After an early push by Ballston Spa during the first two days of voting on our newspaper's web-site, Saratoga Springs battled back and took it to the house for the victory.

Now it wasn't a runaway, but the final numbers are as follows for our poll question
The final numbers do represent a little wider margin than the results published in Friday's Saratogian because I didn't close out voting until 11 p.m., but the project was put on the page at 5 p.m.

My managing editor did bring up a good point that the population of Saratoga Springs may have been a deciding factor in the voting, just by sheer numbers.

While the poll is totally unscientific, it was fun and I didn't have to delete too many votes, only a few overzealous fans voted more than five times, so I capped the vote at five per individual ip addresses.

We'll let the players decide it on the field 7 p.m. tonight at Colonie.

Thanks for voting.

Saratoga put on an impressive offensive push early this week to take over the lead in the voting against Ballston Spa for the "Battle of Route 50" in the Section II Class AA Super Bowl Friday evening.

The Scotties held an early lead during the weekend, but as the voters advanced to the internet poll, the Blue Streaks pulled ahead, 56.8 percent to 43.2 percent late Monday night.

The Saratogian is looking to provide some unique insight this Friday for this Saratoga County showdown along with the official results of the event.

To vote, click here.

With the voting heating up during the first day of non-contact competition between Ballston Spa High School and Saratoga Springs, the Scotties have just over a two touchdown lead over the Blue Streaks.

Ballston Spa, according to Saturday's votes, is a 57.5 percent favorite to win the Battle of Route 50 next Friday night in the Class AA Super Bowl with Saratoga Springs receiving 42.5 percent of the vote.

It is early in the voting process, so spread the word, contact your booster clubs, friends and families of both the Scotties and the Blue Streaks and have then cast their vote here.

The voting will close out Thursday night and we will publish the results in Friday's Saratogian.

After Ballston Spa's 42-9 win over Guilderland and Saratoga's 32-0 rout of Schenectady, the Section II Class AA Super Bowl, The Battle of Route 50, is now officially set for 7 p.m. Oct. 6 at Colonie High School.

The Class AA contest is the only one slated for Friday night and should be a sell out as these two juggernauts will decide who will advance to the regionals and hopefully to the Syracuse Carrier Dome. Along the way our newspapers will have all the action leading up to this historic showdown between these two Saratoga County teams.

But first things first...who will win? We want you to Pick the winner of the Battle of Route 50.

The results will be posted on-line and in next Friday's edition of The Saratogian.

Good luck to both teams.

ALBANY — University at Albany cross country star Alex Leuchanka, a June 2009 Shenendehowa High School graduate, was named America East Conference Men's Cross Country Performer of the Week.

The announcement was issued Tuesday by the league office and is the first time Leuchanka has been honored in his young college career.

The freshman, who was also the New York Cross Country Federation champion in 2008 at the high school level, finished fifth out of 189 runners with a time of 24 minutes and 59.9 seconds to help the Great Danes earn third place out of 24 teams at the 43rd UAlbany Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 17.

Leuchanka is one of three true freshman turning heads for the UAlbany cross country team (they finished in the team's top five) and Leuchanka improved his 8,000-meter time by 27 seconds.

— Sam Hollingsworth
Sports writer, 583-8729 ext. 333

Section II Football Playoff Schedule
CLASS AA (all games Friday at 7 p.m.)
No. 4 Colonie (3-4) at No. 1 Saratoga Springs (6-1)

No. 3 Shenendehowa (5-2) at No. 2 Schenectady (5-2)
No. 3 Bethlehem (3-4) at No. 2 Ballston Spa (6-1)
No. 4 Guilderland (3-4) at No. 1 La Salle (7-0)

CLASS A
Friday
No. 4 Averill Park (3-4) at No. 1 Burnt Hills (7-0), 7 p.m.
No. 3 Queensbury (4-3) at No. 2 Niskayuna (5-2), 7 p.m.
No. 3 Bishop Maginn (2-5) at No. 2 Gloversville (6-1), 7 p.m.
Saturday
No. 4 Glens Falls (3-4) at No. 1 Troy (7-0), 1:30 p.m.

CLASS B
Friday
No. 4 Albany Academy (4-3) at No. 1 Schalmont (5-2), 7 p.m.
Saturday
No. 3 Hudson (5-2) at No. 2 Hudson Falls (4-3), 1 p.m.
No. 3 Cobleskill (2-5) at No. 2 Cohoes (5-2), 1:30 p.m.
No. 4 Broadalbin-Perth (3-4) at No. 1 Lansingburgh (6-1), 7 p.m.

CLASS C
Friday
No. 4 Canajoharie (5-2) at No. 1 Hoosick Falls (7-0), 7 p.m.
No. 4 Corinth (5-2) at No. 1 Chatham (7-0), 7 p.m.
Saturday
No. 3 Granville (6-1) at No. 2 Fonda (6-1), 1 p.m.
No. 3 Voorheesville (6-1) at No. 2 Cambridge (6-1), 1 p.m.

CLASS D
Friday
No. 6 Saratoga Catholic (2-5) at No. 3 Lake George (5-2), 7 p.m.
Saturday
No. 5 Warrensburg (2-5) at No. 4 Bishop Gibbons (5-2), 1:30 p.m.

Section II championship games are scheduled as follows:
Class AA - at Colonie, Friday, Nov. 6, 7 p.m.
Class A - at Shenendehowa, Saturday, Nov. 7, 7 p.m.
Class B - TBA
Class C - at CBA or Saratoga, Friday, Nov. 7, 7 p.m.
Class D - at Glens Falls, Saturday, Nov. 7, 1 p.m.

NOTE - Both of the Class C semifinals will be played at Stillwater’s new FieldTurf field on Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Week 8 Crossover Games
Friday
Class AA
Columbia at Albany, 7 p.m.
CBA at Shaker, 7 p.m.
Class A
Mohonasen at Amsterdam, 7 p.m.
Scotia at South Glens Falls, 7 p.m.
Class B
Ravena at Johnstown, 7 p.m.
Class C/D
Mechanicville at Rensselaer, 7 p.m.
Greenwich at Schuylerville, 7 p.m.
Salem at Stillwater, 7 p.m.
Whitehall at Ichabod Crane, 7 p.m.
Watervliet at Taconic Hills, 7 p.m.

Saturday
Class C/D
Fort Edward vs. Hoosic Valley at Stillwater, 7 p.m.
Tamarac at Cairo-Durham, 1 p.m.
Catholic Central at Coxsackie-Athens, 1 p.m.

Friday night's Class AA, Empire Division showdown between Saratoga and Shenendehowa will be televised on Time Warner Cable channel 3. With a win, Saratoga will capture the crown for the second straight year. However, if the Plainsmen pull it out, the will likely be a three-way tie at the top, with Ballston Spa included.
Game time is 7 p.m. and the game will be played at Saratoga Springs High School.