Queensbury held off Burnt Hills in one game last season and rallied late for a victory in another. The televised rematch Friday night was devoid of such drama.
“How we dominated, that was a little bit of a surprise,” Queensbury fullback and linebacker Chris Goudy said after his team’s 42-0 win. “It was a good surprise.”
Goudy ran for over 100 yards and a pair of first-half touchdowns, four of his teammates found the end zone later on, and Queensbury stuffed Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake in recording its third shutout this fall.
“I love our kids. Sometimes, people are better than you are,” said Burnt Hills coach Matt Shell. “That’s not a knock on our kids. They play hard, but you have to play a perfect game against them.”
No one has done that in 20 games now, with Queensbury’s streak including a 28-27 regular-season win and a 14-7 Super Bowl victory against Burnt Hills in 2013. The latest success gave Queensbury (5-0, 7-0) both the Class A Northwest Division championship and a No. 1 seed for the sectionals which begin next week.
“They’re an excellent football team,” said Shell. “I don’t know what else I can say. They execute everywhere you look. Right now they’re the team to beat.”
Sharing the spotlight with Goudy and the Queensbury defense was its blocking group of interior linemen Paul Schiavi, Ben Willows, Ted Nolan, Zach Dunbar and Nick Marasco, and tight ends Keegan O’Leary, Jeff Underhill and Logan Graham.
“Our offensive line is great. They’re awesome,” said Goudy, a senior. “I did the easy part running the ball.”
Often running behind his center — Schiavi — Goudy collected 117 yards on 19 carries. Brett Rodriguez added 100 yards on 11 carries and was among the Spartans to score in the put-away second half.
“We moved the ball well,” said Queensbury coach John Irion. “When they guessed right, they held us. When they guessed wrong . . .”
Queensbury piled up 209 rushing yards in the first half and 354 in all. The Spartans only attempted three passes, and their lone completion on a wingback-opton from Rodriguez to O’Leary covered 54 yards. Burnt Hills (4-1, 4-2) managed 39 rushing yards and 65 passing yards.
“We call ourselves the ‘Killer Bees’ because we swarm to the ball,” said Goudy.
Burnt Hills’ best scoring opportunity came early in the second quarter when John Clayton’s 29-yard pass to Tyler Dowdle took the ball to the Queensbury 17. Burnt Hills’ next four plays produced one yard.
“Holding them without a score was unexpected, but very welcome,” said Irion.
“We switched up a lot of things,” said Goudy. “We used four or five formations and with each one we did something different.”
“We haven’t seen different stunts like that,” said Clayton. “It was new for us.”
Terrance Karanikas, O’Leary, Nolan and Anthony DeGregorio had sacks as part of the defensive gem turned in by the state’s No. 1-ranked team. DeGregorio forced a fumble with his hit on Clayton, Underhill recovered, and that take-away led to Steven Duell’s 14-yard touchdown that made it 42-0.
“They take away what you want to do,” said Shell. “They have an incredible defense. They run as a group. They tackle. They’re relentless.”
Queensbury is just that on offense, too, using its double-wing offense to gain yards and eat clock. Goudy capped a nine-play, 55-yard drive in the first quarter with a five-yard touchdown run. His next touchdown covered the last four yards in a 17-play, 84-yard series that took 7:31 to complete the second period.
“Paul gave me a lot of holes, especially on the wedges,” said Goudy.
Tyrell Adams scored for Queensbury on a 58-yard run in the third quarter, and O’Leary’s long reception led to Rodriguez’ one-yard touchdown surge later in the period. Sean Doran scored in the fourth quarter on a one-yard run.
Burnt Hills, which came in with a No. 8 state ranking, will get the division’s No. 2 seed.
Queensbury 8 8 13 13 — 42
BH-BL 0 0 0 0 — 0
Q — Goudy 5 run (Rodriguez run).
Q — Goudy 4 run (Rodriguez run).
Q — Adams 58 run (kick failed).
Q — Rodriguez 1 run (Escamilla kick).
Q — Doran 1 run (Escamilla kick).
Q — Duell 14 run (kick failed).
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Categories: High School Sports
