SARATOGA SPRINGS – Saratoga Springs football coach Eric Hayden and his staff didn’t want to match power with Shaker on Friday night. Instead, the Blue Streaks wanted to live up to their nickname and focus on speed, deploying four or five wide receivers on offense.
That strategy worked to perfection in a huge Section 2 Class AA contest.
“That is 100% what we did. We worked on it all week and executed it,” Saratoga Springs senior receiver Jaden Lockrow said.
Saratoga Springs senior quarterback Bobby Morris led his team to four touchdown drives in the first half, with the three-year starter directly involved in three of those scores. The passing work and formational setups also aided the ground game in what turned out to be an impressive 42-20 victory by the Blue Streaks.
During the first quarter, Saratoga Springs (4-1 overall, 3-1 Class AA) worked the ball to the perimeter to senior receivers Gavin LaFrance and Lockrow. Each scored touchdowns in the opening quarter as the Blue Streaks never trailed.
Benji Makoyi of Shaker tackles Judah Wilson of Saratoga at Saratoga Springs High School on Friday in Saratoga Springs (Stephen Weaver)
“Honestly, it was exactly the spark we needed to do to lighten up their box a little bit. They are pretty big inside,” Hayden said regarding the team’s tactics to attack Shaker. “We wanted to spread them out and make those big boys play in space. That was kind of the plan.”
Shaker (4-1, 4-1) trailed 28-7 at intermission and was outgained 242-102 during the opening 24 minutes. The spread would have been more decisive had Shaker senior running back Avery Jones not popped a 59-yard touchdown run with 6:19 remaining in the second quarter.
The advantage increased to 35-7 through three quarters after junior standout Cam Toomey reached the end zone on a 2-yard run.
“Up front, the skill guys, anyone you can name, everyone did their jobs tonight,” Morris said. “Spreading them out really benefited us. We’ve got guys on the outside that are dangerous: Gavin, Jaden, Cam and Danny (Brynzka). We used those guys to our advantage and it really helped us tonight.”
Saratoga Springs entered the game ranked No. 21 in the state. The Blue Streaks should climb in a big way in next week’s rankings after producing such a dominating showing vs. No. 9-ranked Shaker.
“I am so proud of us,” Lockrow said. “We are always the underdogs and continue to prove everyone wrong every week. How far we have come since day one, man, I am just so proud.”
“You have first give the credit to the kids for them embracing the work we have been giving them. We ride them pretty hard, but keep coming back. They are learning and growing,” Hayden said. “On top of that, our coaching does a tremendous job of preparing them and working with them. It is all coming together. I love the progress we have made from Week 1 in playing Schenectady to where we are now.”
Trailing 21-7 late in the first quarter, Shaker quarterback Austin Marohn attempted to throw a short pass in the flat. Saratoga Springs junior linebacker Thomas Georgeadis intercepted it and the Blue Streaks followed with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Morris to senior receiver Gavin LaFrance with 27.1 seconds left in the half to help extend the lead to 28-7.
Saratoga quarterback Bobby Morris passes against Shaker at Saratoga Springs High School on Friday in Saratoga Springs (Stephen Weaver)
In addition to his passing exploits, Morris also delivered several key running plays that confounded the Blue Bison. He ran for 76 yards in the first half and led Saratoga Springs to five touchdowns on its first six offensive possessions. Morris scored on a 5-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and added two TD tosses to LaFrance, who finished six catches for 84 yards.
Passing yards for Saratoga’s Morris on a night he completed 16 of 21 through the air.
132: Rushing yards for Shaker’s Jones on 17 carries.
67: The difference in total yards of offense between the Blue Streaks (353) and the Blue Bison (286), a misleading number in the overall scheme of the game.
Avery Jones of Shaker scores a touchdown against Saratoga at Saratoga Springs High School on Friday in Saratoga Springs (Stephen Weaver)
Shaker: The Blue Bison return to action Oct. 9 at the University at Albany for an encounter vs. Troy.
Up next for the Blue Streaks is a Class AA road contest Oct. 9 at Albany.
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