Queensbury football ends season with crossover win over Columbia

EAST GREENBUSH — The Queensbury varsity football team concluded its season with a win on Thursday, defeating Columbia 39-18 on the road in a Section 2 Class A crossover game.

The Spartans used a dominant rushing attack to build a 20-0 lead at halftime, and held on for the road victory.

A one-yard touchdown run by Trevon Bailey gave the Spartans a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, and a 53-yard touchdown run by Ian Reynolds made it 14-0 with 8:31 left in the second quarter.

Queensbury extended the lead again on a three-yard touchdown run by Zavry Ward, capping off a 10 play, 95-yard drive to extend the lead to 20-0. The drive was previously extended by a 29-yard completion from Ward to Ryan Blanchard on 3rd and 16, and a 23-yard run by Blanchard that moved the Spartans inside the Columbia 25-yard line.

The Blue Devils found the scoreboard early in the third quarter, with a 31-yard run by Drake Kohler moving Columbia into the red zone before a 20-yard touchdown run by Tanner Malone cut the deficit to 20-6.

The Spartans had a response, with a nine-play, 85-yard drive resulting in another touchdown. Ward found Reynolds on 4th and 10 for a 22-yard pass to extend the drive, and Jeremih Cross capped off the drive with a 19-yard touchdown run. After a failed two-point conversion, Queensbury led 26-6.

Columbia drove into Spartans’ territory on the following drive, but on 4th and 5, the Blue Devils coughed up a fumble which was returned 68 yards for a touchdown by Bailey, extending the lead to 33-6.

The Blue Devils put together another strong drive early in the fourth, converting a pair of fourth downs before Kohler found the end zone from five yards out. A failed two-point conversion kept Queensbury’s lead at 33-12 with nine minutes to play.

The Spartans responded again, scoring another touchdown after a nine-play drive. On a 4th and 12, Ward found Blanchard for a 27-yard completion down to Columbia’s 2-yard line, and Gavin Silaika ran in for a Queensbury touchdown, making it 39-12.

Columbia put together one final scoring drive, with Tanner Malone running in from 22 yards out for a touchdown with just over two minutes remaining. Another failed two-point attempt kept the Spartans’ lead at 39-18, and Queensbury was able to run out the remaining time to seal the victory.

Reynolds had 103 yards rushing and a touchdown on 10 carries for Queensbury, and a 22-yard reception. Blanchard had 86 yards on 12 carries and three catches for 72 yards. Isaiah Engel had 45 yards on seven carries, with Silaika adding 31 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. 

Cross ran twice for 22 yards and a touchdown, while Bailey ran twice for 21 yards and a touchdown. Ward was 4-8 passing for 94 yards, and had six rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. 

The Spartans finish the 2022 season with an overall record of 3-6, while Columbia finishes 2-7. Queensbury recorded season-highs in rushing yards (314) and total yards (408), with Reynolds (103 yards) and Blanchard (86 yards) both recording career highs in rushing.