Saranac — The transition into October means that Section 7 football teams are finally finding their identity midway through the season. This past weekend was a test for Peru and Saranac to find out who they really are as teams.
The Spartans faced off against the Nighthawks on a clear Saturday afternoon where the warm weather played to each squads advantage.
Heading into the game the Spartans hoped to build on last week’s victory over AuSable Valley and prove they are a team on the rise. But it was the Nighthawks who soared to a 41-15 win on the day, teaching Saranac a lesson in efficiency and execution on their own turf.
Peru quickly established dominance on the ground early. Just moments into the first quarter, Nighthawks running back Sayer Schlitt scampered into the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown run, sending an early message to the Spartans.
Saranac swiftly responded with a safety minutes later, sparking a shift in momentum, but that was about all the scoring the Spartans would see in the first quarter.
Peru’s offense, coached by Ryon O’Connell ran like a well-oiled machine all afternoon. Sticking to the running game early, quarterback Jake Frechette showed off his dual-threat ability with a seven yard run for a score. The junior quarterback connected with his teammates seamlessly, including a 49-yard touchdown pass to Chase Carpenter late in the second quarter, pushing the score to 20-7 leaving the Spartans scrambling for answers.
“Jake’s definitely growing throughout the year,” said O’Connell.
“You know, he’s learning the offense, and every week he gets a little bit better, a little bit better, you know. and a lot of people are keen on the run game, and Jake’s doing an outstanding job. I think he’s growing as a quarterback.”
Saranac’s offense, while showcasing flashes of potential, struggled to find rhythm on a majority of their drives. Quarterback Zach Lucia connected on a couple of passes but faced relentless pressure from a collapsing Nighthawks defense.
The Spartans managed a 2-yard touchdown pass to Riley Scovil midway through the second quarter, but a failed extra point left them trailing 21-9 at halftime after giving up the 49 yard passing touchdown to Carpenter.
“I think we came off like we came off hot, and those mistakes kind of made Saranac capitalize,” said Peru quarterback Jake Frechette. “But overall, I think we overcame that and we played harder.”
The second half brought some reprieve for the Spartans. Saranac kicked the second half off in their favor, scoring a 17 yard touchdown hauled in by Branigan Boulds from the arm of Lucia.
However, the Nighthawks reigned over the second half offensively. Peru took control immediately, as Frechette added another rushing touchdown, this time from 3 yards out, extending the lead to 27-15. The Nighthawks’ offensive line created gaping holes, allowing their backs like Schlitt to find plenty of room to maneuver.
“I think every single one of those big plays,” said Schlitt. “During practice, we were pretty sound for the most part, and this is how that translated to the game. and I was really supportive of my linemen, because they did a great job.”
For Senior Peru offensive lineman, Elliot Supley the whole team stepped up, especially the lineman.
“I feel like things in Beekmantown, offensively and defensively just weren’t as smooth as we’d like,” said Supley. “We didn’t have the week of practice we had, we had a lot of stuff going on, though this week, but, for the most part, it was a lot better, and it showed in the second half a lot.”
As the game progressed, Saranac’s defense began to wear down, and Frechette took full advantage. He found receiver Trenten Taylor for a 6-yard touchdown pass, putting the Nighthawks up 34-15.
Peru’s offense was relentless, scoring again shortly after, as Frechette capped off the day with a 9-yard pass to Cody Starke, sealing the game at 41-15.
Our offense was moving,” said Supley. “We were all together and it was fun. We were all having fun today, and we were all getting on with each other.”
Despite the lopsided score, Saranac’s River Poulin continued to fight for his team on the ground, showcasing his grit on the day with 46 of the Spartan’s 95 rushing yards. But it was merely consolation stats in a game that slipped through the Spartans’ fingers.
Peru’s head coach, Ryon O’Connell, was pleased with his squad’s performance, especially after a tough loss the week prior to Beekmantown.
“It was like a lot of hard work this week, and we got, you know, our goals to get better each week for the next five weeks,” he noted. “You know, we have to take care of our own mistakes and worry about Peru football, just take care of our jobs.”
The Nighthawks’ win improves their record to 2-2, and they hope to build on this momentum heading into next week’s matchup against Saranac Lake.
As for the Spartans, they fall to 1-4 and will look to rebound against Plattsburgh, Saturday.
For Peru Seniors like Elliot Supley, this win comes with a sweeter taste in their mouths after losing last year’s matchup to Saranac.
“This win feels amazing,” he said. “After last year, I’ve been thinking about this game.”
As the teams left the field, it was clear that while Peru took the victory lap against their in division rivals. For the Nighthawks, this win was only one roadblock on the way to a Sectional championship.
The mentality going into the next game for quarterback Jake Frechette is simple.
“As a team I think we need to run the table,” Frechette said
After the blowout, there is blood lost for Saranac, as they must now look inward to seek the answers that will help them bounce back in the second half of the season.
As the leaves continue to change and the trees become bare, Section 7 football will remain. Every game is crucial. For Peru and Saranac, both squads will need to capitalize on their opportunities as the leaves begin to fall, because in October the stakes only grow higher.
—
Peru 41, Saranac 15
PCS 14 7 20 0 – 41
SCS 2 7 6 0 – 15
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
PCS- Schlitt 12 run (Garrow kick), 9:25
SCS- PCS safety, 6:19
PCS- Frechette 7 run (Garrow Kick), 0:39
Second Quarter
SCS- Scovil 2 pass from Lucia (Lucia kick), 7:36
PCS- Carpenter 49 pass from Frechette (Garrow kick), 1:25
Third Quarter
SCS- Boulds 17 pass from Lucia (kick failed), 7:49.
PCS- Frechette 3 run (pass failed), 7:02.
PCS- Taylor 6 pass from Frechette (Garrow kick), 6:12.
PCS- Starke 9 pass from Frechette (Garrow Kick), 2:45
Individual Statistics
RUSHING
PCS- Schlitt 13-79, TD. Frechette 6-28, 2TD. Blaise-Smith 5-22. Wilkins 3-30. Bridges 1-2. Capen 1-1. TOTALS: 29-162. 3 TD
SCS-Poulin 16-46. Lucia 7-(-1). Boulds 1-3. Powers 1-0. #22 3-47. TOTALS: 27-95.
PASSING
PCS- Frechette, 13-17-1-243, 3 TD.
PCS- O’Connell, 1-4-2-9.
SCS- Lucia, 5-17-0-68, 2 TD.
RECEIVING
PCS- Taylor 7-100. TD. Carpenter 2-63. TD. Schlitt 2-62. Starke 2-18. TD. TOTALS: 13-243, INT, 3 TD.
SCS- Boulds 3-63. TD. Scovil 1-2. TD. Powers 1-3. TOTALS: 5-68, 2 TD.
INTERCEPTIONS
SCS- #31 (1)
SCS- Boulds (2)