There will be a number of issues to correct after the game tape is dissected, but Rye took a step forward and re-established momentum a week after absorbing its first loss of the season.
Getting better week to week is obviously a theme.
The Garnets used a diversified offense to run away from a beat-up Eastchester team, posting a 35-13 win Saturday at Haindl Field.
"We're taking everything in stride, taking it game by game, but we're definitely improving every day," sophomore quarterback Andrew Livingstone said. "We're finding our spots offensively. We're versatile. And we showed we have a short memory when it comes to a loss like the one we had (against Sleepy Hollow)."
The Eagles (0-3) are down five starters on defense.
"We've really been all banged up since the New Rochelle camp, but it's no excuse," Eastchester coach Fred DiCarlo said. "It's hard to make up for the players we lost with only 23 guys. They are working hard, but that's not good enough at the moment."
And the schedule isn't helping with Yorktown and Brewster up next.
Rye didn't waste time exploiting the holes, and Jimmy Dugan capped a clock-eating drive with a 1-yard plunge. Livingston was 5 for 5 on PATs. Tim DeGraw went 40 yards on a counter play in the opening minutes of the second quarter, helping to extend the lead to 14-0.
"The linemen did the work, but I'm getting credit for it," he said. "It's a tough play to recognize and we ran it well."
Jack Hasselmann caught a 14-yard touchdown pass in the final minute of the half, powering through a trio of tacklers at the goal line, and it was 21-0 at intermission. The Garnets (2-1) came out after the break and ran down more clock before DeGraw went in from 7 yards out.
The defense wasn't stifling, but Rye kept the Eagles off the board until the lead was 28-0. Shane O'Malley was the featured back after halftime, and he kept the clock moving with first down after first down.
"A lot of guys stepped up today and the line did a good job," he said. "After the loss, we came back and practiced hard, then getting a touchdown off that first drive set us up great for the rest of the game."
