Prime bounceback opportunity awaits Averill Park when it travels to unbeaten Columbia

AVERILL PARK, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — The battle in the Class A Capital Division is going to be a fun one to track throughout the remainder of the high school football regular season.

The top four teams in the division make sectionals. Columbia and Bethlehem are currently tied for first with 2-0 league records; right behind them is Averill Park at 1-1. A win Friday would go a long way towards the Warriors staying in the hunt for the No. 1 seed. They’ll get a shot at Columbia in the NEWS10 Sports 1st & 10 “Game of the Week.”

Averill Park is coming off a tough loss at Bethlehem last week, falling 29-22 after leading 14-6 in the third quarter. There’s no time to dwell on that game, though, as the Warriors have to turn right around and travel to take on a Blue Devils team that has raced out to a 4-0 start.

“[Columbia]’s a complete team,” said Averill Park head coach Zach Gobel. “They’re quick in skill positions; strong up front. And they’re solid on both sides of the ball. We have to dramatically minimize both our penalties and our turnovers. If we [do that], we’ll be in any game.”

“We’re a group that’s been together a really long time, and we have the ability to bounce back,” added senior offensive guard and defensive end Anthony Polaro. “But we have to come together [as a team] to bounce back.”

This game could have major postseason implications down the road in terms of seedings and potential home-field advantage.

But with still a month to go in the regular season, Gobel and his guys aren’t worried about that. They’re focused on one thing, and one thing only: Columbia.

“Any time we play Columbia, which is a rivalry game, it’s one that we get up and excited for,” said Gobel. “While we’re certainly disappointed with the game against Bethlehem, we’ve kind of re-invested in our energy and enthusiasm, and have had a terrific week of practice. So, we’re excited to play the next one.”

“We’re more intense in practice [this week],” added Polaro. “More intensity, more enthusiasm, more energy. We gotta bring the energy; that’s what we need.”

Averill Park and Columbia kick off at 7:00 p.m. Friday from East Greenbush. Highlights and reactions from that game will lead off 1st & 10, which airs at 10 on FOX and 11 on ABC.

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