That’s A Wrap, Folks: BHBL Ends Season with a 48-24 Loss to Somers

LINCOLNDALE — The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake football team finished their season in the 2016 NYSPHSAA Class A Football Championships semifinals with a loss to top seed Somers 48-24. The Tuskers kicked off to the Spartans to start the game. Somers broke the 0-0 score with approximately six minutes to play in the first quarter, thanks to a rushing touchdown by senior running back Messiah Horne. The extra point conversion gave the Tuskers a 7-0 advantage. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake responded with two long runs and a sixteen-yard pass, but failed to put points on the board. With under a minute to play in the first quarter, senior kicker Connor McCormick kicked a fifteen-yard field goal, making the score 7-3 to end the first quarter. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake would be forced to punt the football after a three-and-out offensive drive early in the second quarter. This possession led to a forty-yard touchdown pass by junior quarterback Kevin Olifiers. The extra point conversion put the Tuskers up 14-3. With under three left to play in the half and the Somers with possession of the ball on their own six-yard line, the Spartan defense recorded a quarterback sack and regained possession. This led to a two-yard rushing touchdown by junior running back Jake Stanko. The extra point made by McCormick cut the lead down to four by a score of 14-10. Somers would be quick to respond, thanks to a seventy-yard touchdown run by senior wide receiver Matt Pires. The extra point conversion would give the Somers a 21-10 lead going into halftime. The Spartans would score their second touchdown of the game with seven minutes to play in the third quarter, thanks to a thirty nine-yard touchdown pass to junior running back Mike Levan. The extra point by McCormick would cut Somers’ lead to four by a score of 21-17 to end the third quarter. Early in the fourth quarter, Somers would record their fourth touchdown of the game, thanks to an eighty-yard rushing touchdown. The extra point conversion by sophomore kicker Kevin Graber gave the Tuskers a 28-17 lead. A short time later Somers would record yet another touchdown. The extra point gave the Tuskers a 35-17 advantage. The Tuskers would add on two touchdowns within five minutes, increasing their lead by a score of 48-17. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake would have one last offensive strike with approximately two minutes to play in the game. Senior tight end Patrick Hopsicker caught a touchdown pass, making the score 48-23. The extra point conversion by McCormick put the score at 48-24 to end the game. Despite this loss the Spartans remain the Class A Super Bowl champions. The team finished with a final overall record of 10-2, and a final league record of 6-1.