Unchartered Waters for the Scarsdale Football Team

It took time, energy and a conference change to demonstrate what the Scarsdale Football program was capable of. Yet after beginning the 2010 campaign 3-0, the hard work put in by head coach Andy Verboys and his players is finally paying off. The strong start by this year’s Raiders team began with an impressive opening victory against Roy C. Ketcham, a team that walloped the Raiders 42-0 just two seasons ago. It also includes a victory over Ossining and Lincoln, while falling to a strong Yorktown program by just a touchdown.

In the last four seasons, the Raiders have begun either 1-3 or 0-4 while facing much larger high-school programs. The slow beginnings resulted in a combined 11-15 record during that stretch coming into 2010. But what has transpired through the first month of the season illustrates a complete understanding of the systematic Raiders approach to winning football games.

When Verboys was put in charge of the Varsity program, he implemented the triple option offense giving the Raiders an entirely different look than the more traditional offensive approach they had taken in years past. This run-heavy package requires an athletic quarterback who understands how to read the reactions of the opposing defense every single play. What makes the option offense successful is a signal caller with the understanding of when to run the ball himself, and when to hand (or pitch) the ball off to a running back.

This year the Raiders have that player in Brian Bauersfeld. The Senior quarterback has mastered the offensive style brought to Scarsdale by Verboys, and through four games the statistics tell the story. The Raiders have attempted twice as many running plays as they have passes, and are averaging a remarkable seven yards per carry on the ground. Yet in addition to the improved ground game, Bauersfeld has thrown for nine touchdowns with just one interception while completing over 70% of his passes. The two-pronged attack has created a potent Raider offense averaging over 28 points per game.

And it isn’t just strong play from the quarterback position. Wide Receivers Matt Wheeler and Will Hewitt provide Scarsdale with a lethal receiving core as Wheeler returns after a strong junior season while Hewitt is the tallest member of the Raiders at 6’ 4. In the backfield is a trio of running backs as captain Lewis Leone is flanked by fellow senior Johan Drakes and big play threat Anthony Cugini. The dynamic offense has given Verboys the ability to utilize a number of different plays from the typical spread formation with the quarterback under center.

With two games remaining in the regular season, the Raiders are trying to make the playoffs, a rarity in the program’s recent history, and have an opportunity to improve upon its record this Saturday when it faces a winless Mamaroneck team on the road. Scarsdale finishes the year against conference powerhouse Fox Lane on the turf on October 16th. Whether the Raiders are poised to finish the year as strong as they have started it remains to be seen, yet if the numbers indicate anything, be prepared for an offensive barrage from this improved Scarsdale program.

Photo captions: Top: Brian Bauersfeld, Middle: Anthony Cugini, Bottom: Will Hewitt.  All photos courtesy of Al Berman