MIDDLETOWN – There aren’t enough superlatives to describe how great this Rye football team has been in 2025. Explosive, electrifying, and relentless are some buzzwords that come to mind, but “dominant” might be most appropriate at this point.
At the most critical juncture of the season, the Garnets have put together dominating performances week after week. Friday’s 35-7 state semifinal victory over Cornwall looked like just another day at the office for one of the most overpowering teams in the state.
A week after scoring the first six touchdowns in a 42-14 rout of Section 9 champion Minisink Valley, the Garnets got out to another strong start against Cornwall, the Section 9 runner-up. The Garnets improved to 13-0 and clinched a berth in the Class A state championship game next Friday against either Union-Endicott (9-2) or Brighton (10-2) at Syracuse University.
“I’m so proud of everything you’ve done,” coach Dino Garr told his players following the win. “We’re on our way to the dome because of the hard work you’ve put in this season.”
With every passing week, the numbers the Garnets have piled up this season become more impressive. Thirteen wins matches the most by any team in school history (tying the 2008 state championship team), and the 542 points scored are also a school record.
Senior quarterback Carson Miller has 3,279 passing yards this season, the most of any player in Section 1 history, and needs just one touchdown pass to tie Rye’s Declan Lavelle for another single-season section record (36).
Miller’s favorite target, senior receiver Henry Shoemaker, has 1,665 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns, both Section 1 records. Another score would make Shoemaker the seventh player in state history with 20 receiving touchdowns in a single season.
While the team seems to topple a new record every Friday, those marks are secondary to the ultimate goal of winning a state championship. One more win will give the Garnets their fifth state title, second in the past three years, and the first in Class A. Previous championships in 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2023 were all in Class B, the latest coming when the current senior class was in their sophomore seasons.
“It means so much for us to make it back to the dome,” said senior captain Carsten Steinmann, who led the way on defense Friday. “This entire team has worked so hard. We’re all excited for the chance to win that first Class A championship.”
The semifinal was a rematch of 2019, when the Dragons bested the Garnets in the same round. But this time, Rye took control from the opening moments.
Rye scored quickly on its first possession, but not without a devastating blow. On the second play from scrimmage, senior running back Charlie Garnett churned up the field on a 20-yard scamper, but was brought down on his shoulder by a Cornwall defender. With damage to his AC joint, it’s unclear whether Garnett will play in next week’s finale.
Rye has relied on Garnett all season to power its run game, with over 1,000 yards rushing and 22 scores on the year. Nonetheless, the team had to turn to its deep bench, with senior Ben Stigliano and junior Jagger Fenton anchoring the ground game the rest of the way.
Fenton provided the game’s opening score, his first rushing touchdown since the team’s season-opener in this very stadium back in September.
Despite the loss of Garnett, the team’s fast and furious offense managed to strike again on the next possession, with Miller throwing a screen pass to Shoemaker, who evaded multiple defenders to give the Garnets a 14-0 lead.
Rye has won every game this season by at least two scores, and many opponents have been put away early, with the Garnets stringing together multiple first-quarter scoring drives. But Cornwall stayed in the contest by capitalizing on a rare Rye error, a fumble at midfield that gave the Dragons good field position. Quarterback Danny Twomey completed back-to-back passes, the second one a 40-yard strike to receiver Aaden Hershberger to cut the Garnet lead to seven.
Rye fired back on the next possession, however, with Miller finding four different Garnet receivers (Shoemaker, junior Charlie Brady, and seniors Sebastian Lewis and Nigel Strazzini), and finishing it off himself with a two-yard run into the end zone.
Cornwall’s attempt to get back within striking distance before halftime failed, as junior Luke Denvir picked off a deep pass and returned it 60 yards. Shoemaker missed a 42-yard field goal attempt as time expired, and Cornwall started the third quarter with the ball, giving the Dragons another chance to cut into the deficit. But coming out of the locker room, Miller and the Garnets had other plans.
“We’re on the doorstep to greatness,” Miller said. “We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to go to the dome, we need to get it done now. We like that they’re starting with the ball, because we get to take it away from them and score.”
The senior captain’s words were promptly put into action. A key third-down pass breakup by Fenton gave Rye the ball back. Miller then threw a bomb to Lewis, who made a tremendous leaping grab to put the Garnets in Dragon territory. The very next play, Miller found Shoemaker for his second score of the game, giving the Garnets a comfortable 28-7 lead.
With time slipping away, Cornwall needed to find the end zone quickly, but after securing a few first downs, a Twomey pass bounced off his receiver’s hands and into the arms of Steinmann for his first career interception. Miller threw a touchdown to Strazzini for Rye’s fifth and final score.
When all was said and done, Rye held Cornwall to its lowest point total since last season’s loss to Somers in the state playoffs (7), and extended an 11-game streak with at least 35 points scored. The Garnets have now won 33 of their past 34 games, and have a date with destiny next Friday in Syracuse.
The Garnets have won each of their past four appearances at Syracuse’s JMA Wireless Dome (2005, 2007, 2008, and 2023), with their most recent loss coming in 2003 against Chenango Forks. With a win in the state title game, Rye would be the fifth team in state history with at least five state championships, passing Somers for the most of any team in Section 1.
