The Holland Patent Golden Knights slowly and steadily put the game out of reach for visiting Westmoreland/Oriskany Saturday night in Class C football. The HP defense forced punts and created turnovers that put the offense deep in enemy territory drive after drive in the team’s 43-8 win.

The first HP possession started at the Bulldogs’ five after a high snap on a punt. Though the Knights fumbled the opportunity away, they didn’t waste the next few chances. First it was Jordan Koenig rumbling up the middle on the next drive to score from 27 yards out. Then HP’s Jonathon Zylynski hit Joe Latella just outside the red zone and he broke a tackle before going in from 28 to make it 15-0 late in the first quarter.

With just under five minutes left in the first half, HP made it 23-0 when Zylynski found Nick Deforest in the back corner of the end zone for another passing score. The final TD of the first half was a one-yard sneak by Zylynski immediately after he linked up with Alex Hoole on a 38-yard catch-and-run. That gave the Knights a 29-0 halftime lead.

The Knights added a pair of touchdowns in the second half, a five-yard run by Koenig on the opening drive of the half and an 18-yard run by Nick Acevedo in the middle of the fourth quarter.

The Bulldogs spoiled the shutout bid for the Knights’ defense with a three-yard run by Jack Williams with 90 seconds left in the contest. Williams led the Bulldogs’ offense with 15 carries for 79 yards and a pair of catches for 10 yards.

“It was a sloppy victory today,” said HP head coach Brian Briggs, noting turnovers and penalties. But, he said, the team has gotten two wins to start the season, to build a winning mentality. “Our defense played well,” he added.

With Aiden Rubas expected to return as the starting quarterback, HP had to scramble in the off-season when he was injured playing baseball in the spring. Zylynski moved from running back to QB and Briggs said he’s pleased with his development there. “I think he’s making a lot of good reads.” The senior signal caller was 11-for-14 passing for 157 yards and two scores while running 17 times for 34 more yards plus another score.

Koenig finished the game with nine runs for 97 yards and two TDs. The defense, he said, has been the story for the team so far. “Playing really tough and playing hard.” The inside linebacker said the line has played well, allowing him “to flow nicely to the ball.” Offensively, he said, the team has to clean up “the dumb mistakes,” and he pointed the finger at himself too, noting his fumble on the team’s first possession. “That shouldn’t happen.” The run game, he said, has a big role, setting the tone early and “mentally breaking teams.”

“Our biggest thing tonight was to fight, to hustle and work hard. Things like that don’t take talent,” said Westmoreland head coach Tim Gates after the loss. “Holland Patent is a great football team. They mean business. Our team grew up a lot today. I’m proud of our effort and that we never gave up.”

Next up for HP (2-0) is a non-league home game against Marcellus at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17.

Westmoreland-Oriskany, which fell to 0-2 with the loss, travels to league opponent Lowville at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16.

Dolgeville scores 46 in the first quarter in big win

Dolgeville football team scored 46 first quarter points then cruised to a 68-20 win at home over Herkimer Saturday in Class D league play.

Michael Blaskey brought the opening kickoff back 70 yards for a score and later had a fumble recovery for a touchdown as well as a six-yard TD run.

Timothy Rankins had a 23-yard passing score from Cade Mosher and later brought a punt back 38 yards for another score. Caydon Dager had a 71-yard TD run. Jared Bilinski ran one in from 25 yards. Isaiah Rathbun also had a 41-yard TD run. Gabriel Herringshaw returned a fumble for a score as well.

Herkimer scored three second half touchdown runs — 20 yards by Nicholas Caruso, one yard by Emmanuel Johnson and eight yards by Zach Petucci.

Dolgeville plays at 7 p.m. Friday at Sherburne-Earlville in the league.

Herkimer’s game Sept. 16 against Waterville was canceled. The Magicians will next play at 7 p.m. on Friday at home against Utica-Notre Dame in non-league play.

Sanford and Hennessey each score twice in Wildcats’ win

Adirondack quarterback Brett Sanford and running back Ray Hennessey scored a pair of touchdowns each in the team’s 36-6 win against Lowville Friday at home in Class C action.

The Wildcats led 20-0 at the half.

Sanford had a one-yard TD run to open the scoring in the first quarter, followed by Hennessey’s eight-yard scoring run later in the quarter. Hennessey ran one in from the three in the second then Sanford had an 11-yard TD run in the third. Dalton Miranda capped off the scoring for Adirondack with a five-yard run in the fourth.

Lowville’s lone score was a fourth quarter run of five yards by Sean Kelly.

Sanford was 7-of-13 passing for 88 yards and an interception. He ran 13 times for 92 yards. Hennessey had six runs for 50 yards and caught a pair of passes for 59 yards. Colin White had 15 carries for 102 yards.

Hennessey also led the Adirondack defense with 11 tackles. Braeden Pridgeon had nine tackles. White added eight tackles, forced a fumble and had a fumble recovery.

Adirondack hosts Vernon-Verona-Sherrill at 6 p.m. Thursday in Class C.

Lowville hosts Westmoreland-Oriskany at 7 p.m. Friday in the league.

Camden wins high-scoring game against Chittenango

Camden quarterback Connor Dean had a hand in four touchdowns to help the Blue Devils defeat visiting Chittenango 43-24 Friday in non-league play.

Dean’s four-yard run was the lone score of the first quarter. Then the Camden offense ramped up with three scores in the second quarter. Noah Morse had a 75-yard touchdown run, Dean ran one in from 64 yards out and then Dean passed to Morse for a 36-yard score.

The Blue Devils led 28-12 at the break.

Dean and Lyle Walker each had a one-yard TD run in the second half for Camden.

Dean was 8-of-11 passing for 180 yards and a score. He ran 12 times for 100 yards and three scores. Morse ran seven times for 89 yards and had four catches for 91 yards.

Camden hosts Cortland at 7 p.m. Thursday in the league.

Jugglers fall to Beaver River

Beaver River defeated Utica-Notre Dame 33-20 on the road Saturday in Class D.

Jazir Brown had two touchdowns, on offense running in a score from 25 yards out and on defense taking an interception back for a 60-yard score.

Devin Hamacher had 100 yards received, incluing a 50-yard TD toss from Ace Watkins.

Vonnie Magnussen had 12 solo tackles and two sacks for the Jugglers.

Notre Dame travels to Sandy Creek at 7 p.m. Thursday in the league.

VVS falls to General Brown

General Brown scored nine touchdowns in a 66-0 win over Vernon-Verona-Sherrill on the road Friday in Class C. The defense had a pick six and two safeties in the victory.

VVS will play a 6 p.m. game Thursday at Adirondack in the league.

West Canada’s Shepardson leads team to eight-man win

Defending Section III eight-man team West Canada Valley defeated Thousand Islands 40-20 Friday on the road.

Quarterback Brayden Sherpardson threw a 51-yard TD pass to Michael Tubia to open the scoring then ran one in himself from 12 yards out. He got the team’s third touchdown by bringing a punt back for a 45-yard score. His one-yard run put the team up 32-6 in the third quarter. He also ran in a score from 14 yards out in the fourth quarter.

Shepardson was 8-for-18 passing for 246 yards and a score, and he ran 14 times for 56 yards and the three TDs.

West Canada hosts Bishop Grimes at noon on Saturday.