schenectady (Liberty No. 3, 3-2, 5-2) at Christian Brothers Academy (Empire No. 2, 5-1, 6-1); Ballston Spa (Empire No. 4, 2-4, 2-5) at Shaker (Liberty No. 1, 5-0, 7-0).

Semifinals

Friday/Saturday Oct. 26-27

At homes of highest remaining seeds, TBA.

Championship

Friday. Nov. 2 (7 p.m.)

Semifinal winners at Shenendehowa.

———

CLASS A

Quarterfinals

Friday (7 p.m.)

Gloversville (Northwest No. 4, 1-3, 2-5) at Troy (Southeast No. 1, 4-0, 5-2); Averill Park (Southeast No. 3, 2-2, 3-4) at Amsterdam (Northwest No. 2, 3-1, 4-3).

Queensbury (Northwest No. 3, 2-2, 4-3) at Scotia-Glenville (Southeast No. 2, 3-1, 5-2); Mohonasen (Southeast No. 4, 1-3, 2-5) at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (Northwest No. 1, 4-0, 6-1).

Semifinals

Friday/Saturday Oct. 26-27

At homes of highest remaining seeds, TBA.

Championship

Saturday, Nov. 3 (7 p.m.)

Semifinal winners at Shenendehowa.

———

CLASS B

Quarterfinals

Friday (7 p.m.)

Ichabod Crane (Reinfurt No. 4, 3-3, 3-4) at Schalmont (West No. 1, 6-0, 6-1); Broadalbin-Perth (West No. 3, 4-2, 5-2) at Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk (Reinfurt No. 2, 5-1, 6-1).

Schuylerville (West No. 4, 3-3, 3-4) at Lansingburgh (Reinfurt No. 1, 6-0, 7-0).

Saturday (1 p.m.)

Albany Academy (Reinfurt No. 3, 4-2, 4-3) at Glens Falls (West No. 2, 5-1, 6-1).

Semifinals

Friday/Saturday Oct. 26-27

At homes of highest remaining seeds, TBA.

Championship

Saturday, Nov. 3 (3 p.m.)

Semifinal winners at Shenendehowa.

———

CLASS C

Quarterfinals

Friday (7 p.m.)

Stillwater (North No. 4, 2-3, 2-5) at Chatham (South No. 1, 5-0, 7-0); Watervliet (South No. 3, 3-2, 4-3) at Mechanicville (North No. 2, 3-2, 5-2). Voorheesville (South No. 4, 2-3, 2-4) at Hoosick Falls (North No. 1, 5-0, 7-0).

Saturday (1 p.m.)

Tamarac (North No. 3, 3-2, 4-3) at Fonda-Fultonville (South No. 2, 4-1, 4-2).

Semifinals

Saturday Oct. 27

Top bracket at Stillwater, 1 p.m.; Bottom bracket at Stillwater, 7 p.m.

Championship

Friday, Nov. 2 (7 p.m.)

Semifinal winners at Stillwater.