The Rye Garnets migrate to Harrison High School’s McGillicuddy Stadium to battle Huskie Football this Labor Day Weekend on Saturday, September 2, 2023 at 1:30pm – watch it live.
Rye football Coach Dino Garr spoke with MyRye.com back in June about “The Game” being schedule so early in the season.
For the game preview, we turn to the Steve “The OG” Feeney:
RYE GARNETS VS HARRISON HUSKIES @ HARRISON’S MCGUILLICUDDY FIELD – SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 – KICKOFF @ 1:30PM
HUSKIES HOST ARCH-RIVAL AS THEY SEEK SECOND STRAIGHT VICTORY
GARNETS TARGETING REVERSAL OF STINGING 2022 DEFEAT
With the 2022 game played on Nugent Stadium’s artificial turf, it was amazing to finally witness the turning of the worm, as the HARRISON HUSKIES triumphed for only the second time in twenty-three attempts – the slowest turn of victories in worm history. Yes folks it’s the granddaddy of Section One football games, having first been played in the 1920s, and reconvening for the 96th time in 2023.
Since the 2003 doubleheader the Garnets have prevailed in twenty-one (21) of the most recent twenty-three (23) battles vaulting Rye’s Garnets ahead in the rivalry by a count of 49-43-3 (.533). The Maroon and White dominated the series in the ‘70s and ‘90s stashing a cushion of rivalry victories. It took the Garnet & Black forty-three (43) years to even the tally and then regain the upper hand – the first time since 1974.
It goes without question that this contest is the highlight Section One Football Rivalry Game. Hey boys it’s time to strap on the old leather helmet and cinch up the chinstrap – you are now representing not just your school and classmates, but generations of your communities in this one.
A crowd of over 5,000 is expected for this “Week Zero” start to the 2003 schedule. The early season tilt was necessitated by the annual NYSPHSAA survey of student enrollments in grades 9, 10 and 11 eligible to play varsity sports in the following school year. For the past ten years or so Rye and Harrison were entrenched in Section One’s uber-competitive Class A. However in the 2022 student headcount for 2023 athletic classification purposes, Rye fell into Class B by only ten students – just below the bottom enrollment band between Class A and Class B. Hence the necessity, if the game were to be played at all, of scheduling the contest as the curtain-raiser kickoff for each team’s season.
If you want prime seats, arrive early, long before the clock ticks toward zero and the whistle blows on Westchester’s finest high school football game. Is Harrison really a “Home Dog” this year having shed the Garnets leash last year? Is it a “No Brainer” for the Old Garnet to confidently call the game Rye’s way 27-14, Garnets back on track following the 2022 derailment.
HUSKIES GROWL GARNETS PROWL HUSKIES HOWL GARNETS PLOW HUSKIES MEOW GARNETS GLOW HUSKIES FOUL GARNETS WOW
