Top seeds Albany, Columbia advance in flag football sectional semifinals

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Both the Albany and Columbia flag football teams looked the part of No. 1 seeds in Monday's semifinal round of sectionals.

Albany, owners of the top seed in Class A, shut out fourth-seeded Saratoga Springs, 46-0, while Columbia, seeded first in Class B, breezed past fourth-seeded Bethlehem, 33-0.

It took a little while for Albany to find its rhythm on a cold, windy night in the Capital Region. But after 14 scoreless minutes, the Falcons got a spark from wide receiver Azera Gates, who took a short pass from Narai Danzy 49 yards to the house for the game's first score.

That opened the floodgates for Albany. On the first play of Saratoga's next series, Blue Streaks quarterback Lucia DeVito had per pass tipped by Briana Perez and intercepted by Elana Temple. Temple took it the other way for a pick six. She also added the extra point, receiving a pass from Danzy, and in the span of just seconds, a 0-0 game became 14-0.

The Albany defense was relentless. With just over four minutes to play in the first half, the Falcons recorded another interception - this time from Jasanii Francis Torres. The offense turned that into seven points when Danzy connected with Mia Corazzini for a two-yard touchdown strike, and then found Janae Byrams for the extra point.

Albany maintained a 21-0 lead at halftime and did not let off the gas in the second half, posting four more touchdowns, en route to securing a spot in the Class A championship game. Following the Falcons' 51-0 win over Schenectady in the quarterfinals, they've now outscored their two opponents this postseason 97-0.

Columbia - playing its first game this postseason after receiving an opening-bye - looked just as sharp. It took just two drives for the Blue Devils to get on the board; a 38-yard catch-and-run from Anna Nassivera off a delivery from quarterback Bella Satalino started the scoring.

The Bethlehem defense managed to keep Columbia at bay for the next 14 minutes, recording back-to-back interceptions.

But that unit could only keep Columbia's weapons in check for so long. Satalino hooked up with Alivia Landy for an 18-yard scoring strike with 4:18 to play in the first half, extending the margin to double-digits at 12-0.

On Bethlehem's ensuing possession, Landy recorded a pick six, and then was on the receiving end of a two-point conversion, giving Columbia a 20-0 halftime edge.

The Blue Devils reached the end zone on their opening series of the second half, as Satalino threw her third touchdown, second to Nassivera - this time from eight yards out. Columbia would add one more touchdown later in the half, punching its ticket to the Class B final.

Both sectional championship games will be played Friday at Troy High School. Columbia will take on two-seeded Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, which defeated No. 3 Troy, 18-12. That matchup is set to get underway at 5:00 p.m.

The Class A championship game will follow at 7:15. Albany is set to battle No. 2 Shen after its 15-12 victory over third-seeded Shaker.