Moriah (4) makes a two-handed leaping catch over Peru's Isaac Rogers (15) for the Vikings' score. CLINTONVILLE, N.Y. — Under the lights on a field built for moments like this, No. 18 Peru turned Ausable Valley High School's historic turf debut into a memorable Friday night showcase. After falling behind early, the unbeaten Nighthawks unleashed a relentless offense and pulled away from Moriah for a 42-28 win, remaining perfect while adding another chapter to their undefeated campaign. The first varsity football game played on Ausable Valley's new turf field opened with Moriah seizing the momentum. The Vikings struck first when No. 25 crossed the goal line on an 8-yard touchdown run just 2:35 into the contest, giving Moriah a 6-0 lead and energizing the crowd. Peru quickly settled in behind Brody Blaise Smith's running. The Nighthawks answered at 9:21 of the opening quarter when Smith powered in from three yards out, and the extra point gave Peru a 7-6 lead. The Nighthawks took control in the second quarter. Smith found the end zone again on a 3-yard touchdown run with 3:46 left, extending the lead to 14-6. Peru's offense continued to click later in the quarter when Marco Amato hauled in a 36-yard touchdown reception at the 6:57 mark, pushing the advantage to 21-6. Moriah refused to back down. The Vikings answered with a 23-yard touchdown reception by No. 4 at 10:30 into the quarter, cutting the deficit to 21-14 and briefly shifting the momentum back in their favor. Peru responded immediately with another big play through the air. Amato caught his second touchdown of the night on a 19-yard scoring reception at 11:27, sending the Nighthawks into halftime with a comfortable 28-14 lead. The Nighthawks carried that momentum into the second half. Deon Lawyer scored on a 5-yard touchdown run at the 3:39 mark of the third quarter to make it 35-14. Moriah countered with a 3-yard touchdown reception by No. 12 at the 11:10 mark, trimming the lead to 35-20 heading into the final quarter. Any hopes of a Vikings comeback died early in the fourth. Smith delivered the game's defining moment when he broke free for a spectacular 67-yard touchdown run 5:49 into the quarter. The explosive play stretched Peru's lead to 42-20 and capped a three-touchdown performance from the standout back. Moriah added one final score on a 16-yard touchdown reception by No. 12 with 7:34 left in the fourth quarter, but the Vikings could not get closer as Peru secured the 42-28 win. Smith finished with three rushing touchdowns, Amato caught two touchdown passes, and Lawyer added another score on the ground as the Nighthawks improved to 8-0 and completed a perfect regular season impressively. As players and fans lingered under the lights after the final whistle, the first game on Ausable Valley's new turf ended. For Moriah, the night marked the end of the regular season and the beginning of postseason preparations. For Peru, it was the latest statement from one of Section VII's premier programs. The Nighthawks walked off the new surface with their perfect record intact, capping an unbeaten regular season and carrying plenty of momentum into the games that matter most.

Peru's Marco Amato (4) with the catch between a pair of Vikings defenders for the score.

Moriah's Lexi Cheney (11) with the runner along the baseline for the score as they keep it tight. It would be the opening round of the NYSPHSAA Class C Girls' Basketball Tournament. We would have a battle inside the top ten as the #8 Lisbon Golden Knights from Section X would face the #10 Moriah Vikings from Section VII at the Florence Gym at Clinton Community, with the winner advancing to Section II in the Quarterfinals. It would be a defensive battle to start the game, as both teams looked to control the paint on defense. The Golden Knights would have a slim 10-8 lead after the first quarter. It would stay low-scoring through the second quarter as well, but the Vikings would win the quarter 7-6, and the Golden Knights would have the 16-15 lead at intermission. When the teams returned for the third quarter, it would remain a defensive battle, and the Golden Knights would finish the quarter 8-7, taking a 24-22 lead into the fourth. In the fourth quarter, both teams had chances to win and advance, but they tied the quarter at 8, and the Golden Knights would go on to win 32-30 and advance to the Quarterfinals. In the Golden Knights' victory, they went to 18-5, with Allison Bell leading the way with 19 points, as they head to the quarterfinals against Greenwich. As for the Moriah Vikings, Lezi Macarenas would lead the way with 12 points as their season comes to an end. Gallery

Lisbon's Allison Bell (1) drives from the wing on Moriah's Maggie Speshok (24) as she goes to the hoop. Gallery

Moriah's Emmy Nephew (24) with the three from the wing as part of a game high 19 points as they get the 57-42 win. It would be the first game of the second annual Section VII Champions Challenge, and it would feature a pair of top-15 teams in their own class, as the #7 Moriah Vikings would meet the #11 Schroon Lake Wildcats. The Vikings would come out on fire and jump out to a big lead, as they had a 20-3 lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Wildcats would find their shot and go toe-to-toe with the Vikings, winning the quarter 13-12, but they would still trail 32-16 at the intermission. When the teams returned for the third quarter, the Vikings came out with the better start, outscoring the Bears 13-8 and taking a 45-24 lead into the fourth. In the fourth quarter, the Wildcats would do their best to get back in the game, but the deficit would just be too much as they would have an 18-12 quarter, but the Vikings would get a 57-42 victory. In the Vikings' winning effort, Emmy Nephew led the way with 19 points, as they improved to 17-3 on the season. As for the Schroon Lake Wildcats, Olivia Hartwell would also chip in with 19 points as they go to 16-6 on the season, and they both get ready for the New York State Playoffs. Gallery

Schrron Lake's Olivia Hartwell (13) with the three from the top as part of a game-high 19 points. Gallery

Moriah's Alyssa Cartwright (8) with the three from the corner over Northern Adirondack's defender. It would be the next-to-last game of the weekend as the #1 Moriah Vikings would meet up with the #2 Northern Adirondack Bobcats for the Section VII Class C Championship from the Clinton Community College Florence Gym. The game would start at a high-scoring pace as both teams came out of the locker rooms, and the Vikings would have a 22-17 lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter,, the Bobcats would stay on fire, go 13-4, and take a 30-26 lead into the intermission as they looked for the upse When the teams returned fromthe locker room,m the Vikings offense would also make its retur,n and the Bobcats would beshut downn as they would have a 15-4 quarter and retake the lead at 41-34 lead into the final quarter. In the fourth quarter, the teams played pretty evenly, but t. Still, they had no answer as the Vikings outscored them 14-11 and secured a 55-45 victory. Th.ereberth in the New York State Class C Tournament as Emma Harrington led the way with 13, while. At the same time, right there, BobBobcats 'ason would come to an end as Ava Moore led the way with 19 points. Gallery

Northern Adirondack's Ava Moore (15) drives the hoop for the scoring chance Gallery

Northern Adirondack's Kameron Chinchilla (3) lays it off the window for the score as the Bobcats get the 60-41 victory. It would be the second game of championship weekend at the Clinton Community College Florence Gym, as the #1 Moriah Vikings would be going for their seventh straight championship against the Northern Adirondack Bobcats, who were going for their first title since 2015. It would be a defensive battle to start the game, as the Bobcats would have a low-scoring lead at 6-4 after the first quarter. In the second quarter, both teams' offenses came alive, with Moriah winning the quarter 16-14 and the game tied at 20. When the teams returned for the second haf,th e Bobcats would com e out running, scoring 22-8 in the quarter and taking a 42-28 lead into the fourth quarter In the fourth quarter, the Vikings would do their best to get back in the game, but the deficit would be too much as it would be a 14-13 Bobcats quarter as they secure the 60-41 victory In the winning effort, the Bobcats' Emmett Leclair would lead the way with 32 points as they advance to the New York State Class C Tournamen As for the Viking, theire titlereignn comes toa d at 6 years in a row as Joey Kazio would have 12 points. Gallery

Moriah's Austin Mandy (1) drives down the lane and gets the floater off before the contact from Northern Adirondack's Kameron Chinchilla (3) for the score. Gallery