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Camping out: RCDS
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Rye Country Day School
Coach: John Calandros (fifth season)
Last year's record: 8-1
Three names you know:
Sam Stern, Sr., RB/DB
Garrett Washington, Sr., QB/DB
Andrew Miller, Sr., RB/LB
Three names to learn:
Chibueze Nwakeze, Sr., G/LB
Tyler Fernandez, Soph., WR/DB
Henry Heller, Jr., G/DE
First impressions: There's no real polite way to say this. But after watching 15 minutes of practice and seeing the size, speed and athleticism all over the field, I never would have believed I was watching Rye Country Day football. The Wildcats are incredibly talented, especially, at the skill positions. Washington, Stern, and Miller comprise as dangerous a backfield as you'll find at a small school in Westchester.
Talk of the camp: The Miller-Stern combination. RCDS knows they have something special with these two. The running back combo is a perfect complement to each other. Last year, Stern rushed for 1,120 yards, averaging 8.4 yards per carry. Miller gained 878 yards and, like Stern, rushed for nine touchdowns. The backs are interchangable and need to be accounted for at all times on the field. Their experience and athleticism will allow for a young Wildcats offensive line to mature.
Position battle: Rye graduated four starters on the offensive line from last season. And the Wildcats don't really consider it much cause for concern. Heller and 6-foot-5, 250-pound Dan Alderson-Smith provide good size and strength. Nwakeze, the lone returning starter, is a physical specimen who has a chance to play in the Ivy League next fall.
Season outlook: The Wildcats won't be content this fall unless they make history. Does that sound too high? Well, it's shouldn't be. This group have either proven talent or serious promise at every position, and coach Calandros has done nothing but win close games throughout his previous four years at RCDS. There's so much unknown year to year in the Fairchester League, so there's no certainty that this group can duplicate last year's 8-0 regular season. But this is a poised and confident group that's focused on accomplishing its goals - no matter how high they may seem.
Schedule:
9/16 - at St. Dominic
9/24 - at Long Island Lutheran
10/1 - Nazareth
10/9 - Hopkins
10/15 - St. Luke's
10/22 - at Hamden Hall
10/29 - at Kingswood-Oxford
11/5 - King
11/12 - at Hackley
Email Kevin Devaney Jr. at kdevaney@cablevision.com
