In the midst of their biggest competition, only one mantra rang through the minds of the New Hartford Spartan football players: Catch. Throw. Pass. Run. Score. These weren’t just words, but better yet the heartbeat of a team mission, pushing and motivating them to defeat their biggest competition, Indian River. Every gasp, cheer, scream, and heartbeat reverberated like thunder in a storm. Our boys didn’t just play, they conquered the field and faced their biggest competition as warriors, ready to win and win they did.
“I was very confident and excited going into the game as it was a home game in front of a lot of people against a very good team,” star wide-receiver Peyton Way explained in an email interview. In previous seasons, while going against Indian River we lost to them, fans and cheerleaders alike found themselves anxious that history would repeat itself. But with sheer determination, dedication and discipline our boys proved us wrong and got our football season rolling off strong!
The game started off with lots of energy and excitement, the undefeated Indian River team got the ball first, kicking the ball into the air as it danced into a players arms. Back and forth. Their quarterback flew down the field with our players following them, stalking them as a cheetah would a gazelle. A failed pass from Indian River landed in the arms of quarterback Johnny Vitullo who rushed down the field, pelting the ball to Way who ran to the endzone, scoring the night’s first touchdown. The stadium erupted in cheers as the cheerleaders squealed their touchdown cheers, “Touch! D-O-W-N, Touchdown, let’s win!”
While interviewing Coach Jim Kramer, he wrote to me in an email interview, “Our football program was very excited for the opportunity to play Indian River to open the season. We have a great deal of respect for their coaching staff and players. We have certainly played some highly-competitive games versus each other. Unfortunately, they have come out on top in the previous two seasons. This game was a good barometer for us to learn what we do well and where we need to keep improving to reach our season goals!”
As the game went on, the cheerleaders [were proven wrong] as the boys rose to the occasion and won, “I felt excited and somewhat surprised because the Indian River is a very good team and we, um, lost to them in the past. And I think it’s a good start to the season … It was a pretty close game, so I felt very, like nervous at first, because whenever we play Indian River and it’s always a close game, so to see that we won made me very excited, and when I looked over to the football and cheer teams to see how excited we all were felt like BAM!” Mia Jackson said, her smile and joy beaming off her face. The whole stadium left the game with a new joy for the football boys & more confidence than ever for them!
It was refreshing to see our boys running off the field feeling refreshed, excited, and most of all, proud of themselves. After two years of watching some of the strongest, most agile, and confident people in the school tearing up and getting frustrated with themselves over losing, it was very exciting and fun to see the players run off the field with excitement, jumping and spinning in the air as we all screamed with joy for them! Here’s to a perfect start to the season, Spartan Football players & good luck for future games!
