Preseason Rankings: Section 2 Top Three Teams

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Section Two has produced some impressive teams and players over the last few years. In this article we predict the top three teams across Section Two. Only three teams will be featured in this article, as I believe multiple are tied for the #4 and #5 slot on this list. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. <strong>Niskayuna</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach: <strong>Brian Grastorf</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coach Grastorf </strong>led his Silver Warriors to a <strong>5-5</strong> season in 2024. Niskayuna played a challenging schedule, which included loses against <strong>Shaker, Saratoga Springs, CBA-Albany, BHBL, Shenendehowa</strong>. The key wins from the season included <strong>Colonie Central</strong> and <strong>Albany</strong>. Niskayuna loses starting <strong>QB Ethan Gilson</strong> along with multiple seniors in key positions. The Silver Warriors return <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1212767' first='Cam' last='Grasso'] and RB [player_tooltip player_id='1685587' first='Omari' last='Forrest']</strong>, along with <strong>Brandon Merrill</strong> who should all wreak havoc against opposing defenses. My only question is the QB position leaving a prediction for the year difficult. Niskayuna avoids CBA-Albany and other difficult Section 2 teams, but faces Section 3 <strong>Cicero-North Syracuse along with Shenendehowa</strong> who beat them last season. I predict the Silver Warriors to have a <strong>7-2</strong> record with key wins over <strong>La Salle Institute, Troy, Arlington, and Bethlehem Central</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/niskayuna/niskayuna-silver-warriors/football/schedule">https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/niskayuna/niskayuna-silver-warriors/football/schedule</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. Shenendehowa</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach: <strong>Brian Clawson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coach Clawson</strong> led his Plainsmen to a <strong>7-3</strong> season in 2024. Shenendehowa played a grueling schedule which included <strong>Guilderland, CBA-Albany, Niskayuna, Shaker, Saratoga Springs and Schenectady</strong>. The Plainsmen three loses came at the hands to Shaker to start the year and in the playoffs and CBA-Albany. Key wins last year included <strong>Niskayuna, Guilderland, Saratoga Springs, and Schenectady</strong>, who are all top 15 teams in the section. The Plainsmen lose Senior <strong>QB Joey Berlin</strong>, along with multiple key playmakers on both sides of the ball. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1649142' first='Jack' last='Clawson']</strong> will get the call at QB for Shenendehowa this season and names to watch include, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1777690' first='Evan' last='Fargnoli'], [player_tooltip player_id='1624597' first='Noah' last='Schreiner'], and Joseph Cardinale</strong>. Another grueling schedule lies ahead for Shenendehowa, but I predict them to finish with a <strong>7-2</strong> record including key wins against <strong>Shaker, Guilderland, Niskayuna, and Harrison</strong>. The two loses are <strong>Saratoga Springs and CBA-Albany</strong> who I believe have better depth and experience. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/clifton-park/shenendehowa-plainsmen/football/schedule">https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/clifton-park/shenendehowa-plainsmen/football/schedul</a>e</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1.CBA-Albany</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach: <strong>Bob Burns </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coach Burns</strong> led his Brothers to a <strong>13-1 </strong>record which concluded with a heart breaking loss at the hands of <strong>CBA-Syracuse</strong>. The Brothers picked up huge wins in 2024 against teams like <strong>North Rockland, Saratoga Springs (x2), Shaker (x2), Shenenhedowa, Corning Painted Post, and Niskayuna</strong>. The Brothers lose key players like <strong>WR Lucius Anderson, LB Jake Marra, TE Anthony Coluccio, and DB Lorenzo Lanni</strong>. Coach Burns returns star <strong>QB [player_tooltip player_id='1260032' first='Archie' last='Jones'], RB [player_tooltip player_id='1648702' first='Thomas' last='Toher'], DT [player_tooltip player_id='1512374' first='Jacob' last='Vogel'], DB [player_tooltip player_id='751267' first='JT' last='Vogel'],</strong> and multiple other impact players. <strong>CBA-Albany kicks the season off in Albany for the Heroes bowl, which should put the state on notice as they easily take down Monsignor Farrell</strong>. Then the Brothers face the Syracuse Brothers, which will be another close game, but end in the only loss for Coach Burns this season. CBA Albany will finish <strong>8-1</strong> and pick up key wins against <strong>Monsignor Farrell, Saratoga Springs, Shenendehowa, Shaker, and Guilderland</strong>, en route to a deep playoff run. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/albany/christian-brothers-academy-brothers/football/schedule">https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/albany/christian-brothers-academy-brothers/football/schedule</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->