In a hard-fought Class AA contest, Christian Brothers Academy managed to hold off Saratoga Springs during the final quarter for a 14-21 victory. The Brothers maintained a seven-point edge at one point, which prompted coach Bobby Burns to let the clock run rather than add another score.
The Fourth-Down Call
The touchdown came on fourth down for Saratoga Springs, putting CBA in an uncomfortable position. Facing fourth-and-5 from their own 36-yard line with 7:42 remaining, the team needed a big play. That’s exactly what they got, as senior quarterback Matt Kowalski connected with junior receiver Jack Hulett for five yards, securing the first down. After that, CBA ran off the rest of the clock to close out the game.
“I had my coaches yelling in my ear the whole night that we could run that,” Burns said. He worried about Saratoga junior defensive end Cam Toomey getting a hand on the pass. “If we don’t get that, it changes a lot of the game.”
Hulett’s Big Play
Hulett was the player who delivered the winning score during the game. With 10:40 on the clock, he came up with a punt at the CBA 23-yard line and carried it 77 yards into a touchdown. He moved toward the side of the field, spun around an opponent, broke through a would-be tackler and completed the run.
“I saw a couple of people coming up and tried to get outside. I got hit and spun it outside,” Hulett said. “I am glad my blockers were helping me out and I ran as hard as I could.”
A Rematch Worth the Wait
CBA entered the Section 2 Class AA playoffs in 2025 as the No. 1 seed, chasing a fifth consecutive sectional championship. Saratoga Springs beat CBA 14-13 in a driving rainstorm at Colonie High School. This rematch went the other way.
The Brothers are now 2-0 overall and 1-0 in Class AA. Saratoga Springs is 1-1 in both categories. Both teams combined for 26 penalties in the game.
What Burns Said About Hulett
“He is special. Jack is just a different player,” Burns said. “He isn’t like everyone else, and I have got to get the ball to him more.”
The Game Was Closer Than It Looked
On Hulett’s big day, he rushed for 16 yards, threw an interception and made several tackles. A touchdown run of his own in the first quarter was nullified by a penalty close to the goal line. The very next play saw Kowalski score on the first of his two touchdown runs from 11 yards out.
The game was closer than CBA’s 62-24 win over Archbishop Stepinac last week. “We got the win, but it was an ugly win, especially considered how well we played last week,” Hulett said. “This was definitely worse than last week. We got it done.”
The Fourth-and-5 Conversion
Saratoga’s Jaden Lockrow played solid defense on the fourth-down gamble, and Hulett managed to gain just enough ground to keep the final possession alive.
“It definitely felt good to find a way to keep going,” Hulett said. “It means a lot that the coaches have trust in us.”
CBA kept the ball on the ground throughout, pushing deep into Saratoga Springs territory even after the clock ran out.
Numbers to Know
- 130 rushing yards by CBA senior running back Tommy Toher on 19 carries
- 118 passing yards by Saratoga Springs senior quarterback Bobby Morris on 8-of-14 accuracy
- 72 yards gained by Saratoga Springs senior receiver Gavin LaFrance on three receptions
Next Games
| Team | Fixtures |
|---|---|
| Saratoga Springs | Sept. 18, road contest at Ballston Spa |
| CBA | Sept. 18, Class AA game against Albany |
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