By Melanie Lekocevic
Capital Region Independent Media
RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK — The Indians’ explosive offense scored a season high of 50 points Friday night to the Ichabod Crane Riders’ 7.
The 50-7 victory was the final regular season game of the year, with the Indians undefeated at 8-0. The team next moves on to sectionals.
The team traveled to Kinderhook in Columbia County for its only away game of the season. A game was on the schedule for the team to travel to Hudson two weeks ago, but that game was forfeited by the Blue Hawks after the remainder of their football season was canceled due to a lack of eligible players.
So, after six straight home game victories, the Indians took their show on the road Friday night and proved they can perform no matter the venue. And though the team was playing a couple of counties away, their fans took their show on the road as well — there were plenty of spectators donning the green-and-gold of RCS, including one in the stands beating on the Indians’ traditional drum when the offense threatened.
And they threatened plenty.
The team got off to a fiery start, scoring 20 points in the first quarter, while the defense shut down their opponents.
At the top of the second quarter the Indians forced a punt by the Riders, with Wyatt Algozzine returning the ball. Quarterback Mason Carkner connected with Jack Reif on his first pass of the second stanza to put the ball all the way to the Riders’ 5-yard line.
Ethan Greene ran the ball into the end zone for the Indians’ fourth touchdown of the game.
The team would end up adding another 13 points to the scoreboard before allowing the Riders their only score of the game on a Zion Evans touchdown in the final minute of the half.
With six minutes to go in the half, the Indians took possession on downs and then put another 6 points on the board when Jack McFerran caught a short pass and ran 35 yards into the end zone, putting the score at 33-0; the extra point kick was no good.
With :53 left in the second quarter, Algozzine ran the ball into the end zone for the Indians’ final score of the half. McFerran’s kick was good, putting the score at 40-0.
The Riders would respond with their only score of the game with 20 seconds to go in the first half. With the extra point, the Riders got on the board with 7 points.
After heading to the locker room at half time, the Indians’ offense was quiet for the third quarter, the only stanza in which the team did not put points on the board. They would add another 10 points in the fourth quarter for a season high of 50 points.
Of the seven games the Indians played — not counting the forfeit by Hudson — the team scored more than 40 points in five of them.
The closest score of the season was a home game against Schalmont on Sept. 29, on a rain-soaked field, where the Indians won 14-7.
The team now has a perfect 8-0 record for the 2023 season and is ranked first in Section 2 and will next move on to sectionals competition.