2009-10 season recap

The Braves finished the year with an overall record of 6-2 (4-1 league). Coach Carpenter was pleased with his team's overall performance.

"This year's team practiced and played extremely hard. They worked well together as a team and were very coachable," said Coach Carpenter.

2009 Honors

Western Athletic Conference South 1st Team All-Stars

• Seth Hidde - Offensive MVP
• Tyler Hall - WR
• Cody Headwell - C
• Luke Nethaway - TE
• Kyle Hanson - DB
• Brandon Mercado - DB

Western Athletic Conference South 2nd Team All-Stars

• Blake Hart - RB

• Kyle Monk - OG

• Harley Fountain - OT

• Matt Bailey - DL

• Carver Walsh - P

Hammer Award Winners

• Coxsackie-Athens - Luke Nethaway

• Canajoharie - Brandon Mercado

• Catholic Central - Carver Walsh

• Taconic Hills - Brandon Mercado

• Ichabod Crane - Carver Walsh and Wally Kowalski

• Watervliet - Brandon Mercado

Quick Facts

• Colors: Maroon & Gold
• Classification: B
• Stadium: John G. Boshart Field
• 2004 Record: 7-2 (Class B West. Div. Champions

A Quick History

In 1965, legendary Superintendent John G. Boshart (for whom our field is named) started FFCS football on its road of long-term excellence. Along with the district's business administrator, Henry Muller, Mr. Boshart engaged in a search for a high profile coach to get the program off and running.

In the fall of 1966, Braves football began with Alvin Parker as head coach. Mr. Parker played football at Ohio State for the legendary Woody Hayes, along with brother Jim Parker, who was named the greatest lineman in the first 50 years of the NFL. Mr. Parker coached the team in its first four seasons before entering the field of school administration at Mont Pleasant.

The FFCS football program that most people are familiar with began in 1970 under Mike Mongin. Mr. Mongin had been a successful coach at Perth High School, who always seemed to have "Fonda's number." Under Mongin, the Braves won their first title in 1971, had their first win over archrival Bishop Scully and had a successful run in which they won 5 league titles in 7 years. Perhaps one of Fonda's greatest teams was the 1975 Braves who finished with an 8-1 record, loosing only a non-league contest to Diocesan Champ Cardinal McCloskey (an A school). During Mongin's tenure, FFCS posted a .789 win percentage.

In 1977, John West was named head football coach and led the Braves to even greater heights. Some highlights of the West era were three sectional titles in 1980, 1982 and 1983 (sectional football started in 1978), four league titles and a great upset victory over No. 1 ranked Albany Academy in 1977, which ended the Cadets' 27-game winning streak. Mr. West's wide-open teams produced a win percentage of .779. In 1984, Mr. West , like his predecessors, entered the field of administration.

In 1985, Alex Mancini was named as the fourth head football coach at FFCS. He guided the team for the 21 seasons. A former All-State quarterback and Colgate letter winner, this FFCS grad's teams have posted a win percentage of .763, captured 10 conference titles, and appeared in eight sectional finals, winning 2 of them (1987 & 1999).

In 2006, Tom Carpenter took the reins as FFCS's fifth head football coach.

The success that the Braves have enjoyed is a result of hard work and dedication of its players. Here are some numbers to support the fact that FFCS football has stood the test of time:

• Since 1970, FFCS has produced 19 league champions, 11 sectional finalists, 5 sectional titles, 237 all-conference selections, 11 conference MVPs, 29 all-state selections (including 1992 NYS Player of the Year - Bill Boebel) and the fourth winningest program in Section 2 (.761).

The Braves have posted only two losing records during this era. Through these years the community has supported our football program from the days when the games were played at Park Street to the present. Our teams' following has been second to none. More importantly, even though some of our teams may not always posses the greatest talent, they will always play as hard at the end of the games as they do at the start, leading our coaches, players and fans to Expect Victory!

*All photos courtesy of Memory Studios*

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