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Kicking Off the Season
The Northern Football Conference played the first games of the 2006 season on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. For any of us who played high school football in the North Country this is a great time of year. No matter the weather, although I prefer sunshine, watching high school football games brings back great memories.
I was far from a football star. Coach John Flynn tried me at quarterback as a freshman, but I was too short to see over the linemen. I pretty much had to hand off or do a quarterback sneak. Once in awhile he would let me run a bootleg. I didn't play much quarterback anyway because the Foxes' starting quarterback was senior Carl King, one of the best overall athletes the North Country has ever seen.
Carl's passes that year, especially long bombs to senior wide receiver Terry Polhemus, brought us the championship. I scored one touchdown as a freshman, on a quarterback sneak in the closing minutes of a home game. I spent my next two seasons as a wide receiver, doing a lot of running downfield, but only catching a few passes. My best high school football game was in my junior year against Ausable Forks High School, when I caught two touchdown passes from senior QB Sid Forgette.
Goose was the football star in our family. He played at Our Lady of Victory Academy for two years and then, with the closing of OLVA in the works, he transferred, as did several football players from Fox Hill, to St. John's Academy. Goose had two great seasons as a running back for the Irish. He was the team's workhorse his senior year and was one of the Champlain Valley League's best. Ask Goose about a particular high school football game and he can tell you the score, the weather that day, who scored the touchdowns and who the cheerleaders were.
So yesterday when Goose and I met at Beekmantown Central for our first week of television coverage with North Country Cable Network, we were excited. We look forward each year to the opening weekend of high school football. The weather was perfect, not too hot, not too cold, our view was perfect, from the top of the Eagles Press Box and Goose and I were both in a football mood.
Prior to game time I had a chance to talk with Ducky Drake and Rob Knowles, who were covering the game for WIRY Radio. And it's always great to see the North Country's sports trivia master, Craig Mathews, who is the public-address announcer. Later he announced that Foxy and Goose were covering the game, and "they will be available after the game to sign autographs and pose for pictures. We just ask that you not use those pictures to scare young children." Craig sure is funny! Someday I'll get even with him! But I hope he uses that line in a few weeks when we are back in Beekmantown.
With Tony Hollop on camera doing all the work, Goose and I watched Saranac Lake take an early lead on a punt return for a touchdown by Thomas, you can call him Tom, Vossler. He ran it back something like 80 yards and it didn't even tire him out. Later in the game he intercepted passes, made diving one-handed catches and seemed like he was ready to be drafted by some NFL team.
Both teams did some things well, and both teams showed signs that it was just the first week of the season. We predict that both teams will improve greatly as the season moves along. What mattered to us is that Goose and I were having a ball. It was football season once again. We will meet at a football field each weekend and talk football, recall high school football in the Sixties, give lectures about tackling the ball carrier low and not getting unsportsmanlike penalties.
I hope to see you at a high school football game. Come over and say hello. Tell me that you read this blog, or watched the game on Charter Cable Channel 15. There is nothing like playing high school football. It will bring lasting memories. And there's nothing like watching high school football, the all-out effort given by every player. I can guarantee that you will enjoy the game!
Comments
Fall being my favorite season and football my favorite spectator sport I would like to thank THE CARVER for trying, at least, to keep our local male population up to date on cologne. Personally, "Eternity" is my favorite.
Posted by: Angela Jennette | September 8, 2006 9:53 AM
foxy regarding your after shave, (hot wing aftershave) as I told my brother,
English leather and canoe went out in the sixties ... about the same time you guys were doing the "hitchiker dance"... time for an update! THE CARVER
Posted by: the carver | September 7, 2006 7:56 AM
In response to Mike Mannix's history Beekmantown played Saranac Central in September 1967 and beat them 25-6. I'm quite sure that was their first year of interscholastic football. Were they not in the league at that time and playing as a non-league team?
