Since returning to Class C after a two-year stint competing in Class B, the Bronxville Broncos have put teams on notice that their program, which cruised to a 2010 state title, is back in business.
On March 27, the Broncos improved to 2-0 with their second-straight win over a perennial contender, routing 2019-runners-up Dobbs Ferry in a 48-7 laugher.
Over the last two years in Class B, the Broncos followed up a 0-8 season with a much-improved 4-4 showing last year. This year, so far, in games against 2019 Class C champion Valhalla and Dobbs Ferry, they’ve managed to outscore their opponents by a 76-7 margin.
“I think we’re very talented this year, we’ve got depth in a lot of spots,” head coach Patsy Manganelli said. “Those alumni who went through the ups-and-downs for a few years really laid the foundation for the team we are becoming right now.”
Henry Donohue spearheaded the Bronxville effort on both sides of the ball, rushing for three scores and 196 yards on 12 carries while also recording a sack on defense. Connor Randall accounted for Bronxville’s first two scores on the afternoon and Will Murray added another score in the third quarter. Chris Kelty returned an interception for a score to give the Broncos a 35-0 halftime lead.
“We knew Dobbs is a great team and if we let it become a dogfight, it was going to become a dogfight,” Donohue said. “I think we came out strong and the scoreboard speaks for itself.”
The Broncos’ mindset was evident when—after jumping out to a five-score lead in the first half—the team attempted and recovered an onside kick at the start of the third quarter.
“Our halftime speech was all about not taking our foot off the gas,” Donohue said. “So we didn’t.”
That sense of urgency was felt by a Broncos’ team that had a number of key players, including Randall, ruled out for its season-opener due to Covid-19 protocols. According to Randall, getting a chance to make his debut at home was meaningful in a unique year.
“After missing last week, I was just worried that something was going to come up again this week and I’d have to miss the game,” he said. “So I think for all of us, we’re just trying to come out, play and sort of ignore that outside stuff.”
The Broncos will look to stay undefeated on Thursday, April 1, when they host crosstown rival Tuckahoe. The Tigers are coming off an impressive March 27 win of their own, in which they overcame a 12-0 deficit to top Woodlands 37-18.
“I think we still have room to improve, we’re not perfect yet,” Donohue said. “But if we can keep correcting those little mistakes, we have a lot of confidence in the group we have.”
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