1 week Ago
Without hesitation, senior quarterback Caelan Porter screamed over to first-year head coach Ryan Mulligan, “Let's go for it.” “I knew we had to get that first down,” Porter said. “Amsterdam has a great offense and they were scoring, so we had to score there.
” At first, the 4th down play nearly backfired, as Porter dropped the snap. However, he recovered, scrambled around the backfield, and then found Rowan Halloran over the middle of the field for a 15-yard gain, earning a first down. “That’s the confidence I have of being here for four years and understanding what it takes,” Porter said.
“Coach lets us do it, and he’s confident in us.” Gloversville wound up scoring a crucial touchdown on a drive, helping preserve a 28-24 Week 0 non-classification victory over Amsterdam. It was the first win of Mulligan’s head coaching career, since was appointed to replace Jim Robare during the offseason.
“Words can’t describe it. This guy works harder than anybody,” Porter said of how much the team wanted to get Mulligan his first win. “He puts more time in than anybody.
He watches so much film and prepares us as best he can. All the coaches do, but he definitely deserves this.” The quarterback-head coach duo didn’t just start working together this year, though.
It is a bond six years in the making. “Cal and I have been through quite a bit together. I’ve known Cal since he was in seventh grade, playing basketball in the gym,” Mulligan said.
“Back then, when he was on our modified squad, I always knew he had what it took, not only to be a varsity quarterback, but to be a leader. He just has those qualities.” Over the past few seasons, Mulligan served as the varsity team’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Porter has held the quarterback job since his sophomore year. “I’ve been with him, day-in and day-out for three years, and he makes it enjoyable to come to practice because he wants to be coached and he wants every last detail,” Mulligan said of Porter. “That’s why, when you get into a 4th-and-10 situation like we did, he’s going to use everything you’ve taught him.
” Although Amsterdam made the game too close for comfort for the Huskies, Gloversville was able to line up in victory formation, taking a knee in the final minute to secure a win in the first game of the season. Following the team handshakes, Gloversville players promptly dumped their water cooler on Mulligan. “Oh, they definitely did.
I wasn’t expecting it,” Mulligan said on if they got him by surprise. “To be honest, when we were going into our victory [formation] I turned around to see if they were coming, but once we got in line [to shake hands]. I thought I was safe.
Then they got me at the end.” Friday’s contest was as close as it gets, featuring four lead changes in the first half. Porter scored four touchdowns, two through the air and two on the ground.
Ezequiel Santiago and Quegan Bier each had receiving touchdowns. “That Amsterdam team is very good, very good. We were very worried about their offense, because their receivers, QB and running backs can make big plays, and that’s one thing that hurt us,” Mulligan said.
“We let them come back into the game after having a two-score lead, but I am extremely proud of our guys.” “It definitely was a great game. Everyone was waiting for Friday night, and it lived up to it,” Porter said.
“It was a great atmosphere with the fans, Amsterdam brought their crew and I couldn’t have asked anything more for my first game as a senior. “We’re grinders. We showed our resilience, and that we’re not going to stop fighting.
” This week, Gloversville (1-0 overall) is set to visit Broadalbin-Perth (0-1 overall) on Friday at 7 p.m..
