Saratoga Springs Triumphs Over Shaker with Coryea’s Four Touchdowns

In a thrilling high school football matchup, the Saratoga Springs Blue Streaks defeated the Shaker Blue Bison 28-21 on September 26, 2025, at Shaker High School in Latham, New York. This victory marked Shaker’s first loss of the season, bringing both teams’ records to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in their league.

Saratoga Springs set the tone early with an impressive 90-yard opening drive. Senior captain and running back Ben Coryea capped the drive with a nine-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-nine, giving his team a 6-0 lead. Shaker quickly responded, as Melvin Brown scored from 10 yards out, tying the game at 6-6 late in the first quarter.

The momentum shifted in favor of Saratoga Springs during the second quarter. After a turnover where Coryea fumbled deep in Shaker territory, the Blue Streaks’ defense answered back by stripping Shaker quarterback Austin Marohn at the 10-yard line. Coryea took advantage of the opportunity, rushing into the end zone and adding a two-point conversion to extend the lead to 14-6.

With under two minutes left in the half, Saratoga Springs struck again. Following a defensive stop on fourth down at their own 16-yard line, Coryea sprinted 31 yards for his third touchdown of the night, solidifying a 21-6 lead at halftime. Head coach Eric Hayden praised his team’s attitude and execution throughout the game.

“Our players embodied the spirit of Saratoga football from the opening play to the final whistle,” Hayden said.

As the third quarter commenced, the Blue Streaks maintained their dominance. Coryea found the end zone again with a 20-yard run, pushing the score to 28-6. Coryea attributed much of his success to the offensive line’s performance.

“It starts with the line. They kicked butt tonight,” Coryea stated. “We knew we could win physically.”

Center Jayden Cox echoed Coryea’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of practice and teamwork. “Coach Hayden pushed us beyond our limits this week. Hard work pays off,” he noted.

Shaker fought back in the fourth quarter, beginning with Brown’s impressive 44-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-four. After converting a two-point attempt, the Blue Bison narrowed the score to 28-14 with just under 11 minutes remaining. Later, Avery Jones added a 29-yard touchdown run, bringing Shaker within a touchdown at 28-21 with 5:37 left in the game.

Hayden acknowledged the significance of controlling the game during the final minutes. “We knew we had to execute and control the clock,” he remarked, reflecting on the pressure of the closing moments.

Saratoga Springs managed to secure the win on a crucial fourth-down play when quarterback Bobby Morris connected with Gavin LaFrance, allowing them to run down the clock and seal the victory.

Coryea considered his earlier fumble a pivotal moment for him personally. “I went off the side and said that wouldn’t happen again. I’m glad I got to punch one in after,” he explained.

Cox emphasized the need for continuous improvement as the team looks ahead. “Every snap is important. We want to fix our mistakes and aim for a championship this year,” he said.

Looking forward, both teams will shift their focus to upcoming matches. Saratoga Springs will visit Colonie, while Shaker aims to regroup against Albany.

Coryea summed up the team’s mindset: “We need to show up every week and give our absolute best. Especially in Section 2, anything can happen.”