Rye High Football

Garnets Honor One of Their Own in Eastchester Opener

By Mitch Silver

 

The coin flip before Rye High’s season opener against Eastchester Friday night at Nugent Stadium will have added significance. Coach Dino Garr and the Garnets will honor the late Ricky Kennedy, a star quarterback from 40 years ago, and his football-playing brothers by inviting the family onto the field for the ceremony. In addition, every Rye player will wear a number 10 decal on his helmet for the rest of the season in memory of the athlete known as Cakes (and also, Rock).

 

Coach Garr remembered Kennedy as “an outstanding young man; I’m saddened that he passed away. Four of the brothers—Marvin, George, Mike, and Ricky— played for Rye. All quarterbacks, all outstanding athletes. Mike was the leading scorer in Section 1 my first year as head coach, a captain of our Bowl-winning team. But they all contributed to the legacy; they were all part of the Garnet family.”

 

As for the game itself, Rye will be led by returning signal-called Declan Lavelle, recently named to the pre-season Elite 11 by the Journal News. Cousin Brendan Lavelle, a Penn commit, will run the football and anchor the linebacking corps. A third Lavelle, brother Liam, will contribute, as will some major talents at the skill positions, including ballhawks Quinn Kelly and Matt Tepedino.

 

Graduation claimed linemen Jack Iuliano, Tyler Webb, and Lachlan Nelson, among others, along with Lavelle’s favorite target, Chad Antico. Still, there should be enough talent to handle the visiting Eagles. Rye won handily at Eastchester a year ago, by a score of 38-6. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.