HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: HORSEHEADS STRIKES FAST IN WEEK ZERO WIN OVER WATERTOWN (2024-09-07)

Southern Tier Sports Report
CORTLAND — It took just one play for Horseheads to show how explosive their offense is going to be this season.

The Blue Raiders scored on a 64-yard pass on the first play of the game, as they beat Watertown 55-0 in a week zero game at Cortland University.

“I thought the kids played well,” Horseheads coach Kevin Hillman said. “Made big plays and kept the pressure on early. Defensively swarmed the ball. Limited a lot of yards after contact. Offensively we did a great job with yards after contact.”

Hillman was especially happy with the line during the game.

“Have to give a shout out to the offensive line,” Hillman said. “We had to make some changes due to injuries and they stepped up.”

Dom Cardinale threw three first-quarter touchdowns and had four scores passing in the game.

Lucas Mosher caught a 64-yard touchdown from Cardinale to start things on the first play of the game and Trevor Reidy hit the extra point.

Mosher then had a 10-yard touchdown catch from Cardinale with 4:27 left in the first quarter and Reidy hit the kick. Miles Woodhouse caught a 40-yard touchdown from Cardinale with 1:58 left in the quarter. Reidy hit the kick to make it 21-0.

Mosher scored on a 56-yard run in the second quarter and Bryce Thomas had a five-yard scoring run, before Woodhouse caught a two-yard pass from Cardinale. Reidy hit the extra point on all three scores.

In the third quarter Donnie Hatch IV scored on a one-yard run, and Reidy hit the kick, and Patrick Laney had a two-yard scoring run, with the two-point pass failing.

Cardinale was 9-for-14 for 226 yards and four scores in the game.

“He really played well,” Horseheads coach Hillman said. “Great decision making and tucked the ball and made plays with his legs when things weren’t there downfield.” Cardinale ran for 31 yards on three carries in the game.

Thomas ran for 86 yards on 12 carries and Mosher ran for 66 yards and a score and he had two catches, both for touchdowns, racking up 125 receiving yards.

Hatch had four carries for 87 yards and Laney ran for 69 yards, while Jaxson Burchard ran for 35 yards.

Woodhouse had four catches for 70 yards and two scores and Hunter Lavigne had nine tackles and two sacks. Liam Morrisey had seven tackles and Reidy picked off a pass.

Jack Converse ran for 67 yards for Watertown and John Flowers was 7-for-17 passing for 89 yards.

Playing at Cortland University’s staditum was special for the Blue Raiders.

“Playing at Cortland’s stadium was an awesome experience,” Hillman said. “As an alumni was extra special.”

While it was a good first game for the Blue Raiders Hillman knows there is always room to improve.

“I’m sure we’ll look at the film and see a lot of areas we need to improve and I know the boys will be ready to get to work.”