Champions Week: Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk

RAVENA, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — The final stop along the “Champions Week” tour takes us to a program that has been a model of consistency over the last few seasons: Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk. But the three-time defending Class B champs are undergoing some major changes, and a new chapter in the program’s history begins next week.

For the last 41 seasons, if you looked over to the RCS sideline, you’d see the often-animated, quick-witted football savant that was head coach Gary VanDerzee.

After over four decades guiding Ravena, VanDerzee announced his retirement last season. In steps Eric Stott, who was an assistant coach on VanDerzee’s staff the last three seasons, to take over where the legendary ball coach left off.

“I’ve come to understand that there’s no filling those shoes,” said Stott. “You can only continue the legacy that he’s built. I’ve got to do my best to continue to promote everything that he’s promoted over the last 40 years: family, doing the right thing, and really just putting out something that we can be proud of as a community.”

Stott will absorb a program that has been one of the most dominant in the state for Class B in recent years. The newly re-named Ravens, again, are coming off not one, not two, but three straight section titles.

And Stott doesn’t plan on doing too much tweaking to the formula that’s garnered the team so much success.

“I don’t think this team will look a whole lot different than teams of the past. We’re really gonna pride ourselves on defense, and we’re gonna pride ourselves on running the football. So, hopefully it looks pretty familiar to many people. The biggest difference will be that the logo on the helmet is a raven instead of an Indian.”

What changes Stott has made seem to be resonating with some of the returners, including 1,000-yard running back Ethan Green, and junior Mason Carkner, who will be taking over at quarterback.

“Doing newer things instead of sticking to the old playbook that we had – I think it’s a lot better for the team,” said Green, a senior. “And I think we can go a lot further this year.”

“It’s definitely a new vibe,” said Carkner, who threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games last year. “Younger, just kind of, like, flashy. We’re just all over the place. We’re fast, more flexed out. It’s easier for me to understand, ’cause it’s more, like, “new-style football.”

Sticking with the theme of “new,” this is a very new squad personnel-wise after Ravena graduated its starting quarterback, Kaden Potter, lead running back, Dominick Paljusaj, and top three wide receivers.

But you don’t win three straight section titles without having a solid pipeline, and there’s a lot of optimism surrounding this new flock of Ravens.

“The [junior varsity] program from last year was very talented,” said Stott. “We bring up a junior class that has a lot of talent to it. And we’re hopeful that we can hit the ground running with that group.”

And according to senior lineman and captain Keegan McClellan, that group has started to turn heads.

“I think as we’ve been practicing, we’ve been looking a lot better,” said McClellan. “A lot of former JV kids have stepped up, and it’s looking good. I’m excited for the season.”

While Stott is looking to make his own imprint on Ravena football, he recognizes how his predecessor paved the way to allow him to take over such an accomplished program.

“Between the mascot and the coaching staff all changing at once, there’s a lot to be excited about,” said Stott. “It’s a work in progress with some of the things that we’re trying to build. But most of it has already been laid with such a wonderful foundation by the former staff of Coach [Jack] Kerrigan, Coach [Bob] Dorrance and Coach VanDerzee.”

Ravena’s quest for a four-peat begins next Friday with a matchup against Class A foe Columbia in Week 0. That’s also the start of 1st and 10 ! NEWS10 Sports has you covered with all your local high school football action all season long; every Friday at 10:30 on FOX and 11 on ABC.

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