Pigskin prognostications II

Our annual preview of private high school teams

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The Riverdale Country School’s Falcons and Ethical Culture Fieldston School’s Eagles have a clear-cut goal for the 2015-2016 season: to become champions of the Freelance Football League.

Number two on the list? Beat the other schools in Riverdale.

Last season, it was Fieldston that won the only meeting between the Falcons and Eagles. However, this season, the teams will meet twice.

While those meetings will have a huge impact in the league standings for both, the teams have a whole season ahead of them to plan for.

Meanwhile the Horace Mann Lions, fresh from their first undefeated season since 1957, will try to maintain their dominance with another round of victories in the Hudson Valley Football League.

Riverdale Falcons

Head coach: Lance Ramer

2014-2015 record: 3-6

Sometimes it’s not about the quantity, but the quality.

That’s the case for the Falcons, whose roster of 45 is only down by seven — seven seniors who were key members of the team.

One of those seniors who will not be back is quarterback Jordan Dubin, who was the team’s MVP last season.

He will be playing football at Harvard University this season, and his loss will perhaps leave the biggest hole to fill on the roster.

But Lance Ramer, Riverdale’s head coach, is aware of what he has to do to replace his Division 1-bound quarterback.

“We’re a different team,” Ramer said. “We’re not going to try to create another Jordan. We’re going to try to be the best with what we have and their skill set… that’s up to us as coaches to make sure we put them in a position to be successful.”

Competing for Dubin’s quarterback position will be five underclassmen. Ramer is eager to watch them in practice, and will later decide on who is best for the job.

In the mix is Ernie Robertson, a versatile sophomore who played at running back, wide receiver and cornerback last season. As a freshman, Robertson made a huge impact at every position he played, but will get a chance to impress Ramer at quarterback.

Riverdale Country School, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, Horace Mann School, Lance Ramer, Gus Ornstein, Matthew Russo, Daniel Ynfante
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