Mark Vollmer –

The RCDS football team is ready to take on the 2021 season. Following an underwhelming 2019 campaign and an unfortunate loss of 2020’s season due to Covid, the underclassmen as well as returning players could not wait to get out to play. 

To start the season, RCDS faced off against rival school Fieldston in a preseason scrimmage. Though this game was not official, the players were ready and eager to perform. The two year layoff contributed to the anticipation even more. While the Wildcats did not come out victorious, the team kept their heads up, knowing they still had an exciting season ahead.

Riverdale Country School was the opposition for game one of the regular season. The Wildcats put on a show through their offense while their defense proved resilient. The game started with a fluky snap by Riverdale putting RCDS ahead. On offense, Michael McGhee, ‘23, and Cole Denson, ‘24, added to the lead, each with a touchdown, putting the Wildcats up 14-0. However, after touchdowns to close out the first half and open up the second half, Riverdale had the advantage 15-14.

The Wildcats did not give up. Quarterback Henry Cohn, ‘23, found Denson, who glided into the end zone with ease. To put the final nail in the coffin, Sean Smith, ’22, had a superb 90 yard touchdown catch to secure the Wildcat victory 28-15.

In the following game, RCDS traveled to Brooklyn to face Poly Prep Country Day School. Rumor had it that the Blue Devils were the Wildcats’ most formidable opponent coming into the 2021 season, and this proved true. Poly Prep took an early lead and won with a final score of 34-6.

On October 2^nd, the Wildcats returned home for their third game of the season on a Saturday afternoon. Standing across the line of scrimmage was the familiar foe Fieldston. 

The players put on a stellar performance. In the midst of the first quarter, Fieldston exploited the Wildcats’ blown coverage and scored a touchdown. Following an RCDS fumble, Fieldston drove down, added a field goal, leading 10-0. In the second quarter, RCDS responded with Denson scoring on a thirty yard touchdown pass, ending the half with a score of 10-6.

No points were scored in the third quarter– the powerful defenses of both teams held their ground– but the Wildcats took the lead in the fourth quarter with McGhee scoring a touchdown, adding to the lead with a two-point conversion. Fieldston’s  response was a methodical touchdown drive, leading 17-14 with a wild lateral pass. However, with five minutes left in the game, McGhee took a sixty yard run to the house, with his teammate Jahan Arjomand, ‘22, blocking him from a tackle. The defense stayed strong and RCDS persevered in a 21-17 victory.

The win against Fieldston was huge for the morale of the team and gave the Wildcats a winning record of 2-1. With their eyes set on an Metropolitan Independent Football League (MIFL) title, the future of RCDS football looks bright.