BURNT HILLS — Paul Layton was about to lead the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake varsity football team onto the field behind the high school for what would be its first practice of the 2008 season.

The heavily recruited quarterback and kicker knew what was coming.

“Coach is going to make us work hard. You’re not in practice to fool around,” said Layton, last year’s Class A Division I co-Player of the Year. “He’s going to make us do what we’ve got to do to get better and have a great season.”

The Spartans did both the last two years, reaching a pair of Section II championship games, winning one, and putting together a sterling 18-3 record. That included back-to-back 4-0 runs through their Class A division.

“You always hope to do well,” said seventh-year Burnt Hills head coach Matt Shell. “You think you will. Everyone has that thought, but nothing is accomplished unless you work hard and want to compete. Those are the things I’m interested in. I’ve never said we have to win this or win that. As long as the kids work hard and play hard, we’re happy.”

“Coach asks us to do our best,” Layton said. “That’s what we’re going to try to do.”

Shell and his staff were pleased with the effort, but not the result the last time his Spartans donned their maroon helmets, in the 2007 Section II Class A title game against Lansingburgh. The Knights twice came from behind in the fourth quarter to post a 28-25 victory.

Earlier in the season, Burnt Hills had beaten Lansingburgh, 35-22, behind Layton’s two touchdown passes and two TD runs.

“It was kind of a bitter ending. It was a tough loss, very disappointing,” said Layton, whose final pass as a junior was intercepted just in front of the goal line in the final seconds. “It’s just more motiv­ation for us.”

“We’ve had some ups, and we’ve had some downs,” Shell said. “That’s high school sports. That’s sports in general.”

Burnt Hills has enjoyed more highs than lows in the Shell regime, winning 40 games and losing 17. Layton quarterbacked the Spartans to their first sectional crown in school history as a sophomore, when BH-BL won a school-record 10 games.

“I’ve experienced the winning, and I’ve experienced the disappointment,” said Layton, who passed and rushed for 1,560 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2007. “I know what both feel like. In a way, they both make you feel more hungry.”

“Paul wants to compete and win,” Shell said of the 6-foot-1, 210-pound all-state third-team quarterback. “We have a lot of kids with that demeanor.”

Burnt Hills has 21 varsity veterans, including running backs Nick Henderson, Brandon Beatty, Tyler Paluba and Eric Vuillaume, whose 48-yard touchdown burst gave the Spartans a 25-20 lead in last year’s Super Bowl. Lineman Chris Van Alstyne and tight end Connor Hadcock are also back, while significant losses include linemaen Jeremy Jordan and wide receiver Derek Seward, the Class A Division I All-Purpose Player of the Year.

“We’ve got a good core coming back, as far as returning starters and guys who were backups last year, plus some good kids up from our junior varsity team. They had a good year. They played in JV Super Bowl,” said Shell. “We’re expecting good things out of all of them.”

Burnt Hills took some big grad­uation hits on the defensive side of the ball, losing end Alex Palkovic and linebacker Spencer Miller, both Daily Gazette All-Area first-teammers, and safety Ross Batty. Palkovic was additionally honored as the Division I Outstanding

Defensive Player award.

“We lost a key guy at each of the three levels, and that’s a concern,” Shell said. “Hopefully, we can put the right kids in the right spots and they’ll be playmakers for us.”

Paluba started last season as a sophomore, intercepting six passes. David Straw and Keaton Flinton also made an impact in the secondary, as did Zeal McGrew at tackle and Hadcock at linebacker.

“We lost Palkovic and Miller, and they were the heart of the defense,” said Layton. “They’ll be tough to replace, but at the same time, we’ve got some great guys. I believe they will get the job done.”

Burnt Hills is competing in the restructured Class A league, in the Northwest Division, with

Amsterdam, Glens Falls, Gloversville, Queensbury and South Glens Falls. The Southeast Division shows Averill Park, Bishop Maginn, Lansingburgh, Mohonasen (with new head coach Josh Whipple), Scotia-Glenville and Troy.

Troy, a two-time state champion, and Queensbury, a two-time state runner-up, have dropped down from Class AA. Amsterdam is also a two-time state champ, and owns nine Section II titles, three more than Troy.

“Queensbury has been a state finalist. Troy has won state championships. Add those two to what is already a quality group of teams, and that makes it a very tough league,” said Shell. “You have to really work and show up to play every week. Our staff knows that. Our kids know that. If you don’t, you’re going to have a long day.”