Schuylerville excels in many ways in opener
Offense is prolific from the outset, and defense stifles Mechanicville
Schuylerville running back Sam Mcgarrahan scores a touchdown despite the best efforts of Mechanicville defensive back Nicholas Salustri on Saturday.
The breaks in play Saturday offered the public address system at Mechanicville a chance to play such heavy metal artists as Metallica and Ozzy Osbourne. The truth is what the Schuylerville football team was doling out was already heavy enough.
No matter what aspect was delivered on offense, defense or special teams, the Black Horses proved too hard-hitting and potent for the Red Raiders to contend with. Schuylerville scored on its opening drive and capped a stellar first half with a 43-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Owen Sher
man to freshman wide receiver Lukas Sherman in what ended up being a 38-0 victory in Class C action.
The coronavirus pandemic shifted the 2020 football season into a seven-week Fall Season II schedule that began this week.
The Black Horses scored touchdowns on four of five drives in the first half, and converted all four two-point conversions, to take a
32-0 advantage into intermission. Mechanicville was limited to 14 yards of offense and one first down in the opening 24 minutes.
“Everyone worked really hard these past 13 days to be ready,” Schuylerville senior two-way lineman Jack Koval said. “Our defense is our calling card. We sort of have a nasty mentality that we are not going to give up any yards.”
“This is definitely a nice first week for us,” Schuylerville coach John Bowen said. “The approach and mindset to the season is different. We’ve got a seven-week season and we hope we get in all seven and are playing for something the last week.”
“I think we were good in all three phases,” Owen Sherman said. “I thought we moved the ball and everyone contributed.”
Schuylerville, a squad that advanced to the 2019 Class B state final, suffered significant graduation losses that included standouts such as Jacob Vanderhood, Tyler Bowen and Kyle Burnham. After waiting 17 months to return, the Black Horses methodically worked their way down the field and scored the only touchdown they needed on a 6-yard run by senior Sam Mcgarrahan.
After Mechanicville went threeand-out on its first possession, Schuylerville again drove down the field and concluded the opening quarter facing a fourth-and-goal situation from the Red Raiders’ 1. After the break, senior Jack Dwyer dove into the end zone and Owen Sherman added a two-point pass to Ryan Dow for a 16-0 lead.
Mcgarrahan, who led Schuylerville with 135 yards rushing in three quarters, scored on his second touchdown run from 9 yards out and the Black Horses stunned the Red Raiders with the long pass play involving the Sherman brothers to conclude the first half. The junior quarterback rolled to his right and unleashed his pass. Lukas Sherman leaped high in the air and secured the ball before being hit.
“I knew I had a shot. I thought I would have the time because our offensive line is the best around,” Owen Sherman said. “I knew (Lukas) was going to be there.”
Mechanicville opened the third quarter with the football and chewed up more than nine minutes. Although the Red Raiders picked up three first downs (converting on two third downs and once on fourth down), the drive stalled after 14 plays at the Schuylerville 27.
The Black Horses proceeded to march 73 yards over 12 plays capped by an 11-yard touchdown scamper by Owen Sherman on fourth-and-1 to cap the scoring with 7:51 remaining. Following in the successful footsteps of previous quarterbacks Will Griffen and older brother Stratton Sherman, Owen Sherman completed 6-of-11 passes for 98 yards to go along with 26 yards rushing.
“It is a very huge benefit for us to have him back,” John Bowen said. “Owen has a lot of physical tools. He has a great arm and is strong as well.”
Working behind an offensive line featuring Koval, senior Lucas Woodcock, junior Carson Patrick, junior Ryan Peck and sophomore Austin Prouty, Schuylerville’s offense amassed 331 yards on 53 plays. The Red Raiders were limited to 34 yards on 29 plays — including losing 17 yards on its final play.