TROY — During halftime, the sun began to set, cooling off the field and turning an afternoon game into a Friday night contest under the lights. The crowd busted out their blankets and hand warmers. But as the air chilled, the intensity on the field began to boil.

At the half, Fonda-Fultonville led the Schuylerville Black Horses 18 to 14. With just 22 seconds left in the second quarter, Fonda completed a short pass into the endzone to put them ahead. But a two-point conversion attempt failed, keeping Schuylerville within just one touchdown of the lead.

The Section 2 Class C title game was a contest between two contrasting offenses: Fonda’s pass game, and Schuylerville’s run game. But the Black Horses’ strategy suffered a major blow in the third quarter when running back Martin Flanders Jr. was sidelined with a knee injury. 

“Martin is a critical part of who we are on both sides of the ball,” said Coach John Bowen. “Losing him there was a huge loss.”

Landen Cumm scored a rushing touchdown in the third quarter to put the Black Horses ahead by three. But Fonda fired back with a long pass completion that set up a touchdown of their own, putting them ahead once again, 25 to 21, with only four minutes left in the third. 

In the final quarter, Schuylerville’s defense was able to force a punt, giving them one more opportunity to reclaim the lead. With a little over six minutes left in the game, the Black Horses went for it on fourth down. The grandstands rumbled in support of both teams. But Schuylerville couldn’t reach the markers and faced a turnover on downs.

A long pass attempt by Fonda resulted in a pass interference call that was loudly protested by fans of the Black Horses. With less than a minute left on the clock, Fonda then sealed Schuylerville’s fate with a rushing touchdown. The final score: Fonda 31, Schuylerville 21.

“We really love this group of kids,” Bowen said. “They gave us everything they had.”

Although Schuylerville’s season has come to an end, the focus is already shifting towards next year.  

“We’ll get back to the drawing board,” Bowen said, “and hopefully start working on taking that next step in 2024.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The following student-athletes from Saratoga High School participated in a National Letter of Intent signing ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 8.  

Cross Country & Track

Anya Belisle – University of New Mexico

Emily Bush – Providence College

Genevieve Duchaussee – Northeastern University

Amelia McBain – Penn State University

Baseball

Michael Mack – Northeastern University

Christian Mello – University of Albany

Camden Rhude – Indiana 

University of Pennsylvania

Rowing

Catherine Fox – University of Washington

Madelyn Nolan – Rutgers University

Ava Voorhies – University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Lacrosse

Carter Hills – Quinnipiac University

Carly Wise – Clemson University

Football

Rodell Evans – Cornell University

Softball

Ryann Soltis – Goldey-Beacom College

Field Hockey

Mia Bolster – Wagner College

Crew

Paul Cuneo – Syracuse University

Diving

Angelina Damiano – Indiana State University

Golf

Kellen Dean – Xavier University

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Art and Linda Kranick have been re-hired as coaches of the Saratoga Springs girls varsity indoor track team. The Board of Education’s decision on Thursday, November 9 to re-appoint the Kranicks came in the midst of an ongoing investigation into allegations of abuse in the cross-country program led by the Kranicks. It’s unknown when exactly the results of the investigation will be announced.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga varsity wrestling team is preparing for another season, and aiming for “lofty but realistic goals,” according to coach Jake Zanetti.

“I feel like last year was a really good year for us as far as putting ourselves on the map,” Zanetti said. 

The Blue Streaks faced some fierce competition last season from Burnt Hills and Ballston Spa. Although Saratoga couldn’t quite beat those opponents, they lost by only one match.

“We were on the wrong side of it, but we were right there with them,” Zanetti said. “That kind of put us on the map, and this year we’re looking to kick the door in and be on the winning side of those duels.”

The team has some returning success stories, as well as promising newcomers. Two Blue Streaks wrestlers competed in the state tournament last year. Junior Taylor Beaury finished seventh, and senior Pat McKinley qualified. This year, McKinley will return as a heavyweight. 

Coach Zanetti said that junior Gianni Delgado will “make waves.” He also praised a group of sophomores that have been wrestling since seventh grade; Danny Dacey, Luke Stoutenburg, Hayden Passaretti, and Trey Edwards.

Zanetti praised his assistant coach and youth head coach Brendon Polcare for doing “a great job with our feeder program, the youth kids… he’s pumping those kids out year after year.”

“I do think we’re going to have a pretty tough lineup, start to finish, lightweights to heavyweights,” Zanetti said.

“We just want to compete every time we’re out there, whether we get the win or not. We want to put our best foot forward and at least compete to the best of our ability.”

Coach Zanetti also shared a preview of this year’s tentative lineup…

101 — Brendan Stoutenburg (7)

108 — Jayden Burke (9)

116 — Kyle Edwards (12)

124 — Chase Matter (10, 4th at Sectionals)

131 — Taylor Beaury (11, Section Champ, 7th in NYS)

138 — Luke Stoutenburg (10)

145 — Danny Dacey (10)

152 — Hayden Passaretti (10)

160 — Trey Edwards (10)

170 — Gianni Delgado (4th in the Section)

215 — Pat McKinley (12, Section Runner-Up,  NYS Qualifier)

285 — Logan Devizzio (11)

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saturday, Nov. 18 will be a busy day at the Saratoga Springs Ice Rink on Weibel Ave. After Skidmore takes on New England College, Saratoga firefighters and police officers will square off in the Holiday Hockey Classic.

The game is expected to start around 7pm. Admission is free with the donation of an unwrapped toy. 

The Classic benefits the Franklin Community Center’s Holiday Assistance Program, which aims to deliver a Christmas present to every Saratoga child that needs one.

This will be the fifth Holiday Hockey Classic. According to the Saratoga Springs Fire Department, each event has yielded bigger crowds and more donations. In 2022, the match raised over $1,000, and more than 700 toys were donated.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 23, the Christopher Dailey Foundation will host their 22nd Annual Christopher Dailey 5K Saratoga Turkey Trot. The Run/Walk will be held on Broadway in Saratoga Springs starting at 8:30 a.m.  

All proceeds from the event will support the Christopher Dailey Foundation, a non-profit organization supporting youth needs in the Saratoga community since 2002. For instructions on how to register online, in person, or by mail, visit: christopherdaileyfoundation.com. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Kids who are good at shooting free throws and want to make it to the National Basketball Hall of Fame have a golden opportunity awaiting them on Saturday, Dec. 2.

The Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge No. 161 will host the annual Hoop Shoot free-throwing competition from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Saratoga Springs Recreation Center.

“We’re hoping we’re going to have a really good turnout this year,” said Steve Dorsey, director of the event.

The Hoop Shoot is free and open to boys and girls between the ages of eight and thirteen. Pre-registration is not necessary.

Winners in each of the three age groups will receive an invitation to the District Championship, as well as prizes such as trophies and t-shirts.

“We have a little award ceremony for them at the Saratoga-Wilton lodge,” Dorsey said.

Should any hoopers win districts, regional, state, and national championships will follow. National champs will be initiated into the National Basketball Hall of Fame in Massachusetts.

“We’ve had some national champions locally,” Dorsey said. “We’ve been fortunate.”

For more information about the annual Hoop Shoot competition, contact Steve Dorsey at 518-369-1985.