Moriah (4) makes a two-handed leaping catch over Peru's Isaac Rogers (15) for the Vikings' score. CLINTONVILLE, N.Y. — Under the lights on a field built for moments like this, No. 18 Peru turned Ausable Valley High School's historic turf debut into a memorable Friday night showcase. After falling behind early, the unbeaten Nighthawks unleashed a relentless offense and pulled away from Moriah for a 42-28 win, remaining perfect while adding another chapter to their undefeated campaign. The first varsity football game played on Ausable Valley's new turf field opened with Moriah seizing the momentum. The Vikings struck first when No. 25 crossed the goal line on an 8-yard touchdown run just 2:35 into the contest, giving Moriah a 6-0 lead and energizing the crowd. Peru quickly settled in behind Brody Blaise Smith's running. The Nighthawks answered at 9:21 of the opening quarter when Smith powered in from three yards out, and the extra point gave Peru a 7-6 lead. The Nighthawks took control in the second quarter. Smith found the end zone again on a 3-yard touchdown run with 3:46 left, extending the lead to 14-6. Peru's offense continued to click later in the quarter when Marco Amato hauled in a 36-yard touchdown reception at the 6:57 mark, pushing the advantage to 21-6. Moriah refused to back down. The Vikings answered with a 23-yard touchdown reception by No. 4 at 10:30 into the quarter, cutting the deficit to 21-14 and briefly shifting the momentum back in their favor. Peru responded immediately with another big play through the air. Amato caught his second touchdown of the night on a 19-yard scoring reception at 11:27, sending the Nighthawks into halftime with a comfortable 28-14 lead. The Nighthawks carried that momentum into the second half. Deon Lawyer scored on a 5-yard touchdown run at the 3:39 mark of the third quarter to make it 35-14. Moriah countered with a 3-yard touchdown reception by No. 12 at the 11:10 mark, trimming the lead to 35-20 heading into the final quarter. Any hopes of a Vikings comeback died early in the fourth. Smith delivered the game's defining moment when he broke free for a spectacular 67-yard touchdown run 5:49 into the quarter. The explosive play stretched Peru's lead to 42-20 and capped a three-touchdown performance from the standout back. Moriah added one final score on a 16-yard touchdown reception by No. 12 with 7:34 left in the fourth quarter, but the Vikings could not get closer as Peru secured the 42-28 win. Smith finished with three rushing touchdowns, Amato caught two touchdown passes, and Lawyer added another score on the ground as the Nighthawks improved to 8-0 and completed a perfect regular season impressively. As players and fans lingered under the lights after the final whistle, the first game on Ausable Valley's new turf ended. For Moriah, the night marked the end of the regular season and the beginning of postseason preparations. For Peru, it was the latest statement from one of Section VII's premier programs. The Nighthawks walked off the new surface with their perfect record intact, capping an unbeaten regular season and carrying plenty of momentum into the games that matter most.

Peru's Marco Amato (4) with the catch between a pair of Vikings defenders for the score.

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).

Peru's Marco Amato (4) with the catch-and-run for the Nighthawks ' long-distance score. PLATTSBURGH — Week 3 of the Champlain Valley Athletic Conference season brought one of the year's most anticipated matchups as the undefeated Peru Nighthawks traveled to Plattsburgh High School to take on the unbeaten Plattsburgh Hornets, with sole possession of first place in the conference on the line. Peru struck first and never looked back. The Nighthawks opened the scoring at the 10:55 mark of the first quarter when Brody Blaise Smith broke through the Hornets' defense and raced 54 yards for a touchdown, giving Peru an early 6-0 advantage. The score remained unchanged for the rest of the opening quarter as both defenses settled in. Plattsburgh answered immediately to start the second quarter. Just 33 seconds into the period, Cooper Holland connected on a 31-yard touchdown pass to cap a quick drive and give the Hornets their first lead of the night at 7-6. The lead was short-lived. Peru responded with an explosive play of its own as Marco Amato hauled in a 58-yard touchdown pass to put the Nighthawks back in front, 12-7. The visitors continued to build momentum late in the half when Smith punched in a 1-yard touchdown run with 4:31 remaining before halftime. Peru converted the extra point and carried a commanding 19-7 lead into the locker room. The Nighthawks dominated the second half. With 4:39 remaining in the third quarter, Smith delivered the game's knockout blow, bursting through the line and sprinting 52 yards for his third touchdown of the evening to extend the advantage to 26-7. Peru wasn't finished. With just 1:22 left in the third quarter, Deacon Giroux found space behind the Plattsburgh secondary and hauled in a 26-yard touchdown pass to push the lead to 33-7 heading into the final quarter. Only four seconds into the fourth quarter, Deon Lawyer added to the Peru lead with a 2-yard touchdown run, making it 39-7 and seemingly putting the game out of reach. To their credit, the Hornets kept fighting. Garrison Rodriguez found the end zone on a 15-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 39-15. Later, with less than four minutes remaining, Ryan Colburn electrified the home crowd with a 50-yard touchdown run, trimming the lead to 39-23 and making it a two-possession game. However, any hopes of a late comeback were erased in the closing minutes. With 1:27 remaining, Isaiah Hendrix connected on a 27-yard touchdown pass to seal the victory and cap off a dominant offensive performance for Peru. The touchdown provided the final margin as the Nighthawks rolled to a 45-23 victory over their longtime rivals. Smith led the way for Peru with three rushing touchdowns, while Amato, Giroux, Lawyer, and Hendrix all contributed scores in a balanced offensive attack. Plattsburgh scored touchdowns from Holland, Rodriguez, and Colburn but couldn't overcome Peru's explosive plays throughout the night. With the win, the Nighthawks improve to 3-0 and will return home next week to host Saranac Lake. The Hornets fall to 2-1 and will look to bounce back when they travel to Beekmantown to face the Eagles.

Plattsburgh's Cooper Holland (3) breaks the tackle of Peru's Isaac Roger (15) for the Hornets first down.

Saranac's Storm D'Ambrosio (4) flies in for the shoulder tackle on Peru's Finley Coon (11) for the open-field tackle and stops the first down. PERU, N.Y. — A battle of undefeated teams quickly turned into a showcase for the home team Friday night as the Peru Nighthawks rolled past the Saranac Spartans 55-0 in Champlain Valley Athletic Conference action. Peru set the tone early and never looked back, scoring in every phase of the game while improving to 2-0 on the season. The Nighthawks opened the scoring in the first quarter when Caleb Starke broke free for an 8-yard touchdown run, giving Peru a 7-0 advantage. That score stood as the lone touchdown of the opening quarter. Peru struck again early in the second quarter. Just 2:45 into the period, the Nighthawks extended their lead to 14-0 when Marco Amato hauled in a 10-yard touchdown pass. The game's turning point came late in the first half. With just over two minutes remaining before intermission, Usaiah Hendrix intercepted a Spartans pass and raced 78 yards for a touchdown. The pick-six pushed Peru's lead to 21-0 heading into halftime and firmly put the Nighthawks in control. The second half began with fireworks as Deacon Giroux returned the opening kickoff 81 yards for a touchdown, extending the lead to 28-0. Just over two minutes later, Isaiah Hendrix found the end zone for the second time on the night, powering in from 10 yards out to make it 35-0. Peru continued its third-quarter surge when Deon Lawyer scored on a 2-yard touchdown run with 6:20 remaining in the period, pushing the advantage to 42-0. The Nighthawks never eased up in the fourth quarter. Darius Jenkins added a 21-yard touchdown run before Justin Schmidt capped the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run as Peru cruised to the 55-0 victory. Isaiah Hendrix led the way for the Nighthawks with two touchdowns, while Peru's defense pitched a shutout and added a touchdown of its own. The special teams unit also contributed a score, highlighting a complete team performance. With the win, Peru improves to 2-0 and will look to keep its perfect record intact next week against the Plattsburgh Hornets. Saranac falls to 1-1 and will try to rebound when it faces the Beekmantown Eagles next weekend.

Peru's Deon Lawyer (44) and Deacon Giroux (1) go high and low to bring down Saranac's Skyler Walker (11) along the sidelines.