Garnets Fall To 0-3

The game between the Rye Garnets and Ossining Pride had a playoff feel as the rain poured into Ossining’s Dilley Field Friday night.

The Pride defense proved too much for Rye as Ossining rolled to victory 22-14. Ossining came into the game 1-1 looking to get their second win of the year and Rye entered the contest desperate for their first win of the season. In this class and section, it is hard to make it into the playoffs with two losses, let alone three.

“With this situation,” Said Ossining Head Coach Dan Ricci, “with the playoffs the way they are, if you lose two games you’re taking a really big chance of not being in so really every game is survival now.”

Dino Garr and the Rye Garnets made a major lineup change to try and improve their offense: freshman quarterback Andrew Livingston in under center and the often injured senior quarterback Jake Meyerson moved to half back or wide receiver for the entirety of the game. 

The move didn’t seem to hurt the Garnet offense at all. The two hooked up on several pass plays and Meyerson added some big runs including an eighty-four yard touchdown run in the third quarter, but the Pride defensive line dominated the game. Ossining had double digit sacks and along with the slick atmosphere forced the Rye ball carriers to fumble the ball several times.

“Those guys are strong and they are quick, very quick.” Said Ossining quarterback Brian Connolly of his team’s defensive line, “They are getting around people and sometimes they are going through people because they are so strong, but we are a little bit smaller this year so we are using our quickness to our advantage.”

Rye’s offense stalled early. The team couldn’t make any significant progress on the ground and late in the game the team continuously turned the ball over, but for the majority of the first half Ossining also had trouble moving the ball. The Pride picked up their first eight points of the game off of a Steven Orts safety and a seventy-one yard reception by backup wide receiver Sam LaCour. The big pass was the only real progress the Ossining offense made in the first half.

“Sam LaCour was a kid who wasn’t playing much,” Said Coach Ricci, “we had an injury last week and he stepped in and he really came to play today. He made two big plays, not only making the catches but then running away from them.”

LaCour would add a second touchdown later in the game on a seventy-three yard reception from Connolly helping the Pride to run away with the game.

The 22-14 loss puts virtually eliminates Rye from playoff contention and sets the Garnets deep in a hole at 0-3. They will face off at Horace Greeley next Saturday in hoping to get their first win of the season. Conversely Ossining will look to build on their momentum as they will travel to Sleepy Hallow.