Defense, Schlitt help Peru take down PHS

PLATTSBURGH | Peru's defense wreaked havoc with 10 sacks and four interceptions, and Sawyer Schlitt rushed for 198 yards and four touchdowns in the Nighthawks' 54-22 win over Plattsburgh on Friday, Sept. 20. The Champlain Valley Athletic Conference football game was marred by a delay for a medical emergency on the Hornets' sideline. The first half was cut short with 3:09 remaining, and play resumed with the second half about 30 minutes later. "It just gave us a chance to reflect and think about how it could always be our last game," Schlitt said. "These things kind of happen, so go full speed. I think that's when we really dialed in and realized we needed to buckle up." During the delay, the two teams congregated at midfield for prayer. "I love the (North Country sports) community," Schlitt said. "Even though it is a rival team - and during the game we're all kind of going at it - in the end, we all love each other. I have good personal relationships with some guys over there." Between the lines, Peru overcame a 14-13 deficit with 27 unanswered points to build a 40-14 lead. Schlitt rushed for touchdowns of 59, 22 and 11 yards, and Elliot Supley took an interception 51 yards to the end zone. Mason Starke, Wyatt Bridges and Chase Carpenter joined Supley with picks, and the Nighthawks held Plattsburgh to 10-of-31 passing. "We all knew defense is where we needed to stop them," Supley said. "They are a pure passing team. They line up, they scramble around and they just look for an open receiver, and we just had to stay on them and cover them and get some pressure. "Once we started getting a little bit of pressure and staying on the guys, our defense held up a little bit more and gave them more confidence." The first quarter looked more like a track meet and less like a football game, as the teams traded five touchdowns inside the first 5 minutes, 5 seconds. Schlitt showed off his breakaway speed with a 78-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage. The Hornets answered two plays later, when Dan Hartmann connected with Braeden Calkins for a 66-yard score. On the very next play from scrimmage, Bridges reeled off a 67-yard rushing touchdown. Dominic DeAngelo hauled in a 66-yard touchdown reception on the Hornets' ensuing drive, and Schlitt capped first-quarter scoring with a 59-yard touchdown to help Peru regain the lead for keeps. Hartmann finished with 250 passing yards, and DeAngelo totaled five catches for 131 yards. Calkins grabbed three passes for 110 yards. The Nighthawks host Beekmantown in a battle of CVAC unbeatens at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27. "I think Peru versus Beekmantown – one of the biggest games of the year for us every year," Supley said. "It's one of the most fun offenses to watch and study every week. It's a challenge. That's what's fun about it. "They have a lot of good athletes. We always have a lot of good athletes. It's a head-to-head match, and it's always a blast to play them." – Peru 54, Plattsburgh High 22 Peru 20 19 1 14 – 54 Plattsburgh High 14 0 8 0 – 22 First quarter PCS- Schlitt 78 run (Garrow kick). PHS- Calkins 66 pass from Hartmann (LaDue run). PCS- Bridges 67 run (kick failed). PHS- DeAngelo 66 pass from Hartmann (run failed). PCS- Schlitt 59 run (Garrow kick). Second quarter PCS- Schlitt 22 run (Garrow kick). PCS- Supley 51 interception return (kick missed). PCS- Schlitt 11 run. Third quarter PCS- (Garrow kick). PHS- Hartmann 4 run (Hartmann pass from DeAngelo). Fourth quarter PCS- Carpenter 23 pass from Frechette (Garrow kick). PCS- O'Connell 1 run (Garrow kick). Individual statistics Rushing PCS- Schlitt 20-198, 4TD; Bridges 3-78, TD; Hendrix 1-21; Carpenter 2-6; Frechette 6-(-2); Porter 1-17; Team 1-(-1); O'Connell 1-1, TD. Totals: 35-318, 6TD. PHS- Hartmann 12-(-59), TD; Calkins 3-(-8); Brooks 1-(-3); DeAngelo 1-(-1); Rickson 1-5; Team 1-(-1). Totals: 19-(-67), TD. Passing PCS- Frechette 7-12-0-109, TD; O'Connell 0-1-0-0. Totals: 7-13-0-109, TD. PHS- Hartmann 10-30-3-250, 2TD; DeAngelo 0-1-1-0. Totals: 10-31-4-250, 2TD. Receiving PCS- Schlitt 1-11; Starke 2-50; Taylor 3-25; Carpenter 1-23, TD. PHS- Calkins 3-110, TD; LaDue 1-8; DeAngelo 5-131, TD; Brooks 1-1. Interceptions PCS- Starke; Supley, TD; Bridges; Carpenter.

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Defense, Schlitt help Peru take down PHS

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