Football: Amsterdam in Class A final following 0-3 start

PHOTOGRAPHER: Peter R. Barber

Dakota Harvey of Saratoga Springs, shown in action earlier this year against Bethlehem, will lead the Blue Streaks against Shaker in the Class AA Super Bowl tonight at Shenendehowa High School.

Amsterdam football coach Doug Edick could see a silver lining after his team got blown out by Cazenovia, lost to Queensbury and then saw a second-half rally fall just short against Troy in its first three games.

“Only one loss was in the division. There was still a lot of season left,” he said. “At that point, it was, ‘We’ve got to get the second seed and get a home game. Six wins will get us to the title game.’ The guys bought in.”

Amsterdam won the last of those six games last week at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, stunning the Spartans in a Section II Class A semifinal 37-7 to keep its where-did-this-come from streak going.

That victory moved Amsterdam (6-3) into Saturday night’s Class A championship game at Shenendehowa against Troy (9-0). The Flying Horses won that Week 3 Southeast Division game at Amsterdam 26-21 after leading 26-0 at the half.

“After our third loss, we said we’re not going to worry about what anyone else is doing. We’re going to worry about us getting better,” Edick said. “We moved some guys around, and we got rid of some guys who didn’t want to be here. The 31 who stayed wanted to play football, and they turned it around.

“It’s the kids doing it, and I’ve got a great staff to work with them.”

Amsterdam beat independent Niskayuna and division opponents Mohonasen, Averill Park and Bishop Maginn before its playoff wins against South Glens Falls and Burnt Hills.

“The wins started piling up, and the kids bought in even more,” Edick said.

Amsterdam ended Burnt Hills’ bid for a 10th straight title-game berth with its win which included two touchdown runs, a TD pass and a TD catch from Gazette All-Area back Bryan Stanavich. Quarterback Trey Holloway added another big moment to his sophomore season with a 71-yard scoring bolt, and Dale Stanavich, Jakob Rodecker and Brandon Barbagelata anchored a defense that blanked the state’s then-No.2 team over the final three quarters.

“We beat a very good Burnt Hills team,” Edick said. “We played a good all-around game.”

Burnt Hills defeated Amsterdam in the 2011 final in Pat Liverio’s last game as head coach, and topped Edick’s first team in 2012 in the title game. The Rugged Rams haven’t been back since.

“We’re loose. We were that way last week. What do we have to lose?” Edick asked. “They’re [Troy] undefeated. They’re No. 4 in the state. They’ve got more to lose than we do.”

Troy prevailed in its last title game appearance, the 2010 Class AA final against Shenendehowa, and lost to Burnt Hills in the 2009 Class A final.

“They were down by a boat load against Queensbury,” Edick said. “They’re fast. They’re good. They’re big and physical.”

Troy ended Queensbury’s hopes for a third straight Section II title when it rallied from a 30-8 third-quarter deficit to win 42-36. Demani Soares ran for three touchdowns, and quarterback John Germinerio ran for a score and passed for two, including the 64-yard game-winner to Dajuan Hudson.

“We have to do all three phases of the game,” Edick said. “We have to tackle well. We’ve got to be sharp on special teams. On offense, we can’t turn the ball over and we need points.”

They’ve already made a big one just by getting there.

SUPER BOWL CAPSULES

CLASS AA

Tonight at Shenendehowa (7 p.m.): Saratoga Springs (No. 1 Empire, 9-0) vs. Shaker (No. 1 Liberty, 9-0).

Last championship game appearance: Saratoga beat Ballston Spa 31-7 in 2009 (AA); Shaker beat Shenendehowa 14-0 in 2012 (AA).

Championship game records: Saratoga (5-5); Shaker (1-1).

Last meeting: Shaker beat Saratoga 34-18 Week 2 2014.

How they get here: Dakota Harvey ran for three touchdowns, and Saratoga topped Shenendehowa for the second time this fall 35-7. Wahib Nabi starred for Shaker with a touchdown run and two through the air, and two-way star Ryan Duda scored touchdowns on both sides in a 41-0 win over Guilderland.

CLASS A

Saturday at Shenendehowa (7 p.m.): Amsterdam (Southeast No. 2, 6-3) vs. Troy (Southeast No. 1, 9-0).

Last championship game appearance: Amsterdam lost to Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake 48-0 in 2012 (A); Troy beat Shenendehowa 38-0 in 2010 (AA).

Championship game records: Amsterdam (9-9); Troy (7-3).

Last meeting: Troy beat Amsterdam 26-21 Week 3 2015.

How they got here: Amsterdam shut down Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake after the first quarter, and Bryan Stanavich had a hand in four touchdowns in the Rugged Rams’ 37-7 win. Troy staged a superb comeback against Queensbury, with John Germinerio throwing two touchdown passes and running for another in a 42-36 win.

CLASS B

Saturday at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (3 p.m.): Glens Falls (West No. 2, 8-1) vs. Schuylerville (West No. 1, 9-0).

Last championship game appearance: Glens Falls beat Schalmont 21-14 in 2012 (B); Schuylerville lost to Schalmont 40-8 in 2014 (B).

Championship game records: Glens Falls (4-5); Schuylerville (2-3).

Last meeting: Schuylerville beat Glens Falls 33-0 in Week 6 2015.

How they got here: Aaron Sampson produced running and receiving touchdowns, and Glens Falls earned a rematch by beating Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk 21-0. Schuylerville slugged Schalmont with its versatile run game, and William Griffen, Zachary Pierce and Joseph Vanderhoof divided six touchdowns in a 42-0 win.

CLASS C

Tonight at Lansingburgh (7 p.m.): Hoosic Valley (No. 7, 7-2) vs. Greenwich (No. 1, 9-0).

Last championship game appearance: Hoosic Valley none; Greenwich lost to Rensselaer in 2009 42-24 (D).

Championship game records: Hoosic Valley (0-0, first-time playoff participant); Greenwich (2-4).

Last meeting: Greenwich beat Hoosic Valley 13-0 Week 3 2015.

How they got here: Tom Madigan and Jeff Carazza ran for touchdowns, Mike Schoonmaker made a key two-pointer, and Mechanicville missed a late field goal in Hoosic Valley’s 14-13 win, its sixth in a row since a loss to Greenwich. The Witches got four touchdowns from Mike Brandow in a 40-0 semifinal win over Stillwater.

CLASS D

Saturday at Schuylerville (1 p.m.): Cambridge (No. 2, 8-1) vs. Whitehall (No. 1, 9-0).

Last championship game appearance: Cambridge beat Whitehall 42-0 in 2014 (D).

Championship game records: Cambridge (14-4); Whitehall (2-5).

Last meeting: Whitehall beat Cambridge 29-14 Week 7 2015.

How they got here: Andy Romack scored two touchdowns in a 21-0 game-closing run as Cambridge shook off Canajoharie 34-12. Daryl Hillman ran for three touchdowns, two in a 27-point fourth quarter, as Whitehall put away Warrensburg 41-14.