Sports - Schuylerville set for Super Bowl

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Christian Brothers Academy.

The Black Horses go into the game with a perfect 9-0 record are hoping to cap off a perfect season with a victory against the 6-2 Cannoneers. Schuylerville storms into the championship game following a 56-26 win over Fonda-Fultonville last week.

Schuylerville head coach Greg O’Connor is confident in his team’s ability.

“We’re just going to go in and do what we have done for the last nine weeks.” O’Connor said. “We’ve got some talented kids on offense and we’re going to try and get them to make some plays, and on defense we have great team speed. We’re just going to play like we always do.”

O’Connor believes that senior running back Shane Larkin, who goes into the game with 11 touchdowns and 610 yards on the season, will need to get his carries. Larkin also brings with him two games with 100+ rushing yards, and has averaged more than 7 yards per carry.

In addition, junior quarterback Austin Bateman will need to spread the ball around, and will also need to use his natural speed that has made him as much of a running threat as a passing one.

Bateman goes into the game with a 38.46 completion percentage, and 18 rushing touchdowns.

Big games are also expected from wide receivers Zack Dames and Claeton Corsetti, who have both averaged more than 10 yards a carry.

As for his defense, O’Connor believes it to be a true total package.

“I can’t pinpoint one player” he said. “It’s a total team effort.”

Still, the Black Horses will have a tough task against Watervliet, whose great team speed will keep Schuylerville on its toes. “They move their players all over the place.” O’Connor said.

“They spread them out to catch passes and are constantly in motion, and you just need to be prepared for that.”

Heading up the Cannoneers is RB Ahkiem Thompson, who has picked up 187 yards over the course of the season to go along with 3 rushing touchdowns. In addition, RB Caleb Gleason with his 98 yards rushing and over 5 yards per carry, as well as RB Dom Diaz will be players to watch out for.