Friday Night Neon Lights for Scarsdale Raiders Football Homecoming

Nicholas Ebner Borst (5) stiff-arms John Jay's would-be tackler.Raider fans came out strong for the neon themed homecoming against the John Jay Patriots of East Fishkill. The stands were packed with students, parents, grandparents, siblings and alums wearing neon shirts, beads and glow stick bands.

Coming into this game Scarsdale was 1-0. Captain and quarterback (senior) Nick Ebner Borst commented after the game that homecoming had particular significance for the team. At last year's varsity football playoff game, the Raiders lost to this John Jay team. The motivation of the loss got the team to prepare for fall by working out and lifting together immediately in the spring off season. Ebner Borst added that this season, they are facing a very tough schedule and have worked especially hard in the August football camp to prepare. More importantly, he emphasized that there is a special brotherhood of the thirty-five players on the varsity team made up of mostly juniors and seniors as well as two sophomores. The team has bonded so well at practice, eating together, extra lifting sessions and during downtime like watching pro football on Sundays that just last week a senior, Jackson Star decided to join the team to be part of this special family.

Senior Logan Mancusi (11) and Alex Krupkin (15) combine to make the tackleDespite the buzz and glow of the crowd, the homecoming game started off slow. The Raiders defense did a great job holding off the Patriot’s offense including a long pass tackle by #11, senior Logan Mancusi to prevent a touchdown. However, with 6:51 left in the first quarter, John Jay would kick a field goal making the score 0-3. This score would not change for the remainder of the half. A few defense plays to note were the quarterback sacks made by #42, junior Colin Brennen and by #50, junior Leo Green. In the last drive before the end of the half, the Raiders moved the ball down the field picking up yards by #15, junior Alex Krupkin with two consecutive run gains. However, in the last seventeen seconds of the first half and fourth down, there was a “hail mary” play which was intercepted by John Jay. The Patriots didn’t have time to do much as the clock ran down to zero. The half ended with a hard hit by #12, senior Mason Crane.

Junior Leo Green (50) fights off a John Jay blocker.There was amazing energy as Scarsdale’s offense, defense and special teams took the field at the start of the half making for very exciting third and fourth quarters. Scarsdale kicked off to John Jay and held them without a conversion. In Scarsdale’s first drive of the half they started on their own fifteen yard line. On the first down, #44, senior Ryan Gilligan was handed the football for a seventy yard rush to the Patriots fifteen yard line. After gaining a couple more yards, on fourth down, quarterback Ebner Borst scored a Raiders touchdown by running into the endzone from the eleven yard line. Number 17, captain and senior Mikey Vibbert kicked the extra point and the score was then 7-3 with 4:48 left in the third quarter. The Raider’s defense held the Patriots for the rest of the third quarter with impressive tackles by #50, junior Leo Green, #88, senior Andrew Burrows and #10, senior Michael Walsh. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, John Jay’s quarterback threw a long pass and the receiver scrambled for a touchdown. They made the extra point and the score was 7-10 with 10:49 left in the game. The Raiders went on to make two more touchdowns and held off the Patriots from scoring again. In the final minute of the game, #42, junior Colin Brennen had two consecutive quarterback sacks before the time ran out. The final score was 21-10 and the Raiders are now 2-0.

Neon Night in the stands.
In an interview with one of the four captains, Nick Ebner Borst, he was excited to talk about the very motivating locker room speech from Defense Assistant Coach Brian “Bags” Bagala. He said “Coach told us ‘Never fight alone. If you get punched in the mouth, you all fight back. You do your 1 of 11 together.’” Ebner Borst spoke about how they did just that in the second half. He thanked Junior Colin Brennan (42) takes a pitch and almost gets to the end zone.the defense and special teams for giving the offense team good field positions to make the points. Post game, Coach Bagala commented about the team saying, “they played hard, they played together.” He admires these boys for their teamwork, unselfish attitude, winning focus and humility. “This team doesn’t care who scores the touchdowns but is all about playing together and doing their part. We are looking forward to their next game away at Suffern on Friday”.

If Suffern is too far, Ebner Borst encourages all Raider fans to come out for their next home game on Friday October 18th vs Carmel at 6pm on Butler Field.

Photos by Dave Taber. See more here:

Senior Anders Burrows (88) and Junior Liam O’Neill (62) celebrate the Raiders win*

Junior Joseph Pappalardo (9) stops the John Jay runner for no gain.

Senior Ryan Gilligan (44) jump starts the Raiders with a long run in the 3rd quarter.

Senior Michael Vibbert (17) starts left before cutting back right to pick up extra yards.