ILION – Fall II football scheduling has brought the Central Valley Academy Thunder back closer to home for the season brought on by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
As the only Class B football program in Herkimer County, the Thunder normally competes in Class B East with schools like New Hartford, Oneida, Vernon-Verona-Sherrill, Chittenango, Cazenovia, Camden and Mexico Academy in an eight-team alignment that leaves no room for regular season games outside league play.
County-based travel restrictions brings the merged former Ilion and Mohawk districts’ football teams back home for a season.
“All the matchups will be fun,” coach Jon Cole said. “We don’t play any of these teams on a normal basis.”
Central Valley Academy is one of three schools that squeezed five games into the tight schedule. Mt. Markham defeated the Thunder on opening night April 16 and Central Valley Academy plays at Little Falls on Friday night. The Thunder will play second games against both of those teams but do not play Dolgeville, Frankfort-Schuyler or West Canada Valley, three much smaller Class D programs.
The schedule also reunites Central Valley Academy with neighboring Herkimer, traditional Ilion rival just across the Mohawk River from the village of Mohawk.
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“We wanted to play as many games as we could fit into the schedule,” Cole said. “We ended up with five.”
Fitting five games into a four-weekend game schedule required some creativity. Following Friday night’s game, the Thunder has a quick turnaround to play after school Tuesday at Mt. Markham. Another Tuesday game follows May 4 – which also is the opening day for Central Valley Academy softball and the boys’ second scheduled tennis match for spring – and the season concludes the following Sunday
Back from last year’s 5-3 team that finished third in league play are Ande Klosner, a senior running back and safety who contributed a goal on penalty kick for the varsity soccer team during its fall season, Mitch Arndt, a senior fullback and defensive lineman, and junior wide receiver and defensive back Cole Brewer.
Head coach: Jon Cole
Assistants: Robert Bush, Todd Hoffman, Bob McCann
Classification: Class B
2019 record: 5-3
Last Section III title: 1996
Schedule
April 16: Mt. Markham 34, Central Valley Academy 0
April 23: at Little Falls, 6:30 p.m.
April 27: at Mt. Markham, 4:30 p.m.
May 4: at Herkimer, 7 p.m.
May 9: vs. Little Falls, 1 p.m.
Key returning players: Seniors Mitch Arndt and Ande Klosner, and junior Cole Brewer.
Fan attendance policy: Home fans only, two per player.
Jon Rathbun is sports editor for the Times Telegram. For unlimited access to his stories, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. Email Jon at [email protected].
