STAFF REPORT
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Alec Silvera pretty much picked up right where he left off.
The reigning Daily Star Player of the Year for high school football, senior running back Silvera rushed for 188 yards and three touchdowns Friday night as Cooperstown opened its season with a 33-8 Section Three rout of host Mohawk.
After Mohawk went three-and-out on the first offensive series, Silvera gained 35 yards on the Redskins' first play. That contributed to an 87-yard scoring drive, capped by Silvera's 8-yard touchdown run for a 6-0 lead.
First-year Cooperstown quarterback Coley Graham, a Hamilton transfer, made it 12-0 in the second quarter when he scored on a 48-yard run. Graham faked a handoff to Jarrett Hotaling, then ran up the middle untouched en route to the end zone.
Graham gave the Redskins a 19-0 lead in the third quarter, two plays after lineman Ethan Telfer pressured the Mohawk punter in the end zone. Cooperstown downed the miskick at the 11-yard line, where Graham started his touchdown run on second down. Graham reached the goal line despite dragging three defenders for the last 5 yards.
Later in the third quarter, Silvera broke through the line for a 60-yard TD run down the right side as the Redskins built a 26-0 cushion.
Mohawk pulled to 26-8 in the fourth quarter, when Carson Murphy scored on a 5-yard run and ran in the two-point conversion.
Cooperstown recovered the ensuing onsides kick, setting up Silvera for a 19-yard TD run.
He then capped the scoring with his third extra-point kick.
Last season, Silvera rushed for an area-best 1,203 yards and 17 touchdowns in leading the Redskins to an 8-1 record and a Section Three Class C semifinal appearance.
Cooperstown, which dropped down to Class D this season, acquired Graham via transfer as Hamilton did not field a football team this season. An option quarterback, Graham finished with 78 rushing yards and completed one pass for 15 yards to Jeff Flynn.
The hard-hitting Hotaling made several key stops at linebacker.
Telfer contributed two sacks and Flynn had one for the Redskins, who play their home opener at 2 p.m. Sept. 11 against West Canada Valley.
Cooperstown 33, Mohawk 8
Cooperstown     6 6 14 7 _ 33
Mohawk     0 0 0 8 _ 8
C _ Alec Silvera 8 run (kick failed)
C _ Coley Graham 48 run (kick failed)
C _ Coley Graham 11 run (Silvera kick)
C _ Alec Silvera 60 run (Silvera kick)
M _ Carson Murphy 5 run (Murphy run)
C _ Alec Silvera 19 run (Silvera kick)
Note: Individual statistics not available.
