Abbie Dymond, Executive Editor
@abbiedcourant
Despite having many key players out with injuries, and a lot of underclassmen out on the field, the Rams’ drive to win was unfazed, as they shut out the Xavier falcons 31-0 in their season opener on September 10th in Middletown.
It was truly a team effort that contributed to their win. “It was a team effort and I’m really proud of everybody together,” assistant coach Chris Silvestri said.
The Rams’ teamwork and trust in each other were evident throughout the game. Sophomore quarterback, Alex Russey, stated, “I have a lot of guys that I can trust, and all my teammates are great.”
With the help of head coach Lou Marinelli, the Rams were able to set the pace of the game right off the bat. Less than three minutes into the first quarter, Senior Hunter Telesco scored a 12-yard rushing touchdown, the first of his four to come.
Following Telesco’s first touchdown, Senior Ty Groff, an All-State kicker, scored an extra point at 9:01 of the first quarter. The Rams remained in control of the game for the rest of the quarter, with a 33-yard passing touchdown from Alex to Hunter at 4:11 to go. Again, Groff scored an extra point following Hunter’s touchdown.
With two extra points already under his belt and recovering from a break in his non-throwing hand, Groff’s highlight of the game was in the second quarter at 10:01 when he kicked a 48-yard field goal, breaking the school’s record of 47 set by Bob Warden in 1990.
Following the impressive field goal, Telesco scored a rushing 54-yard touchdown at 6:43 into the second quarter, where Groff once again won an extra point for the Rams.
In the third quarter, initiated by an interception by senior Matthew Salmini, Telesco then scored his fourth and final touchdown with 2:15 to go, followed by another extra point from Groff.
Ending the third quarter, the score was 31-0, and although that concluded the Rams’ scoring, the defensive line came through, not allowing a single point despite Xavier calling three time-outs and it being the last quarter.
Although the Rams continued to be a brick wall, Coach Silvestri noted that there is work to be done in preparation for the next game. “When you get tired, it’s tough to focus on those small little things, and we just need to keep working on small things, small things, small things,” he said. “Football is a game of focus and worrying about the play at hand and not worrying about the last play or the play in front. You focus on the play now.”
Starting the season off with not only a win but a shutout sets the pace for the rest of the season. “If you win the first game, it kind of propels you into a different mindset for the rest of the season. You’re excited to come to practice, and you’re excited to work,” Coach Silvestri said.
