Shaker High School typically hosts about 2,300 fans for a regular season football game. But when north meets south in the Capital Region, and both teams are undefeated, the competition grows, and so does the crowd.
On Friday night 4-0 Shaker High met up with 4-0 Shenendehowa High, drawing thousands to the Blue Bison's field.
In the end, Shaker beat Shen 35-8, making it the first time Shaker has defeated Shen in at least five years.
That win had the hometown crowd going wild.
The hardcore rivalry between the two teams was evident from start to finish at this highly-anticipated match-up.
At times, it seemed the visiting Shen fans were determined to out-yell, and out-scream the home town team.
But those nutty for Shaker High would have none of it, throwing a rally of their own in the stands.
The misty, rainy weather had no impact on the huge crowd.
There were fresh burgers flying off the grill, cheerleaders pumping-up the fans, and players lined up and ready, all in the name of putting on a great football contest at Shaker.
North Colonie Superintendent Joe Corr said, "This is the biggest game in a long, long time in Shaker High School Football history. We have two phenomenal schools, two phenomenal teams, two phenomenal programs, both are undefeated, both are ranked in the state."
Shenendahowa fan Jake Hicks said, "It's a big rivalry, it's going to be a good game."
Dan Derico is the father of Shaker High Receiver Sam Derico.
Before the game he said, "You want to beat the big dog, you want to beat the big guy on the block, and so far it's Shen. So, they're the guy to beat."
On his way into the stadium, Shaker Sophomore Mark Chaisson said, "We have two 4-0 teams going at it, and it's just really exciting to see who's going to win, who's going to go home losing. They're both going to fight hard."
Shen Freshman Kelly O'Gorman said, "It's just so important to us to show school spirit, and I just love watching the football games."
Wearing green and black sparkly eye black on her face, Shen Junior Ashley Henniger said, "Everyone's been talking about it at school."
Sporting matching eye black under her eyes, Shen Junior Emily Haig said, "This is the biggest game of the year for us, and we just want to show what we have."
North Colonie's Superintendent said the crowd was estimated to be at about 5,000, but with only1,000 seats at Shaker's stadium, and room for only 2,000 in standing room only, Shaker had to put a cap on the crowd.
Corr said, "We studied our facility, we did estimates based on standing space per person, and we figured we could accommodate up to 3,000 safely."
But those who did get their hands on a ticket had a blast, even if their team lost.
Shen Fan Jake Hicks said, "It's been really hype this week, it's been going crazy. A lot of tickets were sold at Shen. It's a good day."
And with 3,000 tickets sold at three dollars a piece, that's $9,000 that gets pumped right back into the Shaker High School Football Program.
