The day could not have been more perfect.
Skies were clear blue and the sun-washed foliage with garnet-red leaves danced in the crisp autumn air. Thousands from Rye and Harrison packed Nugent Stadium and the visiting bleachers, while a standing-room only crowd ringed the field.
The atmosphere was electric.
And perhaps best of all: Rye trounced Harrison 24-0 — the first time the Garnets had beaten their archrivals in three years. The victorious 8-0 Garnets took their traditional plunge into the chilly Blind Brook and splashed each other as the sun went down.
And the Garnets were not the only ones to celebrate.
The giant crowd cheered and chanted, the band serenaded the Rye fans, and announcer Steve Feeney called the plays over the public address system, blaring his traditional announcement of every Rye score.
While the wind grounded a planned skydiving entrance from stuntman/skydiver Jeff Provenzano (RHS class of 1994), conditions were excellent for the RHS classes that gathered in informal reunions before and after the game.
The Class of 2004 celebrated its 20-year reunion with more than 100 attendees, while the classes of ’94, ’95, and’ 96 held a collective gathering at the Snow Field parking lot on Post Road.
Before kickoff, members of the 1974 football team gathering for their 50th reunion were honored on the field.
Also before the game, Jake Kessner of Rye and Drew Haines of Harrison were named this year’s winners of the Chris Mello Award, named for 1994 Rye High School graduate Christopher Mello who died on 9/11. In addition to honoring an outstanding Rye scholar athlete who died way too soon, the award has served to create goodwill between the heated rivals.
“The atmosphere is incredible — both towns show a lot of school pride every year,” said Jay Little, a 2014 grad who played for the Garnets. “It’s fun to bump into people you haven’t seen in a while. This game is basically homecoming in Rye.”
Provenzano was disappointed he could not skydive into Saturday’s game, as he had from a helicopter in 2022. But he was thrilled to be at the game.
“Jumping over your hometown is always a dream,” said Provenzano, who has been with the Red Bull Air Force team since 2009 and appeared in the iconic barrel of monkeys scene in “Iron Man 3.” “This game is the biggest thing that happens in Rye. And we jump into NFL stadiums, so I connected the dots and realized I needed to jump into the Rye-Harrison game.”
The dive was also intended to celebrate Provenzano’s 30th reunion. Some of his classmates were at the game and had planned to meet for a post-game dinner.
“This game was always a big part of my high school experience and it’s great coming back to see old friends,” Povenzano said
In addition to the lopsided score, there were other crowd-pleasers for Rye fans. Just before halftime, a Rye field goal attempt struck a Harrison band member, sending instruments and feathered hats flying. Rye had to kick that field goal again, because of a penalty, and the second kick successfully sailed through the uprights.
“It’s an incredible environment — the community of the sport is unbelievable,” said Dan Brady, father of senior Garnet Connor Brady. “It makes you proud to be a Rye resident on days like today.”