Sports

Pearl River Football Practice Begins

The Pearl River football team opens practice this 2 p.m. Friday, with the rest of the fall sports set to begin Aug. 22.

The Pearl River football team opens practice 2 p.m. Friday as the Pirates prepare for a very different schedule from the one they faced in 2010.

Pearl River played an independent league schedule in 2010, taking on teams at a comparable level. The Pirates went 7-2, defeated rival Nanuet, 20-0, for the Little Brown Jug and reached the independent league championship game before losing to Tappan Zee for the second time that season. The teams in the independent league had to give up the right to compete for a section title.

"This year, the proposal was to retain some ability-based scheduling, but get all of the teams back in Class A," said Pearl River Director of Athletics Todd Santabarbara.

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The independent league was dissolved, with Pearl River returning to Class A. Now Tappan Zee is off the schedule, as are 2010 opponents Pawling, Port Chester, Peekskill, Beacon and Byram Hills.They have been replaced by Gorton, Riverside, Walter Panas, Nyack, Spring Valley and Bronxville. Pearl River opens the 2011 schedule at Gorton Sept. 10, with the first home game Sept. 17 against Riverside.

Only Nanuet remains on the 2011 schedule. Each team was able to request one rivalry game and Nanuet was Pearl River's top choice. The rivals will play for the Little Brown Jug 2 p.m. Oct. 13 at Pearl River.

Find out what's happening in Pearl Riverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"The football team had a successful season in the independent league," Santabarbara said. "Now all of the teams are back in Class A with more rigorous competition, so we will see how that unfolds."

The schedules were put together using the Section 1 football committee rankings for 2011, which were based on the program's history, returning players, returning all-stars and the junior varsity program. They ranked Pearl River No. 14 in Class A, right in the middle of the 27 teams.

Pearl River Varsity Football

2010 results
at Tappan Zee, 9-2 loss
Pawling, 29-0 victory
at Port Chester, 24-12 victory
at Peekskill, 29-6 victory
Beacon, 14-13 victory
at Nanuet, 20-0 victory
Byram Hills, 14-13 victory
Playoffs
Port Chester, 31-19 victory
at Tappan Zee, 20-0 loss

2011 schedule
Sept. 10 - at Gorton, 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 17 - vs. Riverside, 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 - at Walter Panas, 7 p.m.
Oct. 1 - home vs. Nyack, 3 p.m.
Oct. 6 - home vs. Spring Valley, 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 13 - home vs. Nanuet, 2 p.m.
Oct. 22 - at Bronxville, 7 p.m.


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