Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Let's Play a Game of "What If"

You know when you were a little kid and you used to always ask a question, get an answer and follow up with "Well what if we did this?" or even better "What if this happened instead?"

Nine times out of ten, your parents would tell you to stop asking so many questions and that always asking "what if" would eventually lead you down a slippery slope of no final answer.

Well, I am here to change all of that! At least when it comes to Section II football standings heading into the final week of the regular season. So, I've taken the taboo out of the "What If?" question. Let's ask. And ask again. And ask about what will happen to our team if this happens and that happens and this other team loses.

Under the cut check out a breakdown for all of the teams that The Record covers. Essentially, if we did a preseason preview on you - you're mentioned. It's all broken down into Class and then Division with the listings of who already clinched a number one seed if that's already happened. For an added bonus, I've included the current divisional record for all of the squads. Go find your team and then see what everyone else needs to do for y'all to have the BEST WEEKEND EVER.

Class AA
Empire Division
No. 1 Seed: CBA (5-1) - The Brothers beat Guilderland last week to secure the top spot in the division. Now, CBA takes on crossover foe and rival La Salle in the annual Sabre game on Friday night. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at LSI.
Saratoga Springs (4-1): After last week's (frankly) huge 33-6 victory over Shenendehowa, the Blue Streaks take on Guilderland this week in a battle for the No. 2 seed. A win would give 'Toga that spot behind CBA as well as a home quarterfinal game. A loss would put them at No. 3.
Shenendehowa (3-2): Divisional losses to both Guilderland and Saratoga make Friday's game against Bethlehem crucial for the Plainsmen. A win gets Shen into sectionals, no problem. A loss would put the Plainsmen on the outside of the tournament.
Bethlehem (2-3): As mentioned above, a Shen loss would put the Plainsmen on the outside looking in. Of course, that means then that Bethlehem would not only have won Friday night's game but also moved ahead in the standings, securing their first sectional bid since 2009.
Albany (0-5): At 0-5 in the division, the Falcons are already looking at crossover games
Ballston Spa (0-5): Same deal as above. An 0-5 record in the division heading into this week means crossover games for the Scotties.
Liberty League
No. 1 Seed: Not Decided
Shaker (4-0): The Bison are currently in first place in the division with a 4-0 record. But this Friday's Colonie Cup is critical if Shaker hopes to repeat as champs. A win gives the squad a No. 1 seed and home field advantage, a loss still gives them a home game in the quarterfinals, so it's not really that awful.
Colonie (3-1): After topping La Salle 32-26 last week, the Garnet Raiders put themselves in a position for a No. 1 seed in sectionals. Just like with Shaker, a win gives Colonie the top spot. A loss gives them the No. 2 seed and that's really as bad as it can get.
La Salle (3-2): The Cadets are pretty much stuck where they are right now with a 3-2 finish in the division. LSI will get the No. 3 seed heading into sectionals.
Columbia (1-3): Ok, the Blue Devils have only one divisional win this season but (!) hope is not lost. Columbia plays 2-2 Schenectady on Friday night, so a win would give them identical 2-3 records in the division. Columbia would then get the head-to-head nod and a sectional spot at No. 4.  A loss would give Schenectady the spot and knock the Devils into crossover games.

Class A
Northwest
No. 1 Seed: Queensbury (3-0) - The Spartans clinched the division after victories over both Burnt Hills and Amsterdam earlier in the season.
Burnt Hills (3-1): The Spartans cruised to a 49-0 victory over Amsterdam on Saturday afternoon to lock up the No. 2 seed and keep their win streak of sectional appearances alive. BHBL hasn't missed the postseason since 1996. Saturday's victory pushed Amsterdam into (most likely) the No. 3 seed with Gloversville rounding out the division.
South Glens Falls (0-3): The Bulldogs get the metaphorical short end of the stick here. There are nine Class A teams and eight total sectional spots. They won't get one with an 0-3 divisional record.
Southeast
No. 1 Seed: Troy (2-0) - The Flying Horses clinched the No. 1 spot in the division again after topping Averill Park 55-14 last week. The squad will have - at most - two home games in the tournament this postseason.
Averill Park (2-1): The Warriors dropped their only divisional loss this season in last Friday's 55-14 showing against Troy. That being said, the loss put them at No. 2 so they'll still have a home game against (most likely) Amsterdam in the first round.
Bishop Maginn (0-3): The Griffins make sectionals as the No. 4 seed despite not winning a divisional game.

Class B
Reinfurt Division
No. 1 Seed: Not Decided
Cohoes (4-1): The Tigers are currently sitting at the top of the divisional standings, with the head-to-head win over Ravena.  A win over Ichabod Crane will cinch the Reinfurt title for Cohoes. A loss, if it happens, would make things a little crazy for everyone else. But, at the lowest the Tigers are looking at No. 3.
Ravena (4-1): The Indians can still get a No. 1 seed if they beat Green Tech and if (and that's a big if) Cohoes loses to Ichabod Crane. If Ravena beats GT but Cohoes also wins, the Indians will get the No. 2 spot. A Ravena loss to GT (with a Cohoes win still) would put them at No. 3.
Green Tech (3-2): The Eagles have already clinched a playoff spot - the first in program history - but there's still some questions about where they'll end up seed-wise. If Green Tech beats Ravena, they'll move into the No. 2 spot and also secure a home game in the quarterfinals. A loss could bump them down to either No. 3 or (if Lansingburgh beats Academy) a No. 4 spot.
Albany Academy (3-2): The Cadets game against Lanisngburgh is a win and you're in kind of deal. Both teams are currently 3-2 in the division, so a win would bump them up to 4-2 and keep the season alive.
Lansingburgh (3-2): As mentioned above, the Knights have to win Friday's game against Academy to reach the postseason. But, if they do win, things can get better from there depending on what happens in other games. If 'Burgh wins and Green Tech loses, they can get the No. 3 seed thanks to the tie breaker. Just a simple 'Burgh win gives them the No. 4 seed.
West Division 
No. 1 Seed: Schalmont (6-0) - The Sabres are the only undefeated team left in all of Class B and they'll once again be looking at home field advantage in any games leading up to the Super Bowl.
The Rest of It: The Record doesn't really cover many teams in the West here, but just for continuity's sake right now we're probably looking at a pecking order of Broadalbin-Perth, Scotia and Cobleskill. Probably. Interesting to note that Glens Falls is still on the fringe here after making it to the state championship game last season. Keep an eye out for them as well.

Class C
North
No. 1 Seed: Not Decided
Hoosick Falls (5-0): The perennial champion and boaster of a 46-game Section II win streak will have to fight to keep all of that alive on Friday when the Panthers take on 4-1 Corinth for the title. So, a win is another No. 1 spot for Hoosick Falls. A loss would mean the No. 2 seed and a home quarterfinal game. But, let's all be honest, the bigger news would be if they lost.
Corinth (4-1): As mentioned above, the Tomahawks can clinch a No. 1 spot if they beat Hoosick Falls on Friday night. The fact that it's even a possibility after Corinth has missed the playoffs since 2009 is pretty impressive. Now, the team will make sectionals, but if they do lose to Hoosick Falls, the Tomahawks will fall to the No. 2 spot.
Mechanicville (3-2): The Red Raiders have pretty much wrapped up the No. 3 spot, even if they get a victory over rival Stillwater on Friday night. A win would put M'ville at 4-2 in the division, but lost to both Hoosick Falls and Corinth, so they're kind of stuck. A loss would put the team at 3-3, but the Raiders already beat Granville so they hold that tie breaker. There is a slim chance that M'ville could drop to No. 4, so read below to figure out how that math works.
Stillwater (2-3): The Warriors need a lot to happen if they're going to get a sectional berth this season. First off, they need to beat Mechanicville in the Indian Bowl on Friday night. Then they need Granville to beat Tamarac, since the Warriors hold the tie breaker over the Golden Horde. All of that would put Stillwater at the No. 3 seed, bump Mechanicville to No. 4 and push Granville out.
Tamarac (2-3): Again, there's still the chance here that the Bengals can make the postseason, certain things just have to happen. First of all, Tamarac has to beat Granville to finish 3-3 in the division. Then Mechanicville would have to beat Stillwater. Since both M'Ville and Tamarac beat Stillwater, the Bengals would be second in that tie-breaker, earning a No. 4 spot.
Catholic Central (0-6): In their first year in Class C, the Crusaders are looking at crossover games after week seven.
South
No. 1 Seed: Chatham (5-0) - Nothing new to see here. For the second straight year, the Panthers are the top of the division. Even a loss against Cairo-Durham this week wouldn't change anything.
Watervliet (2-3): This one is pretty simple. They win against Taconic Hills and the Cannoneers are in. However, even if they lose, there's still a chance they could make the postseason at 2-4 in the division. As long as Voorheesville beats Coxsackie-Athens, 'Vliet can make the touranment.

Class D
North
No. 1 Seed: Greenwich (4-0) - After moving to a new division this season, the Witches are looking at a No. 1 seed and a home playoff game. Even if Greenwich loses to Fort Edward this weekend, nothing will change standings or seeding-wise.
The Rest of It: Again, I don't head up North too frequently, but let's do this for fun anyway. If Salem wins this weekend, the Generals will make sectionals despite forfeiting two games. If Salem loses and Whitehall wins, then Whitehall is in. If they both lose, Salem owns the tie breaker and will make the postseason.
South
No. 1 Seed: Cambridge (4-0) - The Indians picked up the top spot in the division thanks to last week's victory over Rensselaer. Again, even a loss doesn't change anything for Cambridge this week.
Rensselaer (3-1): The Rams need to beat Canajoharie on Friday night if they're going to make the tournament. That's pretty much it. They win and they're in. They lose and they're not.
Bishop Gibbons/Saratoga Catholic: The first-year combined squad did earn a divisional victory in the first six weeks of the season, but won't make the postseason.
Hoosic Valley: After an up-and-down season, the Indians won't make the sectional tournament.

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