Pearl River, Rye Look To Continue Turnarounds in Football Playoffs

The fun thing about traditions is they have to start somewhere.

The Pearl River football team began one this season, having a bagpipe player lead the team onto the field before each home game.

Retired New York City firefighter John O'Hagan has been doing the honors since week one, something he will continue when Pearl River (6-1) plays Rye (4-3) 3 p.m. Thursday at home in the Section 1 Class A quarterfinals.

"The guys love playing at home," Pearl River Coach Jeff Michael said. "It's a great feeling to be led in by the bagpiper. It's all the comforts of being at home. No bus. No trip over the TZ bridge. It is good, familiar ground for us. Plus we are playing on grass and Rye has an (artificial) turf field, so that's an advantage."

The Section 1 playoffs are unfamiliar territory for Pearl River, which last played in such a contest in 2007. The Pirates actually dropped out of the section for the 2010 season, playing in a developmental league where they made the championship game, so the current upperclassmen do have that experience. 

While the Pirates opened the season with people wondering how their return to Section 1 would go, the Rye Garnets faced questions of their own after an 0-3 start to this season.

Rye turned its season around with a four-game winning streak heading into its quarterfinal game 3 p.m. Thursday at Pearl River.

"They are on the upwards wing. They have all the momentum," Pearl River Head Coach Jeff Michael said. "They could have easily crumbled, but they put the pieces in the right places and found that first win. Everything is trending in their favor as far as momentum."

"The playoffs are a whole new season," Rye Coach Dino Garr said. "Pearl River is a very good team that executes well on both sides of the ball. They also have an outstanding kicker who has won several games for them with field goals and gives them excellent field position. We will need to do the things that made us win our last four games."

One key to the turnaround has been a change in the backfield. Senior Jake Meyerson opened the season as the Garnets' starting quarterback, but in the third game of the season freshman Andrew Livingston took over. Meyerson was moved to running back, where he pairs with power-running fullback Joe Simolacaj to give Rye a potent runing game. Tight end Dylan Lynch is a dangerous target for Livingston.

Garr said that his team has to be able to run and throw to win Thursday.

"A good running game and the ability to pass when the oppportunity is there," Rye Coach Dino Garr said. "We need to play solid defense and not give up the big play. If we do these basic football things, we will be successful and give ourselves an excellent chance to win and move on in the playoffs."

One thing Rye has going for it is size on both sides of the ball.

"They have size all over the place," Michael said. "From their linemen to their wide receivers and linebackers. They've got a freshman quarterback go goes about 6-foot-1, 180 pounds. They have size and athleticism.

"We won't know (how we match up) until that first series on offense and defense are over."

Pearl River has had much of its success when it has won the battle up front. The defense relies on the ability to control the line of scrimmage and take away the run while the offense has been able to mix the run and pass effectively in its best performances.

The Pirates did not do those things in their first loss of the season, 37-6 last week at Bronxville, and will be looking to regain the momentum they had built during a 6-0 start.

"We always do a self-assessment," Michael said. "See what we did right and wrong. They know we didn't play our best. This is a second chance to prove what we are capable of. We know we committed too many penalties and turnoves. Right there, that cost us 21 points in the game. And we did not capitalize on a fourth-and-goal from the half-foot line (just before the half). Those things have to change for the better against Rye."

He said the players have not changed their approach despite the result Saturday.

"Our guys aren't shying away from anybody," Michael said. "(Senior fullback) Mike Brophy can't wait to play Rye. He and a bunch of kids like to rise to the occasion. They're not scared of any team. He has become a vocal leader, especially in recent weeks. When everybody else was down (at Bronxville), he and Connor Madigan tried to keep everybody going."

The Pirates will continue to run a varied offense, with the running of Brophy and Madigan leading the way. Quarterback John Brebbia's top target is senior Josh Wilson, but Pearl River spreads the ball around.

Garr also touched on what may be Pearl River's biggest advantage -- senior kicker/punter Connor O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan can hit from long distance, which he proved with a 52-yarder in the rain early in the season. He also proved he can make a clutch field goal by making a game-winner with 22 seconds remaining against Nyack. He makes just as big of an impact by driving most of his kickoffs into the end zone and changing field position with his punts.

Pearl River also has the desire to quickly put the game at Bronxville in the past. Michael was looking ahead moments after it ended.

"We will get right back to the drawing board," Michael said after the game. "And we are going to make Rye remember us one way or the other."