By JUSTIN PORRECA
News Editor
With both defenses seemingly impregnable for the majority of the game, it came down to late turnovers by the Albany High Falcons that pushed the Schenectady High Patriots to victory, 13-12, on Saturday afternoon.
Both offenses came out flat, with neither team producing quality drives in the first half. There was a lack of execution from both offenses. Clogged running holes and incompletions plagued the first half. However, turnovers changed the tide of the game in the second half.
“Today we just needed to do a better job and once again we will get back at it on Monday,” said Coach Joey DiPiazza. “Big picture, we want to be a team playing late into the season, we need to be able to run the football.”
The Patriots’ lone offensive score came from a three-yard touchdown run by tailback Collin Derboghossian. It was their offensive highlight for the afternoon. However, the drive was extended due to a key pass interference call on cornerback Aaron Shields.
With 8:12 left in the fourth quarter and the Falcons down by six, they needed the offense to come alive, and they did. Albany High’s offense drove the ball into Patriots territory, only to make a mistake.
On first down inside the 20-yard line, Lamar Grady was met by a slew of Schenectady defenders, held up and stripped. Patriots cornerback Sa’kim McNeil would pick up the loose ball and return the fumble 86 yards for the score.
Down 13-0, and down two tailbacks, the Falcons had six minutes to make a comeback.
DiPiazza turned to back-up quarterback Semaji Jones to lead the team. However, on his first drop back, Jones threw an interception in the flat, which the Patriots failed to convert into points. He would settle down after that, and put on a show.
The pressure was on. On first down, he threw a 53-yard bomb to wide receiver Jerrel Chaney for a touchdown, reinvigorating a mute Albany crowd.
Schenectady got the ball and proceeded to milk the clock, forcing DiPiazza to use his timeouts. However, with two minutes remaining, Schenectady High opted to pass instead of running the ball to kill the clock. Quarterback Nate Schneider heaved a deep ball intended for Maurice Tillman that fell incomplete, stopping the clock and forcing the Patriots to punt.
With 1:51 left on the clock, Albany High needed to drive 60 yards. On first down, Jones dropped back once again and proceeded to key on Chaney. Throwing a deep ball in his direction, he bobbled it, but made a dazzling one-handed grab and took it to the end zone.
DiPiazza opted to go for two and the win. But on the two-point conversion, Jones took the snap and got pummeled, never getting the opportunity to get the play into motion.
With score still 13-12, the Falcons needed a miracle, but the magic ran out. Schenectady recovered the onside kick and ran the remaining time off the clock.
Albany High struggled to run the ball, but they lost their starting running back Ky’ere Tillery and their back up tailback, Syeed Holtzclaw, to lower leg injuries in the second half.
Derboghossian was pleased with his team’s effort Saturday, especially after last week’s debacle. However, he understands there’s work that needs to be done. “Obviously we had a few miscarriages that fell on the carpet. We’re going to make an improvement on that.”
As for Albany High, it’s back to the drawing board. “The goal in practice this week is looking to get better today, than what we were yesterday in all aspects,” DiPiazza said.
Chaney would like to see his team improve on execution and have more passion. “The team just needs to improve on, just getting that initial push in the beginning of the game, coming out fierce with fire, instead of having it come out later in the game when we are down. We need to get out first and keep it pushing.”
“The teams that are successful and are playing late in the season are teams that are able to run the football and that’s what this program is going to be about,” DiPiazza said.
