By DARREN COOPER
LOCAL SPORTS COLUMNIST | The Record
RIDGEFIELD – They hung three banners on the bleachers at Willis Park in Ridgefield on Friday night, one for the cheerleaders, one for the marching band and one that read simply: FOOTBALL.
After a year of playing a junior varsity schedule, Ridgefield made its return to varsity football competition for the first time since November 13, 2014. Unfortunately, the schedule-makers did the Royals no favors, as their first opponent was St. Mary, who posted a 38-0 win — taking advantage of six Royal turnovers, four in the first quarter.
“Year in, year out, St. Mary always