Niskayuna embracing tough test against Shaker

NISKAYUNA, NY ( NEWS10 ) — We don’t usually like to double up on the same team in back to back weeks for our 1st & 10 Game of the Week, but sometimes you have to make an exception. After a huge rivalry win over Shenendehowa, Shaker once again finds themselves in the most interesting matchup of the week. This time, they visit a team that just made a statement in Week 0: the Niskayuna Silver Warriors.

Niskayuna announced their jump up to Class AA with authority, rolling past Colonie 54 to 12 in their first game in their new class. But while they were doing that, Shaker was making a statement of their own with a 28-6 win over Shen.

For the Silver Warriors, this will be their first chance to take on one of the teams expected to contend for a Class AA title, and they’re looking at it as an opportunity. “You make it a challenge,” said Niskayuna senior quarterback Ethan Gilson. “It’s exciting. You get to go out there and play one of the best teams in the area, and when you win, when we win that game, it’s going to look really good on the resume and then to carry that momentum the rest of the year. This is a big tone setter for the season.”

“We know Shaker is a good team,” said junior wide receiver and defensive back Cam Grasso. “They’ve always had very good athletic players, but we’re ready. They’re strong, they’re physical and we’ll give them their credit, but we’re going to come ready to play on Friday.”

“This week is a huge opportunity,” said Niskayuna head coach Brian Grastorf. “Shaker’s one of the best programs in the area for many years now. It’s another opportunity on a Friday night to showcase what we’ve got over here in Niskayuna. I think it’s an opportunity to prove to the rest of the league where we stand. We’ve got to to come out and play and Shaker’s going to come out and play and it’s going to be a heck of a game Friday night.”

Kickoff on Friday is set for 7:00 PM. We’ll have all of your high school football coverage on 1st & 10 every Friday night at 10:30 PM on Fox, and at 11:00 PM on ABC.

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