The Dan and Michelle Larkin Family - Shane's 2008 Football Season - Horses looking to rebound, October 3, 2008

The Daniel and Michelle Larkin Family - Shane's 2008 Football Season

Horses looking to rebound

STAN HUDY , The Saratogian
Friday, October 3, 2008

SCHUYLERVILLE - SCHUYLERVILLE - The Schuylerville Black Horses football team has enjoyed the highs of a Section II title in 2005 and then saw it slip away with consecutive post-season defeats to Chatham in 2006 and Cambridge in 2007.

"We had them, we were the dominant team we had all the momentum," senior lineman Greg Peterson said. "In the second half they came out hard and hungry, we didn't."

Those bookended losses to Cambridge, the season opener and season-ender, could drive the Black Horses to another berth in the Class C Super Bowl this season.

Schuylerville will again rely on returning stars junior quarterback Austin Bateman, senior running back Duke Ekblom, senior lineman Greg Peterson, senior lineman Zack Dames and senior running back Shane Larkin to propel the Black Horses atop the Class C North Division.

"We're an athletic team," fifth-year head coach Greg O'Connor said. "They're not as big on the line; they're smaller and more athletic.

"It's a different type of line," O'Connor continued. "Last year, we were a little bigger, little stronger. We changed our defense to take advantage of our speed and our kids skills."

That quickness works right into the hands, literally, of Larkin.

"I've been playing with these guys since we were in fifth or sixth grade and know them well," Larkin said. "They move fast and it's easier to make a move off their blocks when they are that fast. They are already there, so I don't have to wait to make a read."

Returning senior Greg Peterson will be a key for the Schuylerville spread offense, making plays and bringing his underclassmen teammates along.

"I'm the only returner from last year's line and we have a good bunch of kids," Peterson said. "This year our line is a lot faster. Size-wise we're down a little bit, but we make up for it with our speed and look good."

With the ability to move the ball a staple of O'Connor's spread offense, the Black Horses also need to keep their contests from becoming shootouts, defending the option in the Class C being a key.

"We want to get after them," O'Connor said. "Whether it be a quarterback on the throw, running the ball and getting to the edge, or their inside game, we want to get helmets to the football on defense. We want to get as many guys to the football and take advantage of our team speed."

The Schuylerville squad is also prepared to play both ways throughout the season and putting in the time to be prepared for it.

"We're conditioned well," Ekblom said. "We're looking forward to the fourth quarter, that's our quarter right there."

O'Connor is more realistic about the need to be ready for a full 48 minutes of football in the smaller class.

"They know it, they have to be ironmen," O'Connor said. "They know that they are going to play 40 to 45 minutes out of 48.

"The kids know some games could come down to fourth quarter," O'Connor said. "Sometimes it's not Xs and Os, sometimes it's about who's hungrier."

Success for the Black Horses comes down to team speed and being comfortable going to the air.

"We have to use our team speed on defense to get to the quarterback or the ball carrier," O'Connor said. "One offense will have to be able to move the ball.

"We feel pretty good being able to move the ball on the ground, but we have to be able to throw the ball because we are going to get into games like that too."

Schuylerville opens Friday against Corinth before hosting Hoosick Falls. The Black Horses are on the road at Granville and at Class B's Broadalbin-Perth before facing Saratoga Country rivals Mechanicville at home and traveling to Stillwater. The Black Horses will close out the regular season hosting Cambridge.

HOME | MENU