Homecoming festivities spoiled at John Jay by high-flying Eagles

The senior class marched in the homecoming parade dressed for the board game Candyland. Photos by Jim MacLean

Nick Rinaldi drags a couple of would-be Dobbs Ferry tacklers before breaking free for a touchdown.

Quarterback Patty Ryan carries for the Wolves.

By JIM MACLEAN 

Homecoming is a special day at any high school and for any football team. It can really fire you up, or the festivities can also turn into a bit of a distraction to make a team lose focus.

And sometimes a good opponent can come in and take advantage of an opportunity and spoil the festivities. That was certainly the case for homecoming at John Jay on Saturday, Sept. 27, as the undefeated Dobbs Ferry Eagles came to town to take on the Wolves.

Before John Jay even had a chance to run a play on offense, Dobbs Ferry had opened up a quick 14-0 lead. The Eagles grabbed hold of the momentum, took the crowd out of the game and opened up a 27-0 lead on their way to handing John Jay a 61-34 setback.

Dobbs Ferry came into the game with a high-flying offense with multiple weapons led by quarterback Jackson Kearns, and the Eagles wasted no time marching down the field on the opening drive of the game as Kearns carried it in for a 7-0 lead.

John Jay fumbled the ensuing kick off, and Dobbs Ferry was back in the end zone three plays later for a quick 14-0 lead.

The Wolves appeared to answer back on their ensuing drive as Nick Rinaldi broke loose for a 60-yard run into the end zone, but it was called back due to a holding penalty. After the Wolves were forced to punt, Dobbs Ferry struck again with Kearns connecting on a long touchdown pass to Ryan Mohl for a 20-0 lead.

Penalties and miscues hurt John Jay again on the ensuing drive, and despite a leaping one-handed catch from Rinaldi, the Wolves failed to get a first down and the Eagles took over on their own 25-yard line. Two plays later Kearns connected on another long pass down to the John Jay six-yard line, and Killian O’Connor carried it in for the touchdown and a 27-0 lead.

Rinaldi continued to do all he could to inspire his teammates on the John Jay sideline as he returned the ensuing kick off to the 37-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, Rinaldi broke free for a 63-yard touchdown carry to get John Jay on the scoreboard and make it 27-7 after James Bysshe converted the PAT kick.

It didn’t take long for Dobbs Ferry to answer as Kearns connected on a 36-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Ravage to make it 34-7.

Once again Rinaldi answered, as he capped off the ensuing John Jay drive with a five-yard touchdown run to make it 34-13 at the half.

Any thoughts of a second half comeback were dashed early as Kearns scored his third rushing touchdown of the game on the Eagles first possession of the half to make it 41-13, and then on the first play of John Jay’s ensuing possession, Kearns came up with an interception and returned it for a touchdown to make it 48-13.

The John Jay offense answered as Rinaldi broke free for another long gain down inside the Dobbs Ferry 10-yard line, and quarterback Patty Ryan carried it in from five yards out to make it 48-20.

Kearns struck again for a 70-yard touchdown pass to Ravage to make it 55-20, and Rinaldi answered again with a 39-yard touchdown carry to make it 48-27.

Dobbs Ferry continued to chew up the clock and move the ball as the Eagles dominated time of possession and scored again for a 61-27 lead with five minutes left to play.

Chase Carvajal returned the ensuing kick off for a touchdown for John Jay to make the final score 61-34 as the Wolves fell to 0-3 on the season.

Despite the loss, it was an impressive performance from Rinaldi for John Jay as the junior had 12 carries for 187 yards and three touchdowns, and he also made two catches for 23 yards. Ryan had 10 carries for 41 yards and a touchdown, and he completed six of 11 passes for 67 yards. James Tesi had three catches for 30 yards, but the Wolves offense barely had the ball as Dobbs Ferry kept them off the field.

John Jay will try to bounce back on the road Saturday, Oct. 4, as the Wolves travel to Byram Hills.