SULLIVAN COUNTY – The school year may have started late this year, with most districts opening their doors in the second week of September, but football season is already off and running. The Fallsburg Comets, who didn’t field a team last season, are off to a solid start. Despite their season-opening 54-20 loss against the Ellenville Blue Devils, head coach Dominick Scanna states that the team’s goal this season is to establish a standard for Fallsburg football that “our players can be proud of.” He adds, “I am proud of my guys for working hard and playing a game for the first time in nearly two years. Ellenville deserves credit for the win, but our guys fought hard for four quarters.” The Comets will face Millbrook on Thursday, September 10, at 7 PM on the road.

The Eldred Yellowjackets are the reigning Section IX 8-man champions and will defend their title this season. Although the team graduated five exceptional seniors, they return 11 players from that championship team. Head coach Sean McAveney said, “All our returning players played a lot of football last year and gained valuable experience. We challenge them to get better each day and continue to strive to be the best players they can be.” The Yellowjackets will play Pawling on September 10 at 6 PM.

The Redhawks struggled last season and finished without a win. However, head coach Adam Lake is optimistic, sharing, “After playing every game on the road last year due to the construction of the new turf field and finishing 0-10, you can expect this team, which was battle-tested last year, to come out and prove that we are better than an 0-10 squad. Having a brand-new turf field and lights to play our home games on has both the players and coaches excited to be a part of this special season. The time is finally here for the Redhawks to step onto their field, as they will host Walton/Downsville in their home season opener.”

The Monticello Panthers were also on the road for every game last season. While their field is now open for practices, they will need to wait a little longer for construction to be completed before hosting home contests. Head coach Tyler Rodriguez praised his team’s chemistry and athleticism, stating, “This year is the time to finally build a strong foundation for the Monticello football program. We have dedicated athletes who want it more than ever. You can expect this team to play with high energy every week and build excitement for the program throughout the season. We have players who want it, and it shows in our team numbers and how hard they work.” The Panthers faced Burke in their season opener. And came close to beating them twice last year but lost both games in the final minutes. They won just one game last season.

Rockland experienced both ups and downs last season as well. The 25-26 season marked their inaugural year as the combined Wolves team. They face a tough opponent in the Pine Plains Bombers this Thursday, September 10, at 7 PM on the road.

The Bulldogs have bite! Sullivan West is known for its strong football program and features one of the most competitive teams in Division 1 8-man. Their robust line and veteran players give the team an edge. With a solid coaching staff pushing their players to give their best every game, head coach Ron Bauer says he would like to work on the depth of their team this season, and as always, “We hope to be competitive!” The Bulldogs are scheduled to play the Ellenville Blue Devils tomorrow night under the lights at 7 PM.

The Tri-Valley Bears head to Onteora High School to face the Eagles on Friday, September 11, at 4 PM. After winning just two games last season, Bears’ head coach Kevin Crudele says his goal is to help players become comfortable with the game, stating, “Many of our players have two years or less of football experience. We want to improve each week and go 1-0. We can expect a team that shows effort and a tried-and-true team mentality.”