For the near-future, much of the burden for the Skaneateles football team will fall on sophomore Pat Hackler.
With a young, sparse Lakers roster around him, Hackler had to do a lot right away in his first start under center – but when it mattered, he made the big plays and helped produce a 25-18 victory over Syracuse Institute of Technology Central Friday night at Nottingham High School.
Hackler took over under center this fall after Devin Callahan graduated. Though only a 10th grader, he already has varsity experience both in football and in lacrosse as a face-off specialist.
Now, Hackler, working in front of an offensive line thinned after a season-ending leg injury to T.J. Greenfield, knew he couldn’t stay in the pocket all the time if he wanted to be fully effective.
Meanwhile, ITC had its own modest goals. The Eagles did not win a regular-season game in 2015 and desperately wanted to move forward and not face the possibility of more struggles this fall.
ITC struck first with Takota Gukowski’s 11-yard scoring pass to Alfred Danzy. The conversion missed, and when Hackler capped off a drive with a 12-yard touchdown run, the successful extra point put the Lakers in front 7-6.
Action picked up in the second period. Again, Hackler found the end zone on a run, from 17 yards out, but that came amid two Eagles scoring drives. Ny’Shawn Jennings’ 27-yard TD sprint and Jujuan Cousins’ 15-yard scoring play had ITC clinging to an 18-13 edge going into halftime.
For the rest of the game, though, the Skaneateles defense stepped up, constantly thwarting the Eagles and giving the offense ample time to get back in front.
When it happened, it didn’t come due to Hackler’s legs. From his own 48, Hackler drew the ITC rush, and then threw deep, finding Nick Wamp, who got to the goal line for a 52-yard TD reception.
Not sitting on its 19-18 lead, Skaneateles drove again in the fourth quarter and stretched the margin to seven on Hackler’s nine-yard scoring pass to Matt Goetzmann. The Eagles still had time, but could not respond.
Skaneateles takes its 1-0 record to Westhill next Friday night for a 6:30 kickoff. The Warriors won a wild 34-28 season opener over Marcellus at the Carrier Dome in the Kickoff Classic, forcing eight Mustangs turnovers, but still needing a second-half comeback from a 28-20 deficit to pull it out.
