The Guilderland student section, the Red Storm, was on hand an hour before Friday night's game against Saratoga, getting ready. It was homecoming and I think the entire school was there and loud. A great high school atmosphere.  

Both teams struggled to get anything going offensively. Credit the defenses, though. Finally, Saratoga scored twice in the second quarter. Guilderland came back to get one before the half. This was a game at the half. 

In the second half, it was a defensive game again until the last two minutes. Saratoga scored to lead 21-10. Guilderland’s Brad Igweiki ran the ensuing kickoff back, and it was a run that got the crowd and Guilderland sideline fired up. They made it a game late, but Saratoga recovered the onside kick.

Saratoga Coach Terry Jones was glad to get the win, but didn’t want it to be so stressful.

"You go on the road in Class AA against a team that will be in the playoffs and that we could see again on Homecoming and get a win? We’ll take it," Jones said. "Certainly, we have some things to improve on, but we told our kids all week long it was going to be a battle and it was."

Here’s what we learned, though: Both of these teams belong in the post-season in Class AA. Only four teams will make it there, so playoff spots are hard to come by, but both Saratoga and Guilderland deserve spots. Saratoga is in and Guilderland is in control of its own destiny, but they are definitely two of the best four in Class AA.