Byline: BILL ARSENAULT
The Lake George High football team has put its equipment away. The Indians finished with a respectable 8-2 record, but didn't make the playoffs.
That may be hard to believe, but in Class D this season, there were no playoffs. Because there were just six Class D teams in Section II, the committee decided the teams would play each other twice during the season, and the school with the best record would represent the section in state play.
Fort Edward (9-1) will play Moriah of Section VII (Plattsburgh area) in the Class D regionals Saturday at 1 p.m. at Queensbury High.
``We're all kind of frustrated up here,'' Lake George coach and athletic director Tim Donnelly said. ``Every other class had a playoff; we should have had one, too.''
Fort Edward beat Lake George 22-14 the third week of the season, scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter. Lake George then lost to Rensselaer, 20-6. But the Indians came back to beat Fort Edward 19-8 and Rensselaer 34-8 the second time around.
``We were playing really well at the end of the season,'' Donnelly said.
My opinion? At 9-1, Fort Edward deserves to go to the playoffs. Beyond that, the Section II committee had better do something about the situation next season. Ravena was legal: The players and coaching staff at Hudson Falls insisted that Ravena High used an illegal play to score in the Class B Super Bowl last Saturday.
Ravena used the Lonesome End play -- a wideout who doesn't report to the offensive huddle, but instead lingers near the sideline -- and it resulted in an uncovered receiver and an easy touchdown.
I talked with the officials after the game and each had the same answer.
``Ravena started using that play a few years ago, so we're always on watch for it,'' an official said. ``Believe me, if they did something wrong, we would have flagged them.''
As it turned out, while Ravena scored a touchdown on the play, it may have cost the Indians the ball game. Hudson Falls came back with a vengeance and scored twice to win the game, 20-14. A Stipano to watch: Stillwater High football and track coach Dick Stipano is like any other proud pop. His daughter Maria, an eighth grader, could become one of the top runners in Section II in the near future.
Maria is a modified runner for Ballston Spa High. Last year in track, she was unbeaten in both the mile and two-mile, and in cross country she's unbeaten and routinely setting course records.
Jayvee Super Bowl: Colonie High defeated Shaker High 34-14 in the Section II jayvee Super Bowl last week. The Colonie head coach is John Preston, son of veteran Rensselaer coach Norm Preston. The Shaker team was coached by former Albany Firebird ``Touchdown'' Eddie Brown.
Top players for Colonie were tight end-defensive end John Branch, running back Jeremy Sheffer and linebacker Dave Mink.
Both teams finished 8-1, with Shaker having beaten Colonie 8-6 during the regular season. Class act: Jackie Nault of Burnt Hills High was named MVP in girls' volleyball in the Suburban Council. She deserves it for her all-around play, but the award easily could have gone to teammates Sue Gestwick, Lindsay Place or Lindsey Shumway. That's why the Spartans are so tough. And Gary Bynon is easily the best volleyball coach around.
Bill Arsenault's column is published Thursdays during the school season. To reach him, call 454-5507.
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