Saturday, October 3, 2015 by Aidan Joly
Saratoga scored early and often on Friday night, and that proved to be the key to win the game.
The varsity football team defeated Albany on Friday night at UAlbany’s Bob Ford Field by a score of 69-29.
Saratoga started the game with a bang, with Dakota Harvey returning the opening kick back to the end zone for a touchdown, and didn’t look back after that.
“Offensively, we still moved the ball, the special teams still played well, and again, we told the kids all week that they’re only going to run a few plays,” Head Coach Terry Jones said of his team’s offense.
Followimg Harvey’s touchdown, they would go on to score twice more in seven minutes, the second touchdown being an 86 yard pass from Brian Williams to Robert Haughton. That was Haughton’s first of two touchdowns for the night.
“It’s great for the kids.” Jones said. “Everyone played tonight.”
Saratoga went the locker room at halftime with a 41-7 lead and took starters out of the game.
Backup quarterback Justin Degener would take over, and was part of two touchdowns, one passing to Nick Kondo and one on a 95-yard kick return touchdown after an Albany score.
Jones said of Degener, “If he was four inches taller and forty pounds heavier, he would be a D1 football player.”
Saratoga would tack on one more score with 42 seconds left with a nine-yard rush touchdown by Degener.
Albany was led by running back Ky’ere Tillery, who had a huge game, rushing for 273 yards and scoring a touchdown.
“I think he’s a good football player. He runs hard, he’s got good speed, he’s physical, he lowers his pads, and he was tough to bring down tonight,” Jones said of Tillery.
Albany, Schenectady, Troy and CBA were added to the Suburban Council before the start of the fall season.
Saratoga is now 5-0 this year, making it the first time since 2003 that they win their first five games of the season. They will be back in action next Friday night as they take on CBA in Albany. That game will begin at 7 p.m.
Aidan Joly is a sophomore covering sports for The Lightning Rod.