The Black Horses were celebrated at the New York State Capitol in Albany, where they were honored in the New York State Senate and Assembly with a joint resolution, marking their unprecedented achievement—the district’s first-ever state football title. The team made history with a spectacular 26-20 victory over the top-ranked Salamanca Warriors in the 2024 NYSPHSAA Class C football championship. Senator Jim Tedisco and Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner led the recognition ceremony, acknowledging the team’s stellar performance and historic victory.
With a 13-1 regular-season record and a 5-0 mark in the Class C East Division, Schuylerville’s victory was the culmination of years of hard work. The championship was the first in the program’s history, with past appearances in the state finals in 2015, 2019, and 2021.
“More than anything, it shows how rare of an opportunity this has been and how rare of an accomplishment this has been,” said Schuylerville Varsity Football Coach, John Bowen. “We are only the 9th school from Section 2 since 1993 that has won a state championship. It’s a tremendous honor that our student-athletes and coaches have achieved.”
The team’s journey was not without obstacles. In the championship game against Salamanca, Schuylerville found themselves trailing 20-7 in the third quarter, but rallied to take control of the game and secure a 26-20 victory. Additionally, the team had to adapt to the loss of their kicker due to injury.
“We hope to inspire future generations of athletes to strive for excellence, proving that with hard work and determination, anything is possible,” said Schuylerville High School Principal James Ducharme. “The Black Horses have set a new standard for success in Schuylerville team sports, one that will be remembered for years to come.”