Ithaca Warriors football wins first title since 2018

When it comes to football in August, much of the focus is on the various high school and college teams gearing up for their seasons. But for one local semi-professional team, this month saw them complete a magical campaign that ended with the ultimate glory.

On August 16, the Ithaca Warriors captured the Northeastern Football Alliance (NFA) AA championship with a 22-14 victory over the Buffalo Stampede. It was their first title since 2018 when they steamrolled through the competition. Zavier Andrews coached both championship teams, and this year’s triumph was vastly different from their undefeated campaign seven years ago.

“I feel like we had to really earn it this time,” Andrews said. “The first time, we kind of ripped through, and we were just a little better than the competition. But this time it was really evenly matched and a lot of tough games in Watertown and Buffalo and Rochester and really tough teams with athletes. We really had to earn it, because we started out slow and we just turned it around. We found what worked and things started to mesh. I think this one’s a little sweeter.”

The Warriors struggled out of the gates with a 1-4 record and dealt with multiple injuries. But once they got healthy, they began to gel just in time for a playoff push. Needing to win their final game of the regular season against the Charlotte Colonials to make the postseason, the Warriors prevailed 18-14 at Moresco Stadium to earn the fourth and final playoff spot.

“Once people get on the same page, it becomes a juggernaut at some point because you play fast, physical football and then you’re able to play together and communicate, and you’re going to be in one accord,” Andrews said.

The Warriors faced even more adversity in their semifinal matchup at the top-seeded Watertown Red & Black. Trailing 24-6 at halftime, they stormed back to win it 36-30, sending shockwaves throughout the NFA. While going on the road as massive underdogs against the oldest semi-pro football team in the country may be daunting for some teams, it didn’t faze the Warriors one bit.

“You’re up against it up there,” Andrews said. “Their crowd is amazing. It’s just like going to any college atmosphere, almost. It’s amazing. We had a mantra saying, ‘They left us alive, and then we just kind of lived through that for the playoffs. We never blink. I always tell them that we don’t panic, we pivot, and we started making plays.”

The championship game in Buffalo was much more of a defensive battle, but the Warriors were able to handle the second-seeded Stampede’s physicality and come out on top. It was a fairytale ending to what was a true Cinderella run.

What really stands out about the Warriors—and the semi-pro football scene, in general—is their level of commitment to the sport despite having other jobs. In fact, some players head straight to work overnight shifts right after their games wrap up.

“It takes a special kind of individual to do this,” Andrews said. “You really have to love this because it’s easy to say, ‘My football career is done. I got to work.’ These guys come up and give up their time and their body, and they also help with sports camps in the communities, things of that nature. We just want to be involved. They really care about the community, and they care about football, and they care about furthering the game for the next generation.”

Andrews is the prime example of someone who’s dedicated an incredible amount of time to this passion. Alongside coaching the Warriors, he’s the vice commissioner of the NFA. Having also played for the Warriors himself, he knows firsthand how special this league is to help continue his football career.

“I’ve seen the opportunity that gave some athletes to be able to move to the next level or guys who have already been to the next level to come down and kind of keep it going without losing football,” Andrews said. “When my body couldn’t hold up, I found solace in being able to coach football and be involved in the program and helped run the organization. And now that I’m in a different position as the vice commissioner of the league, I’m able to help further the game in upstate New York, and we’re actually trying to expand into other surrounding areas, too.”

While Andrews aims to grow the game throughout the state, he’s also hoping to see growth in the Ithaca community supporting semi-pro football, especially after what their team achieved this summer.

“In the community, I don’t think a lot of people know that we’re there, or if they do, we don’t get them to reach out,” Andrews said. “We would love more local athletes, because they’re here. They’re in Ithaca. We love more community involvement. We look for sponsors every year. It makes the magic happen… It’s dope to see the people who are in the community get involved.”