Columbia football dropped a 42-8 bomb on Amsterdam, absolutely dominating a Class A matchup and sending a crystal-clear message: this isn’t your 2025 Blue Devils. Senior quarterback Tyler Connolly put on a show, slinging four touchdown passes and racking up 301 yards through the air. This team just keeps proving its 3-0 start is no fluke, already surpassing their total win count from last season. Talk about a glow-up!
Connolly Commands, Offense Explodes
Look, the Blue Devils’ coaching staff saw what Amsterdam’s senior receiver Rocco Natale Jr. did last week, and what he’s done to them in previous seasons. But on Saturday, it was Columbia’s passing game that lit up the scoreboard. Connolly was an absolute maestro, going 16-for-17 for those 301 yards. The dude completed almost every pass! After an early fumble deep in Amsterdam territory on their first drive, Connolly dusted it off and came right back. He connected with senior receiver Wyatt Tymchyn on a beautiful 66-yard scoring toss that just screamed, “We’re here to play!” Connolly himself said he knew they had to get it together after that first drive, and boy, did they ever. The offense put up 450 total yards, and Connolly’s arm was the centerpiece.
Defense Says “Nope” to Amsterdam’s Star
While the offense was cooking, the defense was just plain nasty. Amsterdam’s Rocco Natale Jr. rolled into this game fresh off a 443-yard, seven-touchdown performance against South Glens Falls. He even had 12 receptions for 253 yards and five touchdowns in that game! So what did Columbia do? They held him to a pathetic six receptions for 19 yards. Nineteen yards! Desmond White handled the coverage, and the Blue Devils often double-teamed Natale, refusing to let him breathe. Columbia’s stingy D limited Amsterdam to a measly 55 yards on 35 plays, recorded five sacks, and didn’t allow a single play longer than 18 yards. Coach Jake Preston summed it up perfectly: “(Natale) is a dude and he’s haunted us the last couple of years. We did a good job with him.” Yeah, you could say that again.
3-0 and Full Steam Ahead
Columbia’s 3-0 record (also 3-0 in Class A) has the team ranked 22nd in the state, and it’s clear this squad is on a mission. Connolly mentioned they “keep a heavy heart on last season,” a season where they only got two wins. That’s serious motivation, right? He knows how hard everyone has worked, from the O-line to the D-line, offense, defense, and coaches. The only real “little stuff” they need to clean up, according to Coach Preston, was special teams. They allowed three long kickoff returns to Heriberto Torres when kicking away from Natale, one setting up a short 21-yard scoring drive for Amsterdam. But honestly, when you win 42-8 and shut down an offensive monster, those are definitely “little” things. This team has overcome adversity, and their seniors are stepping up. The fight is real, and it’s exciting to see what they do next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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