Beekmantown's Garrett Pelky (81) with the shoulder tackle on Peru's Caleb Strake (0) and keeps him out of the end zone. PERU, N.Y. — The #18 Peru Nighthawks stayed unbeaten Friday night, overcame two early deficits, and dominated the second half to defeat the Beekmantown Eagles 41–20 in a Section VII rivalry matchup. Peru opened the scoring in the first quarter when Caleb Strake powered in from two yards out at 5:28. Beekmantown answered immediately as Garrett Pelkey returned the ensuing kickoff 72 yards to tie the game. The Eagles grabbed their first lead minutes later when quarterback Keller Crucetti finished a drive with a 2‑yard keeper, giving Beekmantown a 13–7 advantage after a fast start. The back‑and‑forth continued into the second quarter. Peru regained the lead on an 8‑yard run by Deon Lawyer, but Crucetti responded with a 15‑yard touchdown to put Beekmantown up 20–14. Peru swung the momentum for good on the next kickoff, as Finley Coon broke free for a return touchdown to tie the game. The Nighthawks struck again before halftime when Marco Amato hauled in a 62‑yard pass‑and‑run score, sending Peru into the break with a 27–20 lead. The turning point came midway through the third quarter. Peru’s Isaiah Hendrix jumped a route and raced 55 yards for a pick‑six, stretching the lead to 34–20 and putting the Eagles on their heels. From there, Peru’s defense tightened and held Beekmantown scoreless for the rest of the game. Lawyer added his second touchdown of the night in the closing seconds, punching in a 3‑yard run with seven seconds remaining to secure the 41–20 final and Peru’s fifth straight win. Peru hosts Saranac on October 17, while Beekmantown travels to Moriah on October 16.

Peru's Isaiah Hendrix (10) fighting for the extra yards with the defenders in tow.

Plattsburgh's Cooper Holland (3) with the catch along the boundary for the Hornets' first down. As the Champlain Valley Athletic Conference football season reached its midway point, the spotlight was on one of the league's biggest rivalries as the Plattsburgh Hornets traveled to Beekmantown to face the Eagles in the Week 4 Game of the Week. The Eagles wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. Early in the first quarter, Corey Johnson broke free for a 24-yard touchdown run, giving Beekmantown a 6-0 advantage. Plattsburgh answered right back. With 4:40 remaining in the opening quarter, the Hornets connected with Cooper Holland on a 23-yard touchdown pass and added the extra point to take a 7-6 lead. That score held through the rest of the first quarter. The Hornets extended their lead in the second quarter when Will Boire punched in a 2-yard touchdown run to make it 13-6. Beekmantown responded before halftime, however, and seized the momentum. With just 35 seconds remaining in the half, Keller Crucetti broke loose for a 16-yard touchdown run, helping the Eagles take a 22-13 lead into the locker room. The defenses controlled much of the third quarter until the final minute when Carter Lapier found an opening and raced 20 yards for a touchdown. The score extended the Eagles' lead to 29-13 heading into the fourth quarter. Plattsburgh refused to go away quietly. At the 6:03 mark of the fourth quarter, the Hornets once again found Holland, this time on a 12-yard touchdown pass, cutting the deficit to 29-19. The comeback effort gained even more momentum moments later. Plattsburgh recovered an onside kick and immediately capitalized when Ryan Colburn hauled in a 51-yard touchdown pass, pulling the Hornets within three points at 29-26 with just over five minutes remaining. With the pressure mounting, Beekmantown delivered the knockout blow in the closing seconds. Keller Crucetti scrambled into the end zone from four yards out with 40 seconds left, sealing a hard-fought 35-26 victory for the Eagles. The win improves Beekmantown's record to 2-2 as the Eagles prepare to face the Peru Nighthawks on October 9. Despite the loss, Plattsburgh showed plenty of resilience with its fourth-quarter rally. The Hornets fall to 2-2 on the year and will look to bounce back when they travel to face Saranac on October 3. In a rivalry game filled with momentum swings and big plays, the Eagles made the key plays when it mattered most to earn a crucial midseason victory.

Beekmantown's Carter Lapier (1) fights through the face mask and tackle attempt by Plattsburgh's Ryan Colburn (13).