Leading off today: Maple Hill boys soccer coach Dan Gillespie reached a milestone Friday with a 2-0 victory against Ichabod Crane, becoming the winningest coach in Section 2 history.
Career triumph No. 489 moved Gillespie past Guilderland legend Don Snyder into the No. 1 spot.
"It means we won the second game of the season. That is what it means," Gillespie told The Times Union in downplaying the accomplishment. "It is just cumulative. We've been very lucky and very fortunate here."
Lights go out in Bath: East Rochester/Gananda rallied from two TDs down and was leading the host Rams, 21-14, when the lights went out in Bath with 2:39 remaining in their football opener.
Bath had just picked up a first down at the ER/Ganada 27 when the field's lights went out, prompting the game to be called for the night approximately an hour later.
Section 5 football chairman Dick Cerone is expected to rule today on what will happen next, but the travel distance between the schools and the fact that it was a non-leaguer make it likely that the game will be ruled a "no contest" and not be counted in sectional playoff points standings.
It will, however, help shape the Democrat and Chronicle's small-schools poll. Bath was the pre-season No. 1 and ER/Gananda was ranked third.
Friday's rapid recap: Schenectady senior Marc Thompson scored on a 55-yard run in the first minute and a 58-yard interception return later in the quarter to spark a 36-7 victory against Shenendehowa.
Senior quarterback Jim Marks threw five TD passes as West Genesee topped Auburn, 56-35, in a matchup of the past two NYSPHSAA Class AA champions. Marks rallied the Wildcats from a 14-0 deficit.
Susquehanna, Pa., senior transfer Cody Scepaniak ran for two TDs and threw for one as Vestal earned a 44-20 victory over Elmira Southside. Vestal forced six turnovers. Scepaniak, who ran for 107 yards and threw for 142, was in the lineup because 2007 QB Pat Talbut is out for the season after surgery in July to remove a blood clot.
Gates Chili threw a "42" on the scoreboard against Webster Thomas -- and that was just in the second quarter. Rickey Stevens ran for 200 yards on 17 carries and scored four TDs in the 62-27 triumph. Three of the 5-foot-8 senior's scores covered 24, 29 and 40 yards in the second quarter.
Cardinal O'Hara's 29-game winning streak against Western New York opponents ended at the hands of Buffalo Burgard, 26-13. Junior Amir Shanks ran 14 times
