Christian Brothers Academy blasts Shenendehowa in Class AA football
· Yahoo Sports
CLIFTON PARK - George Karame is one of the area's best football players, but his role as a two-way starting lineman for the Christian Brothers Academy does not afford the senior many chances to step into the limelight. Friday night, Karame reached the end zone.
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Karame, a nimble 6-foot-1, 285-pound defensive tackle, managed to snare an interception in the end zone during the second quarter as the Brothers were scoring at will in their Class AA contest against Shenendehowa. Late in the second quarter, Shen senior quarterback Jack Clawson attempted to avoid a sack in the end zone and heaved the ball a few yards forward into the awaiting hands of Karame.
"My friend Myles (Johnson, CBA's senior linebacker) almost had the tackle (for a) safety," Karame said. "He threw the ball and I caught it. The greatest feeling in my life."
"I love that," CBA senior running back/linebacker Tommy Toher said. "He's my guy. He is doing the dirty work and getting the shine."
Myles Johnson of CBA breaks the tackle of Shenendehowa's Gustavo De Olivera at Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park on Friday. (Stephen Weaver)CBA left the Mustangs in the dark, scoring 54 points during the first half and cruising to a 61-14 victory. The Brothers (4-0 overall, 3-0 Class AA) surpassed the 60-point plateau for the third time this season.
"The lines dominated and we made some insane plays. Coach (Jim Canfield, who coaches the offensive and defensive lines) is the best line coach in Section 2," Karame said. "This was just awesome."
Karame has added starting offensive line duties this season and he made his presence felt Friday.
"I am telling him he was to play both ways the entire game, but if we can continue do this in the first half of games he won't have to," CBA coach Bobby Burns. "We were focused, the kids practiced hard all week and we came up some big plays. They had a couple of big plays, but we did what we wanted to do."
CBA led 27-0 before Shen responded with a 69-yard pass play from Clawson to Elijah Woodrow. The visitors extended the advantage to 54-7 at halftime.
The only close game this season for the Brothers was a 21-14 triumph over Saratoga Springs in Week 2, a contest that has served as motivation.
"That game gave us a chance to see what we needed to work on and improve on," Karame said. "We know we can score 60 points on any team in the section."
"That is going to drive us every week," Toher said. "Saratoga played a good game. Using that game has helped us. We put up 60 points coming here. It means a lot to our guys. That was impressive, but it is what we should. If we prepare well and put in that type of effort each week, we can do this each. We are building to where we want to be. This is just another confidence. We are staying humble and moving on the next one."
CBA quarterback Matt Kowalski throws a pass during a game against Shenendehowa at Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park on Friday. (Stephen Weaver)Key moment
Toher opened the scoring with a 19-yard touchdown run. Shen's first series on offense stalled and CBA senior Michael Berben blocked a punt that Alex Rivera scored on to make it 13-0.
"We did anything we wanted to do in this game," Burns said. "Defensively, we're pretty good. They couldn't run the ball and we had those two punt blocks. … If we play the way we are capable, prep well and play well on Friday nights, we can do special things."
Star of the game
Toher finished the game with nine carries for 90 yards and two touchdowns in a contest filled with standouts for CBA.
"This game was impressive. We did all the things we came here to do tonight," Toher said.
Jack Hulett of CBA scores a touchdown against Shenendehowa at Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park on Friday. (Stephen Weaver)Numbers to know
324: Offensive yards amassed by the Brothers during the first half.
2: Punts blocked by CBA, one Alex Rivera recovered in the end zone for a touchdown and the other that set up CBA's offense at the Shenendehowa 1-yard line.
-1: Rushing yards that Shenendehowa produced in the game's opening 24 minutes.
JT Vogel of CBA runs the ball against Shenendehowa at Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park on Friday. (Stephen Weaver)What's next
CBA:Up next for the Brothers, ranked No. 4 in the state, is a home contest Oct. 2 against Colonie.
Shenendehowa: The Mustangs take on Niskayuna Oct. 2 in a vital contest for both teams.
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