It was nearly two years ago that Dino Garr and his battalion of talented football players hoisted a state championship trophy above their heads in Syracuse, ending a 15-year drought with a decisive victory over Maine-Endwell.
Thoughts of a return to greatness were in full force last fall, until a 20-game win streak came to a sudden halt in the Section 1 title game against Somers last November. With hopes dashed after a Tuskers comeback in the second half, it seemed like the question for many fans and returning players was simply: what next?
Five of the six Garnet football captains have graduated, all of them multi-year starters at their respective positions, and each is playing a sport in college. The lone returning captain, senior quarterback Carson Miller, is anchoring the offense, and is nothing but confident and excited entering the fall.
“We feel well-prepared and are in the mindset to decimate every team we face for the next three months,” Miller said. “I am so beyond excited for this season and getting out there one last time with all my best friends … my expectations are to go undefeated and win a championship.”
Miller will be surrounded by familiar faces at many positions, with seniors Henry Shoemaker and Thomas Goldszer slated to anchor the receiving core this year. At running back, senior Charlie Garnett makes his return to Rye after a year at the Taft School in Connecticut. His addition, announced just last month, fills a large gap at the position left by two-year starter Chris Iuliano.
“We’re excited to have Charlie back for us this year,” said coach Dino Garr. “His family has been nothing but supportive to this program … I expect him to have a big impact for us on both sides of the ball.”
The offensive line will be helmed by senior captain Carsten Steinmann, who’s served as a “super utility man” of sorts over the past two years. He has played a variety of roles on both sides of the ball and on special teams.
On defense, another new captain, senior Nigel Strazzini, is leading the way after a breakout season in 2024. Strazzini’s tackling prowess and ball coverage skills helped the Garnets hold teams to just 13.3 points per game last year, among the lowest in Section 1.
One thing that won’t be changing is the presence of Garr on the sidelines.
Garr remains at the helm along with his same cast of assistant coaches, and will be marking his 50th year as a head coach in Westchester County. He’s just four wins away from passing Howie Vogts (Bethpage High School) for the most wins in New York state football history.
While leading the Garnets to four state championships, the expectations Garr sets for his team tend to remain consistent. Despite recent success in the playoffs, this year is no different.
“Our expectations are always the same: beat Harrison, win our league, and go far into the playoffs,” Garr said. “We lost a lot of great players last year, but our underclassmen will step up.”
The schedule for the Garnets this season may be their most challenging in years. A rare regular-season matchup against defending state champion Somers is slated as the Section 1 opener for the Garnets, and games against Middletown, Yorktown, Fox Lane, and of course, Harrison, will be highlights of the eight-week grind.
The competition may be as fierce as ever, but the team’s attitude and confidence remain the same.
“As we’ve gotten better, our competition has continued to strengthen,” Garr said. “They’re all good teams … but we’re always up for the challenge.”
The season starts Sept. 5 with a “Week 0” matchup at Middletown. The Garnets have not lost a season opener against a non-section opponent in 20 years, going 4-0 over that span and most recently upsetting Monsignor Farrell last year.
“The path [to a title] is brutal and there are going to be ups and downs,” Miller said. “We are prepared for the worst, and no matter what, we’re going to give this season everything we have.”
