Shaker Blue Bison stampede Shen in 1st & 10 “Game of the Week”

LATHAM, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — As if there wasn’t already enough buzz and excitement surrounding a new season of high school football in the Capital Region, seeing one of the section’s premier rivalries on the Week 0 slate certainly added to the anticipation.

Shenendehowa and Shaker is one of those matchups you circle on the calendar at the beginning of every season. And we were fortunate enough to have these two powerhouse programs square off in our debut 1st & 10 “Game of the Week” for the 2024 campaign.

But the latest edition of this storied rivalry didn’t play out in the same tight-knit, four-quarter fashion it has in recent years. Shaker handled Shen easily, winning 28-7 to snap a four-game losing streak against the Plainsmen.

“I think we showed it all tonight,” said senior running back/defensive back Jake Smith. “I just want to thank my coaches; thank my teammates. We went out there and did what we said we were gonna do. I hope the section realizes now what we have this year, and what we’re comin’ to do.”

And Smith certainly showed out Friday night. He was responsible for Shaker’s two touchdowns in the first half. He hauled in a pass from quarterback Marcus Snipes Jr. in the back of the end zone to get his team on the board at the conclusion of the opening quarter, and followed that up with a three-yard scoring scamper with just under five minutes to go in the second stanza. Smith also rushed for over 120 yards in the first half, and Shaker headed for the locker room leading 14-0.

The defense continued to dominate out of the break, as Melvin Brown came up with a 41-yard scoop-and-score on Shen’s opening possession of the second half, growing the margin to 21.

The Plainsmen finally managed to get on the board late in the quarter, courtesy of an Ihsaan Alozie six-yard touchdown run.

But Shaker would get those points right back in the fourth quarter when Dallas Mutziger plunged into the end zone from a yard out to seal the 28-7 victory.

“We came out and played physical football right away,” said head coach Greg Sheeler. “Shot ourselves in the foot a little bit in the first half, but the defense came up big in the second half. Melvin Brown making that fumble recovery was huge. And then our backs were up against the wall, and our offensive line really finished the game with that last touchdown drive. It was a great win.”

It doesn’t get any easier for Shaker (1-0) next week, which will travel to face the newest squad in Class AA: Niskayuna. The Silver Warriors opened up Week 0 with a 54-12 thrashing of Colonie.

Shen (0-1) remains on the road for Week 1. The Plainsmen are headed to Guilderland, where the Dutchmen will be coming off a 20-14 win against Bethlehem.

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