Matt Kowalski of CBA breaks tackles on his way to the end zone for the first touchdown of the night against Shaker on Friday at Shaker High School in Latham. (Stephen Weaver) Sean Martin Sat, October 31, 2026 at 3:10 AM UTC About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LATHAM - Step 1 is in the books for the CBA football team, as the undefeated Brothers will head into the Section 2 Class AA playoffs as the top seed after finishing off Shaker 27-6 in methodical fashion Friday night at Arthur Walker Field.
CBA, the No. 3-ranked team in the state, used its running game to set up its passing attack and mixed that with its usual stout defense, as it scored a touchdown in each quarter to finish the regular season at 9-0 overall and 8-0 in league play.
"This has always been our expectation. This is what we've worked for in the offseason," CBA coach Bobby Burns said. "This is a special group of kids, it really is. They work hard each week. They let us coach the heck out of them. So, to finish the regular season 9-0 and get the (No.) 1 seed is what we planned on doing - but now the games count for real."
Led by senior quarterback Matt Kowalski's 101 yards rushing, the Brothers churned out 260 yards on the ground. Kowalski added 106 yards passing and a pair of touchdown passes.
"He is tough as nails," Burns said. "This is his hometown, too, so I knew he was going to be motivated tonight to play. He is just a warrior. We put a lot on him to run the ball inside and it isn't the easiest thing to do, but he does it well."
The CBA defense held Shaker to 77 total yards of offense but the Brothers' shutout bid ended late in the third quarter when Avery Jones scored on a 9-yard run to cut Shaker's deficit to 21-6.
With CBA leading 7-0 early in the second quarter, Kowalski's fifth pass of the game was his biggest, as he connected with Jack Hulett down the middle for a 44-yard touchdown pass to give CBA a 14-0 lead.
Hulett got a step on a pair of Blue Bison defenders and hauled in the pass near the 20-yard line before turning on the speed to get to the end zone with one minute, 40 seconds gone in the second quarter.
"That was a play we had drawn up all week and we knew we would get that in the game," Kowalski said. "The game plan is - as always - run the ball down their throat and throw some deep balls to our talented receivers that we've got. Just execute."
Playing for the first time as a visitor against Shaker, Kowalski carried the ball 18 times for 101 yards as he found holes up the middle behind the blocking of the Brothers' interior lineman.
"It is weird, seeing the guys I've known since I've been growing up be on the opponent's side," Kowalski said.
The senior rushed for a 6-yard touchdown run on CBA's opening possession of the game and, in addition to his touchdown pass to Hulett, hooked up with JT Vogel on a 21-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter to stake the Brothers to a 21-0 lead.
"It is a great feeling knowing … all your hard work paid off," Kowalski said.
24: Combined penalties for both teams, including nine unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and two personal fouls.
16: Yards gained by Myles Johnson on his fourth-quarter touchdown run to ice the win. Johnson had 75 yards rushing in the game to complement Kowalski's effort and Tommy Toher's 68 yards on the ground.
-5: Yards passing in the game for Shaker, which came on a pair of completions on screen passes that were quickly bottled up by the CBA defense.
CBA: The Brothers enter the Class AA playoffs as the top seed and will host Shenendehowa in the semifinals. CBA knocked off the Mustangs 61-14 in its fourth game of the regular season.
Shaker: The Blue Bison (7-2, 6-2) will look to avenge its 42-20 loss to Saratoga Springs in early October when the teams meet next week in the Class AA semis in Saratoga Springs.
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This article originally published at CBA football storms past Shaker, completes undefeated regular season .
Source: Sports
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