DEFENSIVE PLAY … James Bates brings down the Hicksville ball carrier.
PHOTOS BY RENEA KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
ELUDING THE TACKLER … Swanton’s Seth Carman tries to break free from a Hicksville tackler on Friday night.
By: Elliot Schneider
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
SWANTON (August 29, 2025) – The Hicksville Aces came into Swanton and delivered a second-half performance that earned them a hard-fought victory in a non-league matchup against the Bulldogs.
The Aces relied on their ground game, as QB Collin Leavell and RB Cross Zeedyk led the way for the Aces. The Bulldogs struggled to find any momentum throughout the game, only finding the end zone one time, which was their opening drive of the game.
The first play of the drive started with a 19-yard run for RB Shawn McGary, followed by a 14-yard run from Seth Carman. On the seventh play of the drive, Javi Hornyak-Ramsey ran in a 15-yard TD, giving the Bulldogs an early 6-0 lead.
The Aces would look to immediately respond, with Leavell picking up a 23-yard carry, putting Hicksville inside of the Bulldogs’ 25-yard line. A holding penalty and a false start from the Aces would follow, forcing them to try and convert from third and long.
The Aces would eventually go for it on fourth and three from the Bulldogs’ 19, but Swanton’s defense forced the stop and won the ball back from a turnover on downs.
The Bulldogs looked to build off their first drive but failed to even enter opponent territory on the drive, eventually turning it over on downs after failing to convert on fourth down.
Hicksville followed with a three-and-out, but looked to capitalize on fourth down, but the Bulldogs forced another turnover on downs, with both teams struggling to convert in fourth-down situations.
Swanton would have a three-and-out drive as well but looked to punt as they were inside of their own 25-yard line. Leavell returned the punt to the Bulldogs’ 11 for great field positioning for the Aces.
Zeedyk capped off the drive with a 1-yard rushing TD, followed by Leavell running in the 2PT try, giving the Aces a 6-8 lead early in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs’ offense looked to respond, but Hicksville forced another three-and-out, as Swanton continued to struggle on the offensive.
Ben Taylor looked to return the punt for the Aces, but he muffed the punt, and a group of Bulldogs fell on the ball, giving Swanton the ball back on the Aces’ 38.
After the recovery, QB Dennis Robinson would find Marquise Zalecki for a 17-yard gain, setting the Bulldogs up on the Aces’ 18-yard line. On third and fifteen, Robinson would find Zalecki again for an 18-yard gain, setting the Bulldogs up for first and goal.
Multiple negative yardage plays would put the Bulldogs at fourth and goal from the 14, so they looked to their kicker, Hudson Pancoast, but his FG attempt was no good, giving the Aces the ball back with roughly four minutes left in the half.
The Aces would slowly but surely march their way down the field, starting with a 22-yard run for Zeedyk, followed by a 13-yard pick up for Leavell. On third and long from the Bulldogs’ 34, Leavell would connect with Jacoby Campbell for a 14-yard gain.
The Aces would eventually reach first and goal on the Bulldogs’ 5, with under a minute to play in the half, but they had no timeouts remaining. Their first rushing attempt gained no yardage, so they quickly no-huddled to spike the ball.
After the spike, Swanton shoved a Hicksville player to the ground, earning an unnecessary roughness penalty, putting the Aces on the Bulldogs’ one-yard line.
With less than 20 seconds remaining, the Aces would again try a run with Leavell, but the Bulldogs’ defense stopped him in his tracks, leaving the score 6-8 at halftime, with Hicksville leading.
Hicksville’s first drive coming out of half was a three-and-out, but they would again attempt a fourth-down conversion but failed. This gave the Bulldogs the ball at midfield, which was some of their best starting field position all night.
The Bulldogs would secure one first down on the drive, eventually attempting their own fourth down conversion on the Aces’ 38, but they failed to convert again.
Hicksville would respond with a 12-play 62-yard TD drive, with the Bulldogs picking up a controversial pass interference penalty on a fourth down attempt, giving the Aces a fresh set of downs that would eventually lead to a 9-yard rushing TD from Leavell.
After taking a 6-14 lead, Hicksville would win the ball back off a muffed kickoff return from the Bulldogs, giving the Aces the ball back on the Bulldogs’ 40.
The turnover was costly for the Bulldogs, as the Aces would translate that turnover into points, with Leavell finishing off the drive with a 12-yard rushing TD as time expired in the third quarter, followed by a 2PT conversion scored by Leavell, making it 6-22 Aces entering the fourth.
The first two drives of the quarter saw another Bulldogs three-and-out, but they would retain possession off an interception from Jayden Wilson, giving the Bulldogs life when it seemed like all the momentum had gone Hicksville’s way.
Swanton put together a 12-play drive, eventually setting themselves up for first and goal, but they failed to string together consecutive positive plays.
They would eventually have to go for it on fourth and goal, but like the rest of the game, they failed to convert.
Hicksville would end up running out the clock on their next drive, securing the 22-6 victory over the Bulldogs and moving to 1-1 on the season, as Swanton fell to 0-2.
UP NEXT: September 5 – Swanton (0-2) vs Ottawa Hills (0-2) 7pm
HHS 0 8 14 0 – 22
SHS 6 0 0 0 – 6
S – Hornyak-Ramsey 15-yard rushing TD (kick failed)
H – Zeedyk 1-yard rushing TD (Leavell 2PT)
H – Leavell 9-yard rushing TD (2PT Failed)
H – Leavell 13-yard rushing TD (Leavell 2PT)