The preseason scrimmages are in the books and the team suppers have taken place. Now the local football teams are ready to take to the field for the 2013 season.
Three local teams will open on their home fields.
The Broadalbin-Perth Patriots will welcome Scotia-Glenville to Class B competition Friday night.
The Fonda-Fultonville Braves and Dolgeville Blue Devils also open their seasons at home.
The Braves host Voorheesville Saturday afternoon at John Boshart Field, while Dolgeville will take on Morrisville-Eaton at 2 p.m. Saturday in its Section III Class D opener.
The Gloversville Huskies are on the road in a Class A crossover game against Mohonasen, and the Johnstown Sir Bills return to varsity-level play tonight at Cobleskill-Richmondville.
The Amsterdam Rams will begin their drive with an eye on returning to the Class A championship game tonight at Averill Park.
Scotia-Glenville at Broadalbin-Perth
Today, 7 p.m.
The Patriots will get tested right out of the gate when they welcome the Scotia-Glenville Tartans to Patriots Field.
Scotia joins the Class B West Division after dropping down from Class A, where it finished second in the Southeast Division last year with a 6-3 overall record and went 3-1 in the division, losing only to Troy.
Broadalbin-Perth went 4-2 in the Class B West and finished third behind Schalmont and Glens Falls. with a 5-3 overall record.
The Patriots bring a lot of experience to the gridiron with senior Luigi Magliocca leading the way. Junior quarterback Zach Morreale will take his first snaps as varsity quarterback but should have time to settle in to his starting role behind a solid veteran offensive line.
“Our success this season will be determined by the leadership of our seniors and how fast our young players can get accustomed to the speed of the varsity level,” Patriots coach Jim Pelneau said. “All the players have been working hard all offseason to achieve our team goals for this upcoming season.”
Gloversville at Mohonasen
Today at 7 p.m.
The Huskies open the season on the road with a pair of non-conference games.
Gloversville finished their 2012 season with a 48-19 Week 9 crossover game victory against the Warriors.
How fast the Huskies offense gels will be significant to their 2013 success. They have plenty of weapons to put points on the scoreboard starting with senior quarterback Asa Barnhill.
“Asa Barnhill leads a group of very talented skill players in David VanDenabele, Dante Glaster, Caleb Dutcher, Quantel Magee and Shon Matthews-Lewis and should have success throwing and running,” fourth-year Gloversville coach Jared Bongo said.
Mohonasen finished 1-3 last year in division an 2-7 overall.
Amsterdam at Averill Park
Today at 7 p.m.
The Rams look to begin their run back to the Class A Super Bowl tonight with a crossover game against Averill Park.
The departure of Scotia-Glenville from Class A Southeast to Class B West left the division with four teams – Troy, Averill Park, Mohonasen and Bishop Maginn. The Northwest Division has five teams – Amsterdam, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, Queensbury, Gloversville and South Glens Falls.
Although the Rams lost some key skill-position players, second-year head coach Doug Edick has a strong group of returning players including Hector Diaz, Julian Gallup, first team all-stars Kolbie Glionna and Marcus Pritchard to build around.
Johnstown at Cobleskill-Richmondville
Today at 7 p.m.
The Sir Bills return to the varsity level of play tonight on the road against the Bulldogs.
Johnstown played three games last season including facing Cobleskill-Richmondville in Week 1 when they came up on the short end of the 49-21 final score.
The Bulldogs have a new coach this season after winning just one game in the Class B West last year.
The Sir Bills regrouped and gained experience and confidence on the junior varsity level and will now work to be competitive again at the varsity level.
“Their goals are to reach their peak performance, mature as athletes and stay positive throughout the season,” fourth-year varsity coach Matt Benton said.
The Sir Bills will look to Ryan Auty, Adam Caputo, Isiah Chamberlain, David Fahr, Ethan Hale, Christ Hutchinson, Austen Manchester, Dan Nellis, Jeremiah Robinson, Burton Rulison, Mike Swierzowski, Matt Szurek, Logan Vanderheide and Andrew Wilson who stayed together to help bring the program back to the varsity level.
Voorheesville at Fonda-Fultonville
Saturday at 1 p.m.
The Braves and Blackbirds waste no time getting into the thick of the battle for the Class C South Division crown.
Fonda-Fultonville placed second to Chatham in the 2012 standings before falling to eventual sectional and Class C state champion Hoosick Falls in the semifinals.
The Braves return several key members to the team including senior quarterback Russ Williams, running back Pat Hart and receiver Brandon Baker.
“We have talented returning players and newcomers,” eight-year Braves coach Tom Carpenter said. “the key to our success is how well we play as a team.”
Canajoharie at Warrensburg
Saturday at 1 p.m.
The Cougars will make the long trip to Warrensburg on Saturday, but coach Ken Sullivan is not worried about it.
“It is just part of playing Class D sports in Canajoharie,” he said. “You are going to have some long trips. We don’t even think about it anymore.”
What the Cougars are thinking about is putting points on the board with a young offensive group.
“They run a double wing and try to jam the ball down your throat,” Sullivan said. “Last year it was 9 to 8 at the half, and we ended up winning by a lot. We really want our offense to get going Saturday.”
Jace Fox takes over the quarterbacking duties behind an experienced front line that can provide protection as well as open holes for the running crew of Zach Ruzkowski, Alex Dilorenzo, Robert Clothier and Nathan Ferguson.
The cougars find themselves already a game behind division newcomers Schoburg and Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons/Spa Catholic as the both received first week forfeits from Fort Edward and Salem. The two squads will square off Saturday in place of the forfeits.
Morrisville-Eaton at Dolgeville
Saturday at 2 p.m.
The Blue Devils will face a new opponents in Morrisville-Eaton with a new coach, Dan Zilkowski.
The coaching transition should be smooth as Zilkowski was a long-time assistant coach under Chris Connolly. He will be assisted by associate head coach Brian Wilcox.
“Big Blue” has a solid core of returning players including quarterback Reid Johnson as well as seniors James Brys, Devin Coonradt and James Doolittle.
