In a game that meant a great deal to the Christian Brothers Academy football team Friday night, the Brothers found a way to produce something special. More accurately, CBA prevailed largely on the strength of its special teams play in a 21-14 victory over Saratoga Springs.
The contest was a rematch of the 2025 Class AA Super Bowl, which Saratoga Springs won 14-13. It was a result that denied the Brothers a fifth consecutive sectional title.
Advertisement
The teams stood tied 7-7 midway through the second quarter. The Blue Streaks attempted a punt that was blocked by Alex Rivera and was recovered at the Saratoga Springs’ 21-yard line. Five plays later, senior quarterback Matt Kowalski tallied his second touchdown run of the game to help CBA establish a 14-7 lead.
“We had seen something that we felt was a vulnerability on their punt team. We repped it all week and thought we had a chance to possibly get it,” CBA coach Bobby Burns said. “When the opportunity came, [CBA special teams coach Sam Marro] said to me, ‘We should do it.’ They called time out initially, so I wondered if they knew what we were going to do. They didn’t. It worked out pretty good and the kids executed what we wanted. Obviously, it was a big play in the game.”
The score stayed that way into the fourth quarter. The Blue Streaks were forced to punt. This time, they got the ball off and it was fielded at the CBA 23-yard line by junior Jack Hulett. He proceeded to produce an electrifying 77-yard return for a touchdown to help extend the lead to 21-7.
“Honestly, we had our defense on the field. We didn’t have our punt team out there with a set-up return,” Burns said. “That was all Jack. He is just strong. He has a ton of ability, but all the work he puts in in the weight room and because he is such a hard worker, you can just see how strong he is when he runs the ball. It is so hard to get him on the ground.”
Advertisement
Tasiah LaDore got a pretty clean hit on Hulett near midfield, but he just bounced off as the junior accelerated away to finish off the huge touchdown return.
“We were in a situation where we needed a spark. Jack gave it to us,” Burns said.
A lot of things went against the Queensbury football team in Week 1. Columbia played an inspired brand of football against the Spartans in that game and Queensbury lost senior starting quarterback Tyler Dorvee to injury in the first quarter of what turned out to be a 48-27 victory for the Blue Devils.
Friday, Ryan Higley made his first career start at quarterback and proceeded to connect on 10 of 14 passes for 238 yards and three touchdowns in leading the Spartans past Ballston Spa 23-12 in Class A action.
Advertisement
Higley’s scoring tosses covered 75, 71 and 9 yards as Queensbury handed Ballston Spa its second loss in two games. The Scotties also dropped a 21-20 decision against Mohonasen in Week 1.
Niskayuna’s return to the Class AA level for the second time since 2024 feels different than two years ago because Pete Furey has replaced Brian Grastorf as head coach.
Niskayuna entered Thursday’s contest having dropped a 41-20 decision against Shaker. This time, the program that claimed Class A sectional titles in 2022, 2023 and 2025 turned a close contest one-sided quickly as Niskayuna tallied 38 of the game’s final 45 points in a 51-18 verdict over Colonie.
Advertisement
After one quarter, Niskayuna led 13-12. The home team made sure Furey, who played at school for his father, John Furey, and now has his father on his coaching staff, collected his inaugural varsity coaching victory by blanking the Wolf Pack in the second 25-0 to establish a 38-12 cushion.
Chase Meisner scored on a 23-yard touchdown and a 41-yard punt return. Those two scores were sandwiched around a pair of Poem Staten touchdowns, the first coming on a 42-yard touchdown pass from Thomas Boler and the second on a 36-yard interception return for a score.
The first few weeks of the Section 2 season offer chances to play opponents from another part of the state or a different classification outside our section. Over the first two weeks of the season, the Cobleskill-Richmondville football team was afforded the chance to take on both scenarios.
Advertisement
In the first week of the 2026 season, the Bulldogs hit the Thruway for a trip to Syracuse to take on the Institute of Tech, winning 49-0.
Friday, the Bulldogs took on Class B opponent Schalmont/Duanesburg/Berne-Knox-Westerlo. Cobleskill-Richmondville opened up a 19-0 advantage on the strength of touchdowns from Isaiah Butcher, Cayden Cernauskas and Landon Forsythe in posting a 28-15 decision over the Sabres.
Hudson senior running back Kam Clarke produced another superlative performance Friday night, generating 168 yards and two touchdowns to help the Bluehawks post a 34-20 victory over Chatham/Ichabod Crane.
Advertisement
The win helped Hudson enjoy a 2-0 start to the season. In each contest, the Bluehawks defeated a Class B opponent. Week 3 also takes Hudson out of Class C play as the Bluehawks travel to take on Class D foe Greenwich.
In a 51-22 triumph in Week 1 over Green Tech, Clarke rushed for 195 yards and scored six touchdowns overall.
There’s more to Albany with the Times Union. Subscribe today for just 25¢.
This article originally published at Section 2 football Week 2 roundup: Big plays, statement wins among the highlights.
