Scores and Highlights: Football Returns, Schuylerville Dominates, B-Spa’s Shocking Comeback

Football season officially began last weekend when the Saratoga Springs, Schuylerville, and Ballston Spa varsity squads all earned impressive week one victories. In other high school sports news, the Saratoga girls golf team defeated Queensbury, the Schuylerville boys soccer team tied Mechanicville, and the Spa Catholic girls soccer team tied Mekeel Christian Academy. At the collegiate level, Skidmore freshman soccer player Mara Grace earned her first-ever goal and the Skidmore volleyball team swept Johnson & Wales.

Schuylerville Annihilates Broadalbin-Perth

The 2024 state champion Schuylerville Black Horses galloped into the 2025 season with a dominant 57 to 0 victory over Broadlbin-Perth last Friday. The lopsided affair produced a series of impressive performances for the Horses:

• Senior quarterback Ben VanVegthen threw for 2 touchdowns and completed a 45-yard pass.

• Max Montgomery and Levi Michaud both ran for nearly 100 yards apiece, with Michaud netting 93 yards in just two carries.

• Junior Blake Cumm averaged 16 yards per carry, reaching the endzone twice.

• Sophomore Ernie DaCoasta caught 2 TDs and earned a sack on defense (one of three for the Horses).

Schuylerville will next play at Johnstown on Friday, Sept. 12.

Ballston Spa’s Shocking Come-from-Behind Victory

The Buffalo Bills weren’t the only Upstate football team to earn an almost surreal comeback last weekend. The Ballston Spa Scotties managed to defeat the Eastchester Eagles 21 to 20, despite trailing 20-0 at halftime. The scoring rampage began in the third quarter with a rushing touchdown that put 6 on the board for the Scotties. A two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving things at 20-6 heading into the final quarter. Then B-Spa blew up. A passing touchdown with 8 minutes to go was followed by a successful two-point conversion, putting the Scotties within 6. With 5 minutes on the clock, a colossal 74-yard TD reception evened the score at 20 apiece before the extra point kick sealed the deal.

The 1-0 Scotties will take on Shaker at home on Friday night. 

Blue Streaks Beat Monroe-Woodbury

The Saratoga Springs varsity football squad defeated Monroe-Woodbury last Saturday in a non-conference game. Field conditions were wet with hundreds of fans reportedly in attendance. The first quarter was evenly matched, with neither team putting points on the board. Monroe nabbed an interception but couldn’t capitalize on the turnover. In the second quarter, Monroe blocked a Saratoga punt before earning a rushing touchdown to put them ahead, 7-0. Saratoga responded minutes later with a short passing TD to even the score. But Monroe took the lead heading into halftime after a 23-yard field goal. 10-7 at the half. In the third, the Blue Streaks offense gave up two more turnovers with a fumble and interception. Monroe couldn’t convert on offense, however, and the tally remained 10-7 heading into the fourth. Both teams elevated their play in the final stanza. The decisive quarter began with a Saratoga passing touchdown that put them ahead by 3. The extra point attempt was no good. Monroe quickly responded with a massive, 54-yard rushing TD. An extra point put them ahead 17 to 13. With just three minutes left in the contest, Saratoga closed out the game with a rushing touchdown and extra point. Final score: Saratoga 20, Monroe-Woodbury 17.

The Blue Streaks will face off against Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake at home on Friday night, Sept. 12.

Saratoga Catholic-Stillwater Falls to Mechanicville

The Saratoga Catholic-Stillwater varsity football team fell to Mechanicville, 29 to 21 last Friday. Stillwater held the Red Raiders in check in the first half, entering the break with just a one-point deficit. But Mechanicville exploded in the second half with 16 points. For the Warriors, senior quarterback Aidan Callanan threw for 169 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. He also led his team in rushing yards, with a total 70 in 22 carries (one of which earned him a trip to the endzone). Callanan’s receiving targets were varied, with four players netting around 40 yards apiece (seniors Caleb Vacula and Bryce Peterson each caught a TD). On the defensive end, senior John Williams grabbed an interception.

Spa Catholic-Stillwater will play Cambridge/Salem on Friday at home.

Spa Catholic Soccer Squad Ties Mekeel in OT Rivalry Game

The Saratoga Catholic girls soccer team, which was the subject of a feature story in last week’s edition of Saratoga TODAY, tied Mekeel Christian Academy last Friday in overtime, 1-1. Sophomore Julia Dejnozka scored the Saints’ lone goal. Spa Catholic and Mekeel have developed a healthy rivalry thanks to their close games last season, all three of which ended in Saints losses.

Saratoga Girls Golf Defeats Queensbury

The Saratoga Springs girls golf team defeated Queensbury in a non-league contest on Sept. 3 at the Hiland Park Country Club, 95 to 117. For the Blue Streaks, Sophia Jackson shot a 44 and Emma Kraszewski a 51. 

Schuylerville Ties Mechanicville in Boys Soccer Showdown

Schuylerville hosted Mechanicville on Sept. 3 in an early season match. The Red Raiders came out and immediately applied pressure. 3 minutes in, they were rewarded when David DiSiena found the back of the net. Mechanicville continued to press, but eventually Schuylerville began to equalize the play. With 10 seconds remaining in the half, Mechanicville’s Graham Murphy finished an uncleared corner to make it 2-0. The majority of the second half belonged to the Horses as Thomas Tyler and Dean Barraclough scored to even it up midway through the half. Schuylerville would continue to press the back line but could not get the game winner. Final score: 2-2.

Freshman Thoroughbred Earns First Career Goal

Freshman Mara Grace scored her first collegiate goal in just the 2nd minute as the Skidmore College women’s soccer team battled Hartwick to a 1-1 tie on the road last Sunday afternoon. The Thoroughbreds (0-1-2) outshot the home team by a double-digit margin, 14-to-4, after taking the lead from seemingly the opening touch. However, it proved not enough as the Hawks (2-0-2) strung together just enough offense in the 14th minute to ultimately force the tie. The Thoroughbreds quickly took the lead 2 minutes into the match after Grace drilled a high-arching shot attempt from just outside the box that sailed past the arms of Hartwick’s goalie and through the top left of the net. In the 14th minute, the Hawks capitalized on a free kick sequence that saw the pass from Jenna Mierek initially ricochet off the head of Ella Grupe before ultimately finding an uncontested Millie Caldon in the left side of the goal for the shoot and score and tying the match at 1-1. At halftime, Skidmore again made a goalie change with sophomore Sophia Sayers taking over for senior Avery Rogers, who recorded a pair of saves through the first 45 minutes at goal. Skidmore outshot Hartwick by an 8-to-1 margin in the second half after largely dominating possession of the ball on the offensive third, however the Thoroughbreds failed to break through Hartwick for the go-ahead goal as time ran out. Grace led the offense with four shots in addition to her first career goal.

Skidmore Volleyball Squad Sweeps

The Skidmore College volleyball team swept Johnson & Wales (25-19, 25-16, 25-17) and lost 3-1 to SUNY Geneseo (19-25, 27-25, 25-15, 25-19) last Saturday at the Williamson Sports Center to finish the 2025 Skidmore Classic with a 2-1 record. First-year Chloe Heitman was Skidmore’s representative on the All-Tournament Team. She registered 30 kills and 24 digs with four blocks across three matches this weekend. Skidmore will next head to the Phoenix Invitational at Swarthmore College, Sept. 12–13. The Thoroughbreds will face a competitive field that includes nationally recognized opponents.