When you come into a season with expectations as high as the ones placed on Bronxville this year, it figures that other teams will simply be waiting for some sign of weakness. Unfortunately for teams in Class B this year, the Bronxville Broncos haven’t shown much in the way of vulnerability yet.
On Oct. 13, the Broncos picked up their fifth win of the season in convincing fashion, dominating an outclassed Hendrick Hudson squad in a 47-0 round to stay perfect on the year.
It didn’t take long for Bronxville to make their presence felt on Sunday, as Brian Formato picked up a Hendrick Hudson fumble and returned it for a touchdown on the Sailors’ opening drive of the game, kicking off what would be a one-sided affair.
Senior running back Davis Patterson would go on to torch the Sailors with three rushing touchdowns, while junior Jackson Crystal added two of his own, including his first-ever varsity touchdown.
Bronxville coach Patsy Manganelli said that games like this—which allow the Broncos experiment with different personnel looks—can often be a boon for a team, as it allowed the squad a chance to give meaningful minutes to a wide array of players.
“It was a real team effort,” he said. “A game like today, everybody got to play, everyone got to contribute and everyone got to work as a unit which is huge and will pay dividends at the end of the day.”
With the win, the Broncos improved to 5-0 on the season—though Croton-Harmon announced that it would forfeit a Oct. 21 game against the powerhouse, bringing their overall tally to 6-0. As the reigning Class C Section 1 champions, much was expected of the Broncos upon their move to Class B, but the results thus far as been staggering.
“ We knew we had the ability, but I’ve been doing this a long time and you never know if it’s going to work out,” said Manganelli. “But it’s definitely working out.”
With the Croton game off the schedule, the Broncos will wrap up the season with an October. 26 game against a winless Edgemont-Blind Brook team.
According to Manganelli, as his squad gears up for the postseason, the most important thing for them is to trust in themselves and their preparation.
“This group has been special, they’ve been locked in since August 21, and I think they understand what their ability is, they understand our expectations and they understand how special they can be,” said Manganelli. “We talk about the ‘Three Ws’; the willingness to work to win, and I think they know they have to put the work in.”