Empire Football League

OTTAWA 62, MASSENA 6

Only 20 players suited up for the Silver and Black's trip to face Empire Football League foe Ottawa. Several players planning to play in the game were turned away at the Canadian border.

The fatigue and lack of usable athletes were factors in the loss to the Deacon Demons.

It was the second straight week in which Massena gave up 62 points. The lone score for the Raiders came on a 62-yard passing play from Mark Wiltshire to Rob James. Wiltshire added 68 rushing yards on six attempts.

Massena dropped to 0-2, while Ottawa improved to 1-1.

QUEBEC 35, WATERTOWN 14

The Titans handed the Red and Black its second loss of the Empire Football League season in Quebec.

Quebec (2-0) defeated Ottawa in its season opener on July 12 by the same 35-14 score. No further details from Saturday's game were provided.

North Stars win home opener
By NICK ST. DENIS
Staff Writer


Plattsburgh North Stars' Matt St. Clair (2) makes nice over-the-shoulder catch for a big gain in Saturday's Empire Football League game with Amsterdam at Melissa Penfield Park. Stars improved to 2-0 in Empire Football League with 25-24 victory. Bonus photos will be available at pressrepublican.com at midday.
Staff Photo/Rob Fountain /

PLATTSBURGH -- For the second week in a row, the Plattsburgh North Stars kept fans on their feet until the final seconds in yet another game that had head coach Pat Keleher doing anything but sitting still.

And like last week, the game ended with quarterback Kellen Nolan taking a knee, and Plattsburgh players exiting the field with a victory.

But this time, the Stars did it at home.

"It was similar to last week in some ways," Keleher said. "We were getting beat at times, but we kind of settled down at the end and held on."

The Stars were able to walk away with a 25-24 victory, with a special teams' thanks to a 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Kelly Gordon midway through the third quarter, putting the team up by one.

Gordon had been picking up momentum on his returns throughout the game, typically getting tied up just before breaking open on his own.

However, a perfect wedge from his blockers which allowed Gordon to run in what was practically a straight line was just what the Stars needed in a seesaw of scoring up until that point.

"That was a great kick return," Keleher said. "Special teams are getting better."

Amsterdam came out firing early and often, led by quarterback Ken Schaeffer, who threw the ball 27 times in the game and connected with receiver Cedrick Pearman in the end zone twice, and again with Josh Newborn.

"That guy can just stay back there and make things happen," Keleher said. "He's a good quarterback."

Nolan put the ball in the air just eleven times, connecting on eight.

Half of those completions went to Matt St. Clair, who shared two touchdowns with Nolan, and tallied 135 of Nolan's 194 yards.

Brandon Keleher's 32 yards on the ground led the team in rushing in the game.

Three of those yards went for a touchdown near the end of the second half, following one of the two times Nolan and St. Clair connected for passes of 50+ yards.

"They were great throws," Keleher said. "Good timing; Matt ran a good route and Kellen put the ball out there. Those were huge."

Keleher said that though the win wasn't pretty, it was a good way to end a tough two-game opener against a couple of the top Empire football league teams.

"Whenever you can win a game like this against a quality opponent, just like last week, it's big," he said. "Now we own the tiebreaker against those two teams, and that's very big."

Zephyrs lose opener on the road

Staff report

PLATTSBURGH —Football season is finally here in Amsterdam. The Amsterdam Zephyrs dropped their Empire Football League opener on the road, 25-24, to the Plattsburgh North Stars.

"It was a real good game," Zephyrs Vice President Rick Sager said. "It was back and forth with both teams having opportunities."

Two big plays from Plattsburgh in the third quarter was the difference.

Things started right for Amsterdam as Tarquan Pearman scored on eight-yard rush. The point after attempt failed. Amsterdam led 6-0 after the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the North Stars scored on a 13-yard touchdown pass. The PAT kick was the only successful attempt of the night for either team.

Ken Schaefer then connected with Cedrick Pearman for a three-yard touchdown pass.

Plattsburgh responded with a two-yard run.

Amsterdam closed out the first half with another Schaefer-to-Cedrick Pearman score. This time from 13 yards out. Amsterdam led 18-13.

In the third quarter, Matt Stover had a 53-yard touchdown reception for Plattsburgh putting the North Stars up by a point, 19-18.

Schaefer then responded with a two-yard touchdown pass to Josh Newborn to put Amsterdam up 24-19 but it would not last long.

Plattsburgh returned the kickoff 80-yards and set up the 25-24 final score.

A rain storm came in during the fourth quarter forcing both teams to the running game. Neither team could score under the conditions.

"We only had eight penalties for 40 yards so that was a decent performance," Sager said. "We've only had one preseason game and then a bye in week one. We're getting rid of the rust. We'll learn and move on."

Amsterdam's home opener is Saturday, 7:30 p.m. against the Ottawa Titans.

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North Stars nip Zephyrs, 25-24

PLATTSBURGH - Plattsburgh's 80-yard kick return in the third quarter lifted the North Stars to a 25-24 win over the Amsterdam Zephyrs in Saturday's Empire Football League game.

Amsterdam (0-1) opened the scoring with an 8-yard run by Tarquan Pearman in the first quarter.

The two teams traded touchdowns throughout the game. Amsterdam led 18-13 at the half.

The Zephyrs got two touchdown receptions from Cedric Pearman from Ken Schaefer, one for three yards and another for 13 yards. Schaefer also connected with Josh Newborn for a 2-yard score.

Newborn's reception gave Amsterdam its last lead, 24-19 in the third quarter. Plattsburgh (2-0) took the lead back on the next play.

Jeremiah Newborn had a 35-yard interception return for the Zephyrs, while Jorge Rodriguez added four solo tackles and two assists.

The Zephyrs will play their home opener Saturday against Ottawa