Section 1 football: Late surge lifts Rye to 35-21 win over Yorktown in Class A showdown

YORKTOWN HEIGHTS ‒ The miscues continue to confound, but the missteps that usually syphon momentum are easily outnumbered by big plays in big moments.

We've seen this before.

Rye overcame more self-inflicted adversity with timely execution on Friday and held off Yorktown, posting a 35-21 road win. A feisty comeback was derailed in the fourth quarter when the undefeated Garnets wore down an upset-minded team and scored a pair of touchdowns.

"I think it happens every game," junior quarterback Carson Miller said. "We always have at least one error where we look back on film and are like, 'We should've got that one' but our resilience is so key and that comes from great leadership."

There are plenty of new names and numbers in the lineup this season, but the reigning state champions had the same ability to overcome the momentary lapses last fall. Nothing was going to get in the way of a dream to play for a championship in the Dome.

It's the same with this roster.

"Our group is special," senior linebacker Andrew Wilmarth said. "We've been playing together for such a long time and when we make a simple mistake we never get on each other, like, 'How did you miss that block?' We lift each other up, which is honestly the best way to win games."

Tyler Galante wound up in the end zone three times for Yorktown.

He caught a 20-yard scoring pass from Kaden Gonzalez in the closing minutes of the third quarter and it was suddenly a 21-21 contest. Ty Ramachandran quieted The Crop, scoring on an 8-yard run with 10:28 to play and Miller won a race to the pylon with 5:10 remaining.

Aside from a roughing the passer flag that prolonged the ensuing Huskers drive, the defense was on point down the stretch.

What it means

Rye is going to be a tough out. Don't forget, the Garnets won a NYSPHSAA Class B title last year. They bumped up this season and are favored to play for the Section 1 Class A title along with Somers. Yorktown did not flinch. The Huskers control their own postseason destiny with a win against Brewster next week and are perhaps the only team capable of worrying the frontrunners.

"We've played two state championship teams," Yorktown coach Pantelis Ypsilantis said. "I think us and Harrison are the only teams in Section 1 that had to play them both, and we hung with Somers and we hung with Rye and I think it's a good sign that our team is right there. Just like the Somers game, Rye made a few more plays than us and we ran out of gas near the end, but I'm super proud of my team. I thought our fight was amazing."

Names and numbers: Here is the lohud high school football scoreboard for Oct.18-19

Play of the game

Galante brought the opening kickoff back 95 yards for a touchdown, but Rye answered in a matter of seconds when Miller went deep, connecting with Henry Shoemaker for a 76-yard TD on the Garnets' first play from scrimmage.

Yorktown never had a chance to enjoy the early lead.

"We actually messed up on that play," Miller said. "It was supposed to be motion to Tucker (Hess), but he missed it and the defensive back on Henry was pressing up instead of dropping back. Shoe just did his thing, beat the guy and went 76 yards to the crib."

Game balls

▶ Ramachandran was again the lead back for Rye with Chris Iuliano missing another game due to injury and he delivered 103 yards and one TD on 17 carries.

▶ Galante continued a breakout year, taking a kickoff 95 yards to the house and catching five passes for 43 yards and the final two Yorktown touchdowns.

▶ Miller completed 10 of 18 passing attempts for 152 yards and two scores. He was intercepted at the Huskers' 5-yard line in the closing minutes of the first half. Miller also ran for 77 yards and one TD on six carries.

They said it

"We're looking forward to playing Harrison next week," Wilmarth said. "This week, it's like the practices completely changed, two weeks before the game. We all just kind of locked in, like no joking around whatsoever. Our eyes are focused on Harrison."

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Section 1 football: Late surge lifts Rye to 35-21 win over Yorktown in Class A showdown