Schuylerville beats Salamanca 26-20 in the NYSPHSAA Class C Championship

Landen Cumm rushes for two touchdowns and receives a third from Ollie Bolduc as the Schuylerville Black Horses win in dramatic fashion over Salamanca 26-20 to claim the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class C Football Title in Syracuse. 

But it wasn't easy, especially early on.  After Salamanca won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, Schuylerville's first play from scrimmage, a run up the gut, resulted in a fumble that set up the Warriors in Schuylerville territory.  Salamanca would convert the turnover into points with a touchdown, but the extra point try was missed, making the score 6-0.

The Black Horses would take their first lead of the game thanks to a reception from quarterback Ollie Bolduc to Joe Headen, complete with Silas Schulte-Lindhorst's extra point.   Salamanca would answer back, taking a 12-7 lead into the halftime break, then took advantage of receiving the ball first in the third quarter to power ahead by two scores.

But Schuylerville would not be stopped, as Landen Cumm would run up the left side for a 22 yard score to cut into the Salamanca lead, 20-14 late in the third quarter.   

After a defensive stand, Schuylerville would have a chance to take the lead in the 4th quarter when Landen Cumm would score his second rushing touchdown, but Silas Schulte-Lindhorst's extra try was blocked, which furthermore injured the Black Horses kicker and took the German exchange student out for the rest of the game.

This left the game tied 20-20, with 5 minutes left to play.  With the momentum squished for Schuylerville and with their kicker out, Schuylerville would make a move that pushed momentum back in their favor, when Landen Cumm kicked the ball off in substitute for Schulte-Lindhorst.  The bouncing kick went through the front Salamanca player and Joe Headen rushed in to recover for Schuylerville possession. 

NFHS Network Clip: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/clips/ucl765ae785b01733598615127

Now with possession in Salamanca's side of the field, Schuylerville powered down the field and pulled in front thanks to a Bolduc to Cumm pass.  This gave the Black Horses their first lead since the 2nd Quarter at 26-20 and with under 2 minutes to play.

NFHS Network Clip: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/clips/ucl765ae785b01733599127815

Then it was on the Schuylerville defense to hold on.   Thanks to a fake out trick play, Salamanca got the ball down to the Schuylerville 8 yard line with 9 seconds left to play.  After an incomplete pass dropped the clock down to 5 seconds, the Warriors had one more shot to reach the end zone to tie or win the game.  After trying to desperately trying to buy time to get one of his receivers open while eluding the Schuylerville defense, the Salamanca quarterback, flushed from the pocket, gets sacked by Luke Griffen to seal the Schuylerville victory.

Ballgame. Schuylerville wins, 26-20, and are the 2024 NYS Champions of Class C - 1st title in program history

Luke Griffen made the sack that sealed it. Sweet sweet victory for Schuylerville@SaratogaSports @BasebaHorses pic.twitter.com/GCQ9WciH4p

— Drew Wemple (@DrewWemple) December 7, 2024

It is the first title for the Saratoga County school, after three previous trips to Syracuse came up short for Head Coach John Bowen and his Black Horses squad.