Posted by: George Niforos | September 7, 2006 7:44 AM
Hey Fox, don't let the weather fool ya, those Penfield Pickers are still alive and well. I don't think a bucket of "barnburner sauce" could tame 'em! Gus
Posted by: Gus Terry | September 6, 2006 6:45 PM
Foxy:
Another high school football season, boy do I remember many of those. Sorry I didn't get a chance to broadcast OLVA games but I was overseas from 1961 to 1964. Started broadcasting sports locally in winter of 1966. First football season was 1967. Thought you might like to know that Saranac Central entered the league in 1969. AuSable Valley ended the league in 1970. Ticonderoga "re-entered" the CVAC in 1971. They left for a couple of years and played in the eight-man league with Warrensburg, Lake George and others. Saranac Lake left Section Ten and joined the CVAC in 1984. Pius X of Saranac Lake was in the league for a while and had some pretty good teams and at one time was coached by Barry Branon's son Mike.
Hope you and Goose have a great season and wish all the kids a strong and healthy season.
Mike Mannix
(Foxy's note: Thanks for the history, Mike. I've made a copy of it and will mention it during our coverage of Friday's Saranac-PHS football game.)
Posted by: Mike Mannix | September 6, 2006 3:50 PM
hey fox, glad to hear you guys are pumped and ready for another football season....can always tell when football starts ...by checking the price of wings ... thanks to yours and Goose's consumpion, price of "wings" doubles this time of year, due to the vast shortage in the area! have a good season.. hoping for many "barnburners" because we all know what that means! CARVER
(Foxy's note: You are right about those wings. A girl I met the other night thought I was wearing "Hot Wings After-Shave.")
Posted by: the carver | September 6, 2006 1:30 PM
Foxy,
Had to tell you how much of what you discussed in your blog reminded me of when I played for PHS. It's just something in the smell of the fall air that brings back so many memories of the football season. Bye for now and I look forward to seeing you and the GOOSE soon.
Joe
(Foxy's note: Nice to hear from you, Joe. Hope all is well!)
Posted by: Joe Hawley | September 4, 2006 9:56 PM
I really enjoy reading your blog every day, especially when it evokes some fond memories of the old days in Plattsburgh. Today’s blog reminded me of an incident in the fall of 1966, I think. We were both working at Gus’ and I received a letter and an “OLVA Foxes” button from an unnamed source. These items were received in the week prior to our (Beekmantown) game with OLVA. Tonight I looked high and low for the letter and the button but they must be buried deep in some box of memorabilia somewhere. I don’t remember exactly what the letter said but the gist of it was that in the upcoming football game between Beekmantown and OLVA I shall not lay a hand on a certain OLVA running back named Gary Gagnon or I shall suffer some consequence I can’t recall. It’s really interesting how some blog written now in 2006 can jog one's memory of something that happened in 1966. If my memory serves me correctly during that game I was playing defensive tackle and after the snap of the ball I looked up and saw no one in front of me other than this certain OLVA running back running in my direction. As I recall I dropped him for what seemed like a 20 yard loss or was it a stop at the line of scrimmage? Like I said, it’s interesting how a blog can jog a 40 year old memory.
(Foxy's note: Amazing memory for a guy your age, George! Thanks for the comments.)
Posted by: George Niforos | September 4, 2006 8:52 PM
Ahh Yes!! The gridiron days at the Eagles Nest!!! Foxy, It is good to hear how you and Goose have become local icons, with your dedication to providing a chance for some who can't make it to the games, to see some of the north country's finest athletes.
All over the country, High School Football has started. Here in West Central Wisconsin, the Osceola Chieftains varsity team has already had 2 games, even though school doesn't start until 9/5/06. They are 1-1 so far. Our JV team is being spied on by many rivals scouts. The team has not lost since starting in 8th grade, or the freshman football programs. They don't just beat them in close scores, but have blown out the competition. Case in point, their first JV game was a 26-0 score. Thanks for all you do, with this Blog, and the capturing sports in the North Country. I miss the games you do, and wish someone would have the opportunity to do them out here!!
(Foxy's note: Thanks, Steve. Sounds like possible state champs in the years ahead for Osceola!)
Posted by: Steve Peryer | September 4, 2006 9:57 AM
Keep up the good work, Foxy. The North Country is lucky to have great community minded and sports minded people like you and the Goose. Hope we can meet sometime this season. I will be wearing red and white this year instead of red and grey. I'll tell you about it someday. The kids are what it's all about. Let's go, Chiefs!!!!!
(Foxy's note: Crusher, see you Friday night at the Hornets' Nest. That's our next TV football game!)
Posted by: CRUSHER | September 3, 2006 11:45 PM