by Steve Bradley
The Panther football team traveled Route 67 to Stillwater last Saturday evening to take on the Voorheesville Blackbirds. This was a first round Section II playoff game. The game began with the Panthers kicking off to the ‘Birds, which they fumbled on the return. Thirty seconds later Josh Brogue received a pass from Billy Pine and took it seven yards into the end zone. This was the opening act of what turned out to be a tremendous offensive outburst by the Panthers.
[private]In the first 17 minutes of play, the Panthers scored eight touchdowns. The halftime score was 62 – 0. Quarterback/punt returner Billy Pine was a part of five TDs; 3 passes and 2 punt returns. Brad Burns carried seven times for 133 yards and scored 3 TDs. Burns had so much room to run he was able to do a dribbling exhibition in the middle of one TD run. Randy Tutunjian and Josh Brogue each hauled in a TD pass, Tutunjian’s’ went for 58 yards. Eric Kaufmann kicked 8 PATs, making 7 of them. Brandon Hodges and Mike Mattat also scored on running plays. Billy Pine was named the MaxPreps Offensive and Overall Player of the Game.
The defense did their part, keeping the Blackbirds from making much progress regardless of what they tried. Mark Hackett had a nice outing, recovering two fumbles to go along with six tackles. Hackett was named the recipient of the Max Preps Defensive Player of the Game. Austin Pitt and Dave Hardesty had five tackles each.
The Blackbirds deserve credit for playing the entire game like they were six points down. When they scored in the fourth quarter, with the outcome long known, their fans cheered for them like they had just taken the lead.
Next Saturday evening, October 27, the Panthers (8 – 0, Class C State rank – 6) will return to Stillwater to face the Fonda Braves (5 – 2) in Class C semi-final action. Hoosick Falls will be wearing white, away jerseys, but will be seated on the home side of the field. Game time is 7 pm.
In the mid-1700s a Dutch man named Johannes De Fonda lived and built a sawmill at the base of De Fonda Hill, along the western end of today’s Breese Hollow Road. (De Fonda Hill has the power line cut over it). The waterfall and stone foundation are there to this day. One of Mr. DeFonda’s descendants, Douw Fonda, started a trading post along the Mohawk River. That area became Fonda, NY. Other De Fonda descendants are well known today – Henry, Peter and Jane Fonda.
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