Football
Alex Benson had a dazzling 90-yard kick return touchdown in the second quarter for the Beacon High School football team on Saturday.
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, that scamper was one of their few highlights and the only point-producing play as Beacon fell to Rye, 42-7, at home in the season opener.
“We had six sophomores on the field, so it’s a young team,” Bulldogs coach Tony Truscello said. “Playing against an experienced team like Rye, they had to learn a lot on the go. But they did see a good program up close and hopefully they learn something from this that we can take into next week.”
This was Truscello’s first game in his second stint as head coach of the Bulldogs. He had led the team previously from 2002-2005. He served as the offensive coordinator the last five seasons before taking over this summer.
Truscello’s goal in the preseason was to install a no-huddle offense. His team’s comfort with the new system wasn’t as much of a factor in this contest as it was, Rye’s offensive and defensive lines controlling the game, the coach said.
One positive, Truscello said, was Jaden Navarro making his first start at quarterback and gaining experience.
“We had four guys who weren’t eligible and didn’t play because they haven’t had enough practices,” Truscello said. “Because of that, we had some people playing out of position and we were undermanned. “We’re looking forward to having them next week.”
Beacon visits Peekskill at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4826, Twitter: @StephenHaynes4