Leading off today: If not for bad luck, Saratoga's football team would have no luck at all so far this season.
The Streaks, NYSPHSAA Class AA finalists a year ago are four quarterbacks into their depth chart due to injuries the first two weeks of the season. After losing their top two signal callers on consecutive plays last week in a loss to Albany, Saratoga once again lost its starter Friday during a 27-6 loss to Guilderland.
A first-quarter ankle injury to Darius Wicks forced the defending Section 2 champs to play their fourth quarterback of the season, senior Jack Cairns.
Week 1 starter Wes Eglintine is done for the season after being diagnosed with a torn ACL, The Saratogian reported. Wicks is a converted running back who stepped in last week after Lewis Clark was also hurt.
Coach Terry Jones may end up sticking with Cairns at QB even if Wicks is able to play on the grounds that the ground game is now even more important to the offense than usual.
"I think it poses a little bit bigger of a threat having Darius in the backfield and in the slot, and I think Jack can certainly handle the offense with a full week of (practice) reps," Jones said. "At the rate were going, I looked at (Jack) on the field after the game and said, 'You're sure you want this job?'"
All knotted up: For the first time since 1974, Rye has pulled even in its all-time series with Section 1 rival Harrison. The Garnets did so with a 42-12 romp that marked their 14th win in the last 15 renewals of the series, which stands at 42-42-3.
"It's been a long, long haul to get there. I hope it keeps up," Garnets coach Dino Garr told The Journal News. "But I know this game and the momentum can change quickly. Now we're even. Hopefully next year we can pull ahead."
Rye led throughout after senior QB T.J. Lavelle connected with Mat Bruno on a 74-yard scoring pass midway through the first quarter, and it was 21-0 at the half.
Lavelle finished 11-for-18 for 287 yards and three touchdowns. Rye rolled up 536 yards of offense for the day.
Section 4 shootout: Sophomore fullback Jarrid Lewis rushed 15 times for 213 yards and three touchdowns as Elmira escaped with a 42-40 win over Horseheads to improve to 8-0 in the all-time series.
Lewis helped offset a monster day by Horseheads junior QB Jack Chalk, who was 19-for-25 for 371 yards and four touchdowns.
All four of Chalk's touchdown passes came in a second half that saw the teams combine for 69 points and 705 yards of offense in just two quarters.
Clai Wood's 19-yard touchdown run with 3:51 remaining brought Horseheads within 42-40, but the Blue Raiders pass attempt on the conversion failed. With Horseheads out of timeouts, Elmira picked up one first down and ran out the clock.
Tioga slips to 0-2: Defending NYSPHSAA Class D champion remains winless through two weeks after a 39-14 loss to Newark Valley.
Senior Brett Stewart carried 18 times for 217 yards and four TDs in the victory. Four of Newark Valley's scoring plays covered 40 or more yards, and the Cardinals outgained Tioga by 389-119 on the ground.
The 0-2 Tigers are one loss from the program's losingest season since 2009.
