CBA holds off Saratoga Springs late to post huge Class AA victory

COLONIE – The Christian Brothers Academy football team waited a long time to get back on the field against Saratoga Springs. Friday night, the Brothers held a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter when CBA coach Bobby Burns decided it was best to play keep away.

The Blue Streaks had just scored a touchdown on a fourth-down play and CBA was determined to run off the final 7:42 off the clock. That meant going for it on a fourth-and-5 play from the CBA 36-yard line. The Brothers managed to pick up the first down as senior quarterback Matt Kowalski connected with junior receiver Jack Hulett for five yards. CBA proceeded to run off the remaining time to register a 21-14 Class AA victory.

“I had my coaches yelling in my ear the whole night that we could run that,” Burns said regarding the fourth-down gamble. “I was a little concerned about (Saratoga Springs junior defensive end Cam Toomey) on the edge with him getting a hand on it and swatting it down. If we don’t get that, it changes a lot of the game.”

“It definitely means a lot that the coaches have trust in us,” Hulett said. “We work hard and they trust we will get the job done.”

CBA entered the Section 2 Class AA playoffs in 2025 as the No. 1 seed with the program seeking a fifth consecutive sectional championship. Saratoga Springs emerged with a 14-13 victory in a driving rainstorm at Colonie High School. In the rematch, the Brothers (2-0 overall, 1-0 Class AA) prevailed in a game where the two teams combined for 26 penalties.

CBA senior JT Vogel tries to get away from Saratoga defender Charlie Baughan during Friday’s game in Colonie. (Jim Franco/Times Union)

“We got the win, but it was an ugly win, especially considered how well we played last week (in a 62-24 win against Archbishop Stepinac),” Hulett said. “This was definitely worse than last week. We got it done.”

Hulett also provided what proved to be the winning score with 10:40 left in the game when he fielded a punt in the middle of the field from the CBA 23-yard line, worked his way toward the CBA sideline, made a spin move, broke a tackle and dashed the rest of the way for a 77-yard touchdown.

“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.”

“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.”

Burns praised the effort from the Blue Streaks (1-1, 1-1) and felt his team made too many mistakes.

“I think we had guys thinking it was going to be an easier than it was. Saratoga came to play,” Hulett said.

CBA defender Jack Hulett and Saratoga receiver Jaden Lockrow go for the ball during Friday’s game in Colonie. (Jim Franco/Times Union)

Key moment

The fourth-and-5 conversion by Hulett on a quick out pattern was defended well by Saratoga’s Jaden Lockrow, but Hulett gained just enough to keep the final possession of the game going for CBA.

“It definitely felt good to find a way to keep going,” Hulett said. “It means a lot that the coaches have trust in us.”

The Brothers kept the ball on the ground from there and moved deep into Saratoga Springs territory when time expired.

CBA head coach Bobby Burns during Friday’s game against Saratoga Springs in Colonie. (Jim Franco/Times Union)

Star of the game

In addition to his punt return touchdown and fourth-down reception that kept the Brothers’ final drive alive, Hulett also added 16 yards rushing, an interception and several tackles.

Hulett also had a touchdown run in the first quarter negated by a penalty near the goal line. On the next play, Kowalski scored on the first of his two touchdown runs from 11 yards out.