After opening the season with three convincing victories, undefeated Rye rolled into Eastchester on Saturday afternoon looking to extend that streak. With their balanced attack and bend-but-don’t break defense, the Garnets were able to do exactly that, coming away with a 28-7 victory to stay unbeaten on the year. 

From the opening kickoff, the Garnets methodically moved the ball against the Eagles’ defense, eating up chunks of yardage behind running back Caden Whaling, who finished with 140 yards and a touchdown. By the end of the first half, the Garnets had amassed a three-score lead that was never in peril after intermission.

According to wideout Lucas Perez-Segini, who caught two touchdown passes from Owen Kovacs and finished with 89 receiving yards on the day, the game was a showcase for Rye’s multitude of weapons and efficient offensive production.

“This was a big league game,” Perez-Segini said. “The idea was just to come out, keep things simple, and execute.”

Against a potent Eagles’ offense led by quarterback Angelo Sperandio, the Garnets surrendered yardage but proved adept at keeping Eastchester out of the end zone, as evidenced by back-to-back goal line stands in the first half. But the first red zone stop may have been the turning point of the game, as Rye capitalized on the first play after the turnover-on-downs when Owen Kovacs hit Perez-Segini for a 74-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-0.

“I think our defense is one of our greatest assets because our coaches prepare us and we’re able to read the offense,” Perez-Segini said. “After that goal line stand, we were able to hit a big play which definitely gave us a sense of relief.”

At 4-0, the Garnets will now prepare for their biggest test to date, an April 17 showdown with rival Harrison. “The Game”—as it is known—is one of the most storied rivalries in New York State football and the April 17 showdown between the two teams will mark the 93rd installment of the series. Having won 18 of the last 19 meetings, Rye has climbed to an all-time 47-42-3 series lead. They will look to extend that streak against a Harrison team coming off its first defeat of the year, a 49-20 loss to John Jay on April 9. 

According to Rye head coach Dino Garr, the Garnets are peaking at the right time and will look for production from Whaling and the quarterback tandem of Teddy Berkery and Owen Kovacs to lead the way offensively. Against the Garnets, Kovacs—who threw for two touchdowns—and Berkery combined for 143 yards through the air and 40 on the ground. Saturday will mark the first time either signal-caller will appear in the Harrison-Rye game on the varsity level.

“I know I wouldn’t want to prepare against [those two],” Garr said. “We’re just blessed to have two quarterbacks and they’ve done a great job for us, especially in terms of line management.”

“They’ve worked [hard] since the beginning and we all have so much confidence in both of them,” Perez-Segini added. “And we know that Harrison is always a huge game.”

Rye and Harrison are scheduled for a 3 p.m. kickoff on Saturday afternoon.