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Red Storm, ’Jacks at home for football

SARANAC LAKE — The Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake football teams are both in action at home on Saturday.

The Red Storm wraps up the regular season when they host Peru at Wilson-Raymond Field with the opening kickoff slated for 1:30 p.m. After three straight road games, the Lumberjacks return to Frank Tice Field for their fifth 8-man football game of the season when they host West Canada Valley starting at noon.

With just three starting seniors in the lineup coupled with a lack of depth, Saranac Lake has seen its share of struggles this season and things won’t get any easier against Peru, an offensive powerhouse that features the Champlain Valley Athletic Conference’s top passer in Ryley O’Connell. The senior has completed 105-of-119 attempts for 1,352 passing yards and 16 touchdowns.

Austin Carpenter leads the Indians receivers with 34 catches for 559 yards and eight touchdowns. Carpenter is second among CVAC receivers in yards gained. Peru’s ground game is paced by Alex Palmer, who is third in the league with 526 yards gained on 67 carries. Palmer has rushed for eight touchdowns.

Peru owns a 3-3 record and has outscored its opponents by a combined 177-86.

Despite a 1-5 record, everything has not been doom and gloom for Saranac Lake. The Red Storm have shown steady improvement. They lost 27-0 a week ago at unbeaten Beekmantown, and in that game, Saranac Lake trailed just 14-7 heading into the final quarter.

Most of the Red Storm’s success on offense has come on the ground, and junior Ben Munn has led the way as a consistent running back. Munn is currently seventh in the CVAC rushing ranks with 304 yard and three touchdowns on 64 carries.

Sophomore quarterback Rhett Darrah has completed 34-of-70 pass attempts for 438 yards and four touchdowns. He has been intercepted four times.

Tupper Lake hosts

West Canada Valley

Tupper Lake struggled in a big way on defense last week in an 80-32 loss to Weedsport and will be looking for a better performance Saturday against 1-3 West Canada Valley. After opening the season with a loss and a win, the Lumberjacks will be looking to snap a two-game losing skid.

Junior Skyler Pickering has been a key two-way player for Tupper Lake, and especially in the running attack. Pickering has broken the 100-yard rushing mark in all four games and has accumulated 663 yards on 84 carries.

Saturday’s matchup kicks off a three-game home stand for Tupper Lake.

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