SECTION II – Week 3 of the high school football season kicks off Friday.
Here are five things to know ahead of this week’s Section II gridiron action.
STILL STANDING
Heading into Week 3, the list of undefeated Section II teams stands at 14. The highest concentration comes in Class C, where five teams — Schuylerville, Fonda-Fultonville, Broadalbin-Perth, Warrensburg/Lake George/North Warren and Cobleskill-Richmondville — have made it to this point in the season unscathed. Meanwhile, Class D has just a single unbeaten team in Cambridge/Salem. The remaining undefeated teams are Christian Brothers Academy, Shenendehowa and Guilderland in Class AA; Amsterdam, Troy and Ballston Spa in Class A; and Gloversville and Glens Falls in Class B.
DEFENSE FIRST
Two Class C teams — Broadalbin-Perth and Warrensburg/Lake George/North Warren — boast the stingiest defenses in Section II to date, with each team having allowed just six points through three games. All three of those wins for Broadalbin-Perth, including back-to-back shutouts against Ichabod Crane and Hudson, have come on the road. The Patriots play rookie head coach Rick Wallace’s first home game Friday against Taconic Hills.
DIVISION PLAY IN CLASS A
The first meaningful games for postseason position will be played in Class A this week, the last classification in the area to reach that point in the schedule. Key matchups include Troy facing La Salle Institute for the Collar City Cup in the Capital Division and Queensbury visiting Niskayuna in the Grasso Division. The lone non-division matchup sees Albany visit undefeated Ballston Spa, which won’t open its Grasso Division schedule until next week against Niskayuna.
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE
Amsterdam quarterback Jhai Vellon has found the end zone at an astonishing rate in the Rugged Rams’ first two games. He’s passed for eight touchdowns — a school record seven of which came in last Friday’s wild 60-35 win over Queensbury — and rushed for four more while passing for 466 yards and rushing for another 247. Vellon and the 2-0 Rams host Mohonasen in their homecoming game on Saturday afternoon.
‘PROVE IT’ GAME FOR THE BLUE STREAKS
Since opening their season with a loss to Ballston Spa, Saratoga Springs has impressed in back-to-back weeks with double-digit wins over both Niskayuna and Bethlehem. Friday’s home game against Guilderland offers a chance for the Blue Streaks — who are allowing just 12 points per game — a chance to prove themselves against one of last year’s four Class AA playoff teams. The Dutchmen, led by running back Michael Scuzzarella, have rolled up 77 points in wins over Averill Park and Colonie.
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