Sbuttoni gives Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake football a much-needed kick

Nov. 12—BURNT HILLS — Reliable kickers in high school football are a relative rarity. Excellent ones are a luxury.

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake head coach Matt Shell has had plenty of both during his tenure with the Spartans, and senior Michael Sbuttoni is the latest.

"We've been fortunate in the past with a good kicking game," Shell said. "Michael has really elevated that this year."

Sbuttoni's been the Spartans' placekicker since he was a sophomore, and has established himself as one of the most accurate kickers in Section II. He's converted 102 of 106 extra points throughout his varsity career, and hasn't missed a single PAT during his junior and senior seasons.

This season, he's 44 of 44 on extra points and 3 of 4 on field goals. Throw in 14 touchbacks on 55 kickoffs and a 39.1 yard average on 15 punts — including a long of 51 and five punts downed inside the 20 — and Sbuttoni's right foot is a legitimate weapon for the Spartans on special teams heading into Saturday's Section II Class A championship game against Queensbury at Shenendehowa High School.

"He's really good at what he does," Shell said. "He's an excellent punter and he's a really good field goal and extra point kicker. It's good to have a high school kicker that can really do damage."

Sbuttoni's kicking exploits bring to mind the likes of former Spartans star Paul Layton, a 2009 Burnt Hills graduate who went on to a standout collegiate punting career at UAlbany and Temple.

In fact, Layton's a big reason why Sbuttoni's reached his level of success.

"Paul Layton, he trained me as a kid," Sbuttoni said. "Just kind of following in his footsteps, it means a lot."

The Spartans haven't been in many close games this year — their two meetings with La Salle Institute are the team's only games decided by fewer than 21 points — but Sbuttoni's right boot has been the difference in both of those close games.

It was Sbuttoni's 37-yard field goal that provided the winning margin in Burnt Hills' 24-21 win over La Salle on Sept. 24, and in the Class A semifinals against the Cadets last Friday, it was his successful extra point kick — which came just a few minutes after missing a potential game-winning field goal late in regulation — that gave the Spartans a 21-20 overtime win and sent the team back to the championship game.

"It's just nice to get the opportunity," Sbuttoni said. "My line, the holder, the snapper did a great job both times. I was able to put it through, and we were able to come out with a win in both games."

Sbuttoni's definitely visualized the possibility of being called upon to attempt another big kick Saturday against Queensbury.

"It's nice to picture it in your head before it happens," he said. "Just so you're there in the moment."

How far out could that kick come from?

Well, Sbuttoni said that in practice and warmups, his range usually maxes out at about 50 yards. He hit one from 46 yards out when the Spartans were running through their special teams during practice on Wednesday.

Sbuttoni's ability will certainly give Shell added options should the Burnt Hills offense stall within his range.

"It's nice to know you can attempt that kind of thing," he said. "A lot of times, teams are going for it, and fourth-down plays like that are tough.

"But, if you can come away with some points, it's nice to have that confidence in the kicking game to do that."