Shenendehowa football finding its stride ahead of battle with CBA
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CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- After a tough start to the season - falling to Shaker 28-7 in Week 0 - the Shenendehowa football team has started to turn things around and look more like the squad fans have grown accustomed to seeing the last few seasons - a true power program that's reached three straight Class AA Super Bowls.
In the wake of that loss to the Blue Bison, the Plainsmen have responded with victories of 40-0 over Guilderland and 55-0 against Colonie.
But this week will be a true test for Brian Clawson's squad - hosting Christian Brothers Academy in the NEWS10 Sports 1st & 10 "Game of the Week." The Brothers have won five of the last six meetings, including all three Super Bowl matchups.
After their last two outings, Shen is playing with great confidence right now. The team has re-focused, re-grouped, and appears to have found its mojo ahead of a pivotal, potentially turning-point game in their season.
"We had a big meeting the Sunday after we lost to Shaker and kind of re-evaluated the program; figured out what we needed to do to really put us back on track," said Clawson. "We had to adjust our practice schedule. We have more best-on-best periods I feel like, and that's really helped us gain game-type experience in practice. We didn't really get that...leading up to the Shaker game. The players have really responded. There's a lot of energy, passion and they love the new practice structure. They're thriving."
The players want to treat each game, and each opponent the same; not give too much weight to one over another.
But with the history these two programs have developed over the last few seasons, there's just that little extra electricity in the air when CBA comes to town.
"We're fired up. We've been waiting for this day for a whole year. We're ready to go," said senior running back/free safety Ihsaan Alozie. "It's gonna be a tough game, but we know that we just have to go out there and face 'em like they're any other team. [Our] expectations are just as high as they would be for any other game."
"CBA is good every single year," said senior middle linebacker/fullback Dylan Maye. "We know they're gonna bring everything they've got; we gotta do the same. I think, after the Shaker loss, we're a little bit of the underdogs. They're gonna come over thinking they can take over, but we're gonna shut 'em down."
Kickoff Friday from Clifton Park is at 7:00 p.m. Highlights and reactions from this game will lead off 1st & 10, airing at 10:00 on FOX and 11:00 on ABC.