Photos: Down But Not Out
The 2019 football season kicked off at home this weekend for both the Guilderland Dutchmen and the Voorheesville Blackbirds. The Dutch players faced off against Shaker, a team they’ve battled in playoffs. The Dutch fell to the formidable Bison team, 41 to 23, on Friday night. The Blackbirds went toe to toe against Stillwater but the Warriors flexed their muscles and shutout the Birds, 35 to 0.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Unloading a throw: Voorheesville’s Gavin Esposito attempts to make a pass down the field to an open teammate. The Warriors’ defense didn’t give the Blackbirds much room to maneuver. Esposito went nine completions on 21 attempts for 99 yards with two interceptions to go along with 37 yards on 10 carries.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Grabbed back: Voorheesville's Nick Angelo tries to run up the sideline after catching a pass from Esposito but Stillwater’s Hayden Brown grabs his jersey to force him out of bounds. Angelo had five yards on two catches.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Eyes down the field: Guilderland’s Logan Broomhall looks down the field for an open teammate in the second quarter. Broomhall had 12 completions on 17 attempts for 166 yards with a touchdown and an interception; he also had 19 rushing yards on 12 carries.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Hard running: Guilderland's Vin Lia bounces off a would-be tackle by Shaker’s Nate Ratigan. Lia had 43 yards on 10 carries and two touchdowns.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Fighting for every yard: Guilderland's Christopher Ardito tries to reach the end zone but gets stopped by Shaker’s Daniel Iyok (22) and John Graney (14). Ardito 134 yards on six catches and a touchdown.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Held back: Voorheesville’s Joe Tomlin tries to shake the tackle of a Stillwater player during the first quarter of the Birds’ first home game on Saturday afternoon. Tomlin had 18 yards on seven carries.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Acrobatic catch: Voorheesville’s Noah Parker looks at the ball as he extends his arms to catch an incoming pass but Stillwater’s Ryan Greene intercedes. Parker had 25 yards on three catches.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Bull rush: The Guilderland football team runs onto the field, crashing through a paper banner that proclaims “”Go Dutch, Bison down,” held by the cheer team before the start of the team’s home opener for the 2019 season.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Pads cracking: Guilderland’s Jalal Din gets into the backfield and stops Shaker’s Porter Ninstant in the first quarter on Friday night.