Wildcats Maul St. Luke’s 42-7, Remain Unbeaten

The way some people see it, the Clash of the Titans didn’t take place in Harrison this weekend, but in Rye. While “The Game” received most of the attention, as usual, unbeaten Rye Country Day hosted also-unbeaten St. Luke’s, Fairchester co-champs with the Wildcats in 2010.

By Mitch Silver

Though RCDS beat the Storm last year 18-12, the two teams finished the season knotted at the top with 5-1 records. Sharing the title with a team you defeated still rankled a year later.

It doesn’t rankle anymore. Rye Country Day took the opening kickoff and, despite a couple of penalties, ran the ball over, under, around, and through St. Luke’s until Raishaun McGee scored on a sweep right with 1:08 left in the quarter.

The ensuing squib kickoff was fumbled, and the Wildcats went right back to the ground game. QB Garrett Washington didn’t attempt his first pass of the game until more than 15 minutes had ticked off the board, and he tried only one more the whole game; a passing attack just wasn’t necessary. Want proof? By the time the Wildcats scored their second TD with eight minutes left in the half, St. Luke’s, incredibly, hadn’t run a play from scrimmage.

By game’s end, Andrew Miller had 19 carries for 100 yards and Sam Stern another 90 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Raishaun McGhee added two rushing touchdowns and the Wildcats forced six turnovers on defense. This despite facing Noel Thomas, named Connecticut’s outstanding junior running back by MSG Varsity.

“This senior class is a special group,” said head coach John Calandros. “We have the entire starting backfield from last year and most of our offensive line. This class is one of the strongest senior groups I’ve coached in my tenure.”

The win leaves RCDS atop the league with an overall 5-0 record. They’ll travel to Hamden Hall October 22, the only Fairchester foe to beat them last year.

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