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RYE, N.Y. -- Even though Rye had an uncharacteristic three-game losing streak to open the 2011 football season, the topic of not making the playoffs never entered the Garnets collective minds.
The Garnets were well aware that they dug themselves a deep hole and it would be inescapable if they lost one more regular-season game. However, instead of dwelling on the negative and the mere thought of missing the Section 1 Class A Championship, Rye rebounded in a big way.
The Garnets capped their second-half surge by closing out the regular season with a 20-0 victory over visiting Lakeland, Friday. Rye finishes with a 4-3 record and will await its first-round opponent. The Section 1 Football Championships seeding meeting will be held, Sunday. The first round is scheduled to begin, Thursday.
The only thing that was on our minds was that we were not going to lose another game, said starting left tackle Peter Wittwer. After the Ossining game, the captains spoke to the team and we told them that we had to come back focused, run the table and we would make the playoffs.
At the beginning of the year we werent executing and now we feel we are running all cylinders. And with Jake (Meyerson) moving to running back, that has made us so much better.
Meyerson, in his fifth game at running back, carried 10 times for 72 yards and a touchdown. He set up his 2-yard score with a 31-yard run. Fullback Joe Simolacaj rumbled for 65 yards on 13 rushes and a score and Jimmy Dugan had a 79-yard scoring run.
Rye came out and wasted little time, scoring on its initial possession. The Garnets moved 45 yards in six plays. Facing third-and-2 from Lakelands 37, Meyerson burst through the line before being dragged down at the 6. Two plays later, Meyerson took a toss and began sweeping right, but stopped on a dime, and cut back left into the end zone, untouched, with 8:15 remaining.
We knew we needed to come out and play like we did against Harrison, Meyerson said. We came out and did everything we needed to do.
Rye also learned a lesson from last years win over archrival Harrison. In 2010, after a thrilling win over Harrison, Rye was promptly eliminated from the playoffs by Somers. Rye did not want to lose again, off the Harrison game.
Winning the Harrison game was great, but we had more important things to think about and set our sights on our next goal, said Wittwer, along with his offensive linemates had another excellent game. Rye made sure it prepared itself properly and did not overlook Lakeland, which was also fighting for a possible play-off berth.
Meyersons touchdown set the tone of the game. The offense has been producing points during this stretch, but the defense turned in another strong performance.Rye limited Lakelands featured back, Dan Eremita, to 60 yards on 13 carries. Lakeland finished with 79 yards rushing and 11 yards passing.
We felt we took No. 42 out of the game right away, Meyerson said. Lakelands deepest penetration occurred in the second half. The Hornets marched methodically from their 45 to Ryes 19. On third-and-8, Lakeland mistimed the snap, resulting in a loss of 25 yards.Lakeland 0 0 0 0 -- 0Rye 14 0 0 6 -- 20
Rye -- Jake Meyerson 2 run (kick failed).Rye -- Jimmy Dugan 79 run (Dylan Lynch pass from Andrew Livingston).Rye -- Joe Simolacaj 12 run (kick failed).
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