GUILDERLAND — For the second year in a row, the Guilderland football squad hosted a team for the Section II playoffs.

This year, the Dutchmen made sure the results were different.

Guilderland scored early and often Saturday afternoon, posting a 26-0 halftime lead then holding on for a 32-13 win over Schenectady in the first-round of the Class AA playoffs.

The Dutchmen will host Ballston Spa in a semifinal game at home on Friday night. The Scotties are the only team to beat the 7-1 Dutchmen this season.

It was the first playoff win for Guilderland since 1996 and only the second ever.
"They’ve got a lot of good players," said senior linebacker and tight end Paul Malamood of Schenectady’s team. "We stepped up and got the job done."
"The key was to keep the ball out of their hands," added senior quarterback Drew Smith. "We kept the ball moving and we did that and were able to get the ball into the end zone. If we play every half like that, we’re unstoppable."

Unstoppable start

The Dutchmen were unstoppable in the first half, scoring on their first three possessions and shutting down an explosive Schenectady offense and its running back Marc Thompson, who was the leading rusher in Section II coming into the game.
"I can’t say enough about Thompson," Malamood said. "He’s a heck of a player, but me and Pete [Stanish] stepped up to try to stop him."

The pair of senior linebackers led an impressive run defense as they held Thompson to just 36 rushing yards on his first 15 carries before he gained 41 yards on his final attempt against Guilderland’s second-string defense.

Guilderland got on the board first after taking the opening kick-off. The Dutchmen methodically drove down the field, using 15 plays to score the first touchdown of the game.

Smith capped the drive with a one-yard leap, holding the ball over the goaline for the six points.

The extra-point kick failed after a fumbled snap, but Guilderland led, 6-0, with 5:50 left in the 12-minute first quarter.

Schenectady was forced to punt on its first possession, and again Guilderland put together another long scoring drive.

Starting at their own 19-yard line late in the first quarter, the Dutchmen moved the ball in 14 plays and scored about midway through the second.

Mixing runs from Smith, Paul Booker, and Nick Ranalli, along with passes from Smith to Malamood, the Dutchmen moved the ball with ease. On the 14th play of the drive, Booker capped the drive with a four-yard run into the end zone.

The extra-point kick missed, but Guilderland led, 12-0, with 7:51 left in the second stanza.

Guilderland built on its lead on the next possession after an interception by Malamood.

Malamood’s pick-off gave the Dutch the ball at Schenectady’s 28-yard line.

After a five-yard penalty, Rinalli moved the ball on a seven-yard reverse run after taking a hand-off from Booker.

On the next play, Booker ran 21 yards to move the ball to the one-yard line. Two plays later, Smith, in a mirror image of his first touchdown, leaped and held the ball over the goal line for the touchdown.

Smith ran into the end zone on the two-point conversion attempt and the Dutch led, 20-0, with 5:44 left until halftime.

Schenectady punted on its next possession and Guilderland moved the ball again.

However, Booker’s pass attempt on an option was intercepted at the Schenectady 16-yard line.

But Guilderland’s defense held and forced the Patriots to punt again.

This time, Smith fielded the punt at his own 42-yard line. He dodged some tacklers, followed his blocks, and raced down the home-team sideline for a 58-yard touchdown.

The extra-point kick was missed, but Guilderland led, 26-0, with 40 seconds left in the second frame.
"Punting to Drew Smith is a dangerous thing to do," said Guilderland Coach Dan Penna. "Once he gets into the open field, he makes things happen. He’s a tremendous athlete and he has guys around him that are the right complement."

"Everyone stepped up"

Schenectady got on the scoreboard in the third quarter.

Guilderland’s Jesse Lutz intercepted the ball on the Patriots’ first drive of the second half. On the ensuing drive, the Dutchmen punted for the first time and a good return gave the Patriots the ball at their own 49-yard line.

Five plays later, Schenectady quarterback Nick Ottati connected with Joshua Mason for a 26-yard touchdown pass.

Schenectady made the score 26-13 early in the fourth quarter. Ottati hit Marcus Brandon for a touchdown from inside the five-yard line.

Guilderland responded and put together a long touchdown drive that sealed the win.

The Dutch started at their own 31-yard line and pounded the ball up the field behind the running of Booker, Smith, and Ranalli.

Booker capped the drive with a three-yard run to make the score 32-13 with 2:47 left in the game.

Schenectady could not get another score as Guilderland’s second string offense and defense did a good job on the final drives of the game.

The game ended when Billy Kemp sacked Ottati, forcing a fumble. Scott Suriano recovered the fumble to give the Dutch the ball back.

Backup quarterback Bobby Falcone took a knee, the game ended, and the Dutch move on to the semifinals.
"They have big play makers," said Penna. "We felt that they were definitely a good football team. I think they had one first down in the first half. We did a good job of containing Thompson and had solid coverage on their receivers."
"We’re a great team and we showed it today," Malamood said. "Everyone stepped up today."

Booker finished the game with 124 yards rushing on 23 carries.

Next up for the Dutchmen is a revenge game against Ballston Spa. And with a win comes a spot in the Section II Super Bowl.
"We lost up there," Penna said. "They took advantage of our mistakes. We’ll be ready to play. It’s a playoff game. We’re not ready to go home. We want to keep playing."