In the final game of the weekend, AuSable Valley was able to hold on down the stretch late to defeat Saranac Lake 22-14 on Saturday. The game marked the first-ever girls flag contest for both schools.

The Patriots opened up the scoring on their home turf when Shauna Depo rushed in the first-ever touchdown in school history from 10 yards out. AuSable Valley followed it up with a one-point conversion from Addie Stanley to take a 7-0 lead.

The Patriot defense also got in on the action when Lily Butler recorded a safety just a few possessions later to bump the lead to 9-0.

However, the Red Storm wouldn’t go quietly in what was their inaugural game as well, scoring their first-ever touchdown when Ayla Small intercepted Depo and ran 50 yards for the pick-six.

Stanley responded with a long, 55-yard rushing touchdown on the ensuing possession for the Patriots, to go up 16-6. The Red Storm threw one more punch before intermission when freshman quarterback Emma Akey ran in from 10 yards out to cut the score to 16-14.

The second half turned into a defensive battle, with Stanley scoring the only points of the half on a 22-yard rushing touchdown to help the Patriots hold on for the win.

Stanley as a whole had a huge night in her first career game, as she rushed for 111 yards, caught for 44 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns.

Saranac Lake’s Akey impressed throughout as well, rushing for 124 yards and throwing for 62.

“Shauna Depo, Addie Stanley, Lauryn Saltus Paul and Layla Lincoln were outstanding all evening on offense. Layla Lincoln led the team with 6 flag pulls while Lauryn Saltus Paul had 5 including 4 sacks,” said Patriots coach Jim Caron. “Emma Akey was outstanding for Saranac Lake. Her speed and elusiveness gave us trouble all night.”

AuSable Valley will get a bit of a break before their next return to the gridiron. The Patriots will be back in the action next week when they take on Moriah on Friday, May 5.

After dropping to 0-1 on the season, the Red Storm will travel to Moriah for its next game on Saturday at 2 p.m. Saranac Lake is slated to play its first home game of the season Wednesday, May 3 against the Keene at the Wilson Raymond Field. The game will start at 4:30 p.m.

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AuSable Valley 22, Saranac Lake 14

SCORING

First Half — Depo (AVCS) 10 run; 1-pt conversion good (Stanley). Butler (AVCS) safety. Small (SLCS) 50 INT; 1-pt conversion No Good. Stanley (AVCS) 55 run; 1-pt conversion good (Bates). Akey (SLCS) 10 run; 2-pt conversion good (Akey).

Second Half — Stanley (AVCS) 22 run; 1-pt conversion No Good.

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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

SLCS — Akey 124, Ratelle 31, Goetz 15, Montroy 3, Peer 16. TOTALS: 189.

AVCS — Lincoln 18, Depo 46, Bates 14, Saltus Paul 81, Stanley 111. TOTALS: 270.

Passing

SLCS — Akey 62.

AVCS — Depo 115.

Receiving

SLCS — Goetz 38, Samburgh 24.

AVCS — Lincoln 62, Stanley 44, Hart 9.

Interceptions

SLCS — Samburgh, Small.