Plattsburgh — With just three games remaining in the regular season, the CVAC football season is winding down to its last stretch. Late October is defined by identity, so teams need to find their rhythms, fix their mistakes, and band together before sectionals in November.
Homecoming football games in the fall are some of the best athletic events to attend in the North Country. This weekend it was both homecoming and Senior night for the Plattsburgh faithful.
A nail-biting contest played out Saturday between the Saranac Spartans and the Plattsburgh Hornets left everyone at Plattsburgh High School on the edge of the bleachers. In one of the best games of the chilly weekend, the narrative heading into this game couldn’t have predicted the final score.
The Spartans’ and the Hornets’ seasons have been tales of two different teams.
Saranac has been a team that has struggled thus far. Coming into the game, the 1-4 Spartans were still reeling from a 41 to 15 loss to rival Peru, before that, their only win had come at the expense of AuSable Valley.
Saranac lost 12 Seniors from last season, making the transition for incoming guys difficult. The Spartans are coming off of a season last year with the best winning percentage in the section alongside Peru.
Despite the numbers, Saranac has one of the best rushing attacks in the league behind running back River Poulin, and their defense has kept them close in every game except one.
The Spartans came to Hornet’s home turf hungry to get into the win column again.
Plattsburgh’s team looks like a different squad compared to years past. In contrast to Saranac, the Hornets are led by their stout passing attack spearheaded by their seniors, quarterback Daniel Hartmann, receiver Dominic DeAngelo, and tight end Braeden Calkins.
Those three guys are the heart of this team,” said Head Coach Justin Hart. “I mean, number 11 (Hartmann), number 12 (Calkins), one for us, 15 (DeAngelo). He’s such a big distraction. And it opens up. Number 12, you know”
Homecoming always brought an electric atmosphere to the Plattsburgh Hornets’ field. In years past, the Hornets have been the victim of homecoming spoils, but the seniors planned to make this year one to remember against the Saranac Spartans.
From the first snap, both teams played with scrap and grit, reminiscent of the defensive playing days of guys like Lawrence Taylor in the 80s, each vying for supremacy on the turf.
Saranac, coming off a tough previous week, hoped to build momentum on the ground early against a Plattsburgh team eager to make a statement on their home turf.
The first half unfolded with several defensive standoffs and shutouts, resulting in a scoreless first quarter. Both failed to find the end zone until the second quarter.
The Spartans struck first early in the second quarter when running back River Poulin punched in a 4-yard touchdown. However, Plattsburgh grew their momentum on defense with a blocked kick, trailing by a narrow 6-0 lead.
Plattsburgh responded with a safety by Sophomore Troy Bushey after a blocked punt, resulting in the ball traveling in the back of the end zone for two points.
Soon after the play on special teams, on the next offensive drive quarterback Hartmann connected with Calkins for a 29-yard touchdown, putting the Hornets ahead 8-6 before halftime.
In the first quarter, Calkins connected with Hartmann for his first catch of the game, making him Plattsburgh’s all-time leader in yards by a tight end.
When asked about his milestone, the senior tight end credited his coaches and teammates.
“It felt great. I can’t do without my teammates, Dan, and my coaches. It’s just been a great season. We’re just playing ball, having fun”
Hart couldn’t be prouder of his player.
He stepped right up and he made big plays when he needed to,” Coach Hart said. “He’s he had a senior moment tonight, and it showed.”
The second half saw the Spartans come out strong, scoring twice in succession. Behind the legs of River Poulin and Saranac’s offensive lineman, the Spartans capped a relentless drive punching in a 2-yard River Poulin touchdown, followed by a 1-yard sneak from quarterback Zach Lucia for the two-point conversion.
Suddenly, the Spartans assumed control early in the second half, leading 22-8 as the Hornets scrambled to retool their offense.
But Plattsburgh, bolstered by their home faithful, wasn’t ready to lay down for Saranac. They found their rhythm in the latter part of the third quarter, with Dominic DeAngelo showcasing his versatility.
Hart and the offensive staff mixed up the signal calling to fluster Saranac’s defense. Plattsburgh’s offense rejuvenated itself through a designed run sweep for DeAngelo, who dashed 18 yards for a touchdown, connecting with Hartmann afterward for a two-point conversion that brought the score to 22-16.
Tension and anxiety among players and fans spilled over into the final quarter. The Hornets kept pushing forward in a relenting chess match against the Saranac defense. However, the Hornets outmatched the Spartan’s scheme, enabling orange jerseys to get into an open position for Hartmann.
“I mean all of this is as a team,” Hartmann said. “I mean, we couldn’t do without the coaches. Line blocking, amazing blocks all day. The receivers running their butts off. It was just an amazing game. And I’m very proud of my boys.”
With just about six minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Hartmann delivered a stunning 48-yard touchdown pass to Calkins, narrowing the gap to just two points. But, a failed two-point conversion evened the game at 22 a piece.
Time was slipping away, and the pressure mounted for the Spartans and Hornets.
As the clock wound down, the game took a dramatic turn. Saranac held the ball with just under four minutes to play. Poulin and the Saranac rushing attack methodically moved the ball downfield to set up a scoring opportunity in Plattsburgh’s red zone.
Poulin highlighted the drive with a 33-yard run into Plattsburgh’s territory to tighten the noose on the Hornet’s necks.
However, the grit and scrap the Plattsburgh players have been playing with all year showed up in the fourth quarter when it mattered the most.
On a fourth and seven at the edge of the red zone, Plattsburgh’s defense forced Saranac to turn the ball over on downs, preventing a potential game-sealing score.
With the momentum swinging in their favor, the Hornets seized their opportunity to complete the two-minute drill to a tee.
Hartmann orchestrated a remarkable final drive, connecting with Calkins for what would have been a go-ahead 24-yard touchdown, only for it to be ruled incomplete at the back of the end zone.
“This feels great,” Calkins said. “You know that last two minutes, we’ve been working on two minutes all week, we knew that we were a better-conditioned team, and then we knew we had to get on the ball and just go.
“And we did that. “We dug down deep, and we just played ball and things went our way.”
With 30 seconds left on the clock, Hartmann ran the ball to Saranac’s 9-yard line, stopping the clock and setting the stage for a thrilling comeback.
In the waning moments, Hartmann and Calkins connected again, this time for a crucial 9-yard touchdown pass with just 12 seconds remaining, putting Plattsburgh ahead 28-22.
The homecoming erupted in cheers as the Hornets celebrated what was shaping up to be one of the more memorable Plattsburgh victories in recent memory.
After the game, DeAngelo was asked how special the win was since it came on Senior night and Homecoming.
“I’d say doubt,” DeAngelo said. “You know, the past few years, we’ve been doubted. And, you know, I think today, we had a lot of people here doubting us.
“You know, we got asked in school when the last time you won the homecoming game. So, you know, I think that that was behind our mind the whole day, and we just wanted to get that win no matter what.”
For Hart, this team has been anxiously waiting to prove themselves as one of the best in the section after years of struggle.
“Well, I’ve done a lot of losing in my life,” Hart said. “So I have a very strong urge to win, but I want these kids to win, and at one point, those kids were just beating themselves.
For guys like Calkins, the win was another chapter of the season. And his game-sealing touchdown was strictly business.
“That touchdown couldn’t be a better feeling,” Calkins said. “Now, I just want to hang out with my boys tonight for Homecoming.”
Saranac’s hopes for a last-minute miracle evaporated as they failed to convert the ensuing kickoff return into points, allowing the Hornets to clinch their third consecutive win and improve their record to 4-2.
Meanwhile, Saranac dropped to 1-5, facing a crucial home matchup against Saranac Lake next week.
Hartmann’s performance stood out, throwing for 273 yards and three touchdowns, while DeAngelo contributed significantly with 119 total yards and a touchdown.
Calkins finished the night with eight receptions for 140 yards and two touchdowns, cementing his place in Plattsburgh history with a record-setting performance for a tight end.
After the game, Hartmann reflected on the emotional rollercoaster.
“This was a lot of weight off our back after losing for the past,” he said. “I don’t even know. Yeah, for a long time, this is a huge senior night and homecoming. It’s just today, it’s a great award.”
Delving deeper into October, Plattsburgh’s victory solidified their momentum heading into the next matchup against Beekmantown. Saturday was also a reminder that most teams are better than their records suggest. No matter the record everyone in Section 7 knows that every game is a chance to leave a mark. For Saranac, the road ahead will require resilience and reflection, as they aim to bounce back in their quest for redemption in the coming weeks.
“There’s starting to be a culture change here in Plattsburgh, and our kids are starting to become very physical, and they’re starting to understand how to play football,” Hart said. “Our kids are starting to do a great job and stepping up when they need
As the Hornets bask in the glow of a last-second victory, both teams will look to harness the lessons learned as October rolls on. For these North Country teams, as the weather becomes colder, the path to the postseason becomes clearer with each passing week.
—
Plattsburgh 28, Saranac 22
PHS;0;8;8;12;- 28
SCS;0;6;16;0;-;22
Scoring Summary-
Second Quarter
SCS- Poulin 4 run (kick blocked), 11:28.
PHS- Bushey safety (blocked punt), 2:47.
PHS- Calkins 29 pass from Hartmann (Colburn pass from Hartmann failed), 1:32.
Third Quarter
SCS- Poulin 2 run (Dubay pass from Lucia good), 10:11.
SCS- Lucia 1 run (Lucia run good), 5:47.
PHS- DeAngelo 18 run (Wineglass pass from DeAngelo good), 1:11.
Fourth Quarter
PHS- Calkins 48 pass from Hartmann (Hartmann pass from DeAngelo failed), 6:17.
PHS- Calkins 9 pass from Hartmann (DeAngelo pass failed), 0:12.
Individual Statistics
RUSHING
PHS- Hartmann 11-33. Dejesus 6-29. DeAngelo 3-24, TD. Calkins 2-0. TOTALS: 22-86, TD.
SCS- Poulin 33-193, 2TD. Lucia 5-26, TD. Duffield 4-52. Scovil 4-21. Boulds 1-0. TOTALS: 47-292, 2TD.
PASSING
PHS- Hartmann, 20-34-2-273, 3TD.
SCS- Lucia, 1-4-1-5.
RECEIVING
PHS- Calkins 8-140, 2TD. DeAngelo 8-95, TD. Brooks 3-37. Colburn 1-11. TOTALS: 20-273, 2 INT, 3TD.
SCS- Scovil 1-5. TOTALS: 1-5, INT.
INTERCEPTIONS
PHS- DeAngelo
SCS- Poulin, Sorensen