CBA Reclaims Class AA Crown With Dominant Rematch Victory Over Saratoga Springs

COLONIE — The Redemption Tour reached its Section 2 conclusion Saturday, and it ended in a resounding crescendo for the Christian Brothers Academy football team.

One year after suffering a one-point loss to Saratoga Springs in the Class AA Super Bowl, the Brothers returned to the same Colonie High School field against the same opponent and delivered a thorough thrashing in the title-game rematch.

CBA scored six touchdowns on six first-half possessions and rolled to a 61-14 victory over the Blue Streaks. Last year, Saratoga Springs stunned CBA 14-13 for the championship.

“Coming into the game, I was so hyped. Scoring that first touchdown just meant so much to me,” said CBA senior running back Tommy Toher, who was knocked out of last year’s title game with an injury in the first quarter but opened Saturday’s scoring on a 25-yard touchdown run.

“The culture, the continuity and the love for each other have been there since last year. They were motivated and focused all offseason,” CBA coach Bobby Burns said. “These kids are special. They really are. Yes, we have a lot of talent on this team, but they let us coach them, they trust us, they execute and play their tails off when they need to. Most of all, they have been dedicated to improving since last year. I am proud of them.”

Saturday’s win was especially sweet for veteran CBA players who felt the sting of falling to Saratoga Springs in a driving rainstorm in last year’s Super Bowl. It also meant a great deal to players who had minimal roles last year or, as in the case of senior quarterback Matt Kowalski, barely saw the field. Kowalski rushed for three touchdowns and passed for two on Saturday, while another CBA standout, two-year starting linebacker Myles Johnson, ran for a pair of touchdowns.

“It just shows you how good this team is. People like Matt and Myles were the hardest workers of all,” said CBA senior standout JT Vogel, a four-year starter at safety. “They showed up ready to work at every workout. I love those guys so much, so I am glad to see them shine.”

“Guys like Myles and Matt are products of the offseason work. They gained confidence and prepared themselves to do what they have done this year,” Burns said.

Toward the end of the opening quarter, the Blue Streaks trailed 21-0. Things never improved, as the Brothers outgained Saratoga Springs 462-6. The Blue Streaks’ two touchdowns came on a kickoff return from Gavin LaFrance and a 2-yard reception by Jaden Lockrow after Saratoga Springs was set up with a short field.

“Knowing that it could be the same outcome again really fired us up,” Toher said. “The offseason work we put in was real. To see it pay off was awesome.”

“That was one of the most heartbreaking losses I’ve ever had,” Vogel said. “We came into the game last year, although not taking them lightly, feeling that we would pull it out. Unfortunately, we didn’t play our football and lost — and earlier this year, we beat them 21-14, but not in the way we wanted to. We knew we were a better team than that. They are a great team with great players and a great coach. All week, and really all offseason, this fueled us. We were ready to go. This is probably the most ‘ready-to-go’ our team has been ever.”

Between 1986 and 2020, CBA captured one sectional title with its 13-8 win over Shaker at the University at Albany in 2013. Since Burns took over the program prior to the 2021 season, the Brothers have played in six straight Super Bowls and have earned five Class AA titles.

Key moment

After CBA drove the length of the field to open the scoring on its first possession, Saratoga Springs gave the ball right back when junior standout Cam Toomey fumbled and CBA linebacker Jackson Bishop-Coppola recovered it.

Five plays later, Kowalski found the end zone on a 7-yard touchdown run that helped provide the Brothers a 14-0 advantage.

Star of the game

Kowalski has been exceptional all season for CBA. In the only Super Bowl start of his career, he went 7-for-8 passing for 170 yards and two touchdowns, and added 135 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

The senior’s second touchdown run covered 47 yards during the first quarter to make it 21-0.

Numbers to know

• 119: Receiving yards for CBA senior standout Chase McIntyre, known more for his exploits as a defensive back, on three receptions. One of them was a 42-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter.

• 7: Times the Brothers have reached the 60-point plateau this season.

• 4: Times CBA has punted the football this season in 11 games, including none on Saturday.

What’s next

• Saratoga Springs: The season came to a close for the 11th-ranked Blue Streaks at 9-2. Both defeats came against CBA.

• CBA: Up next for the Brothers is a state quarterfinal game next Saturday vs. Section 9 champion Valley Central (7-4) at Colonie High School.

Source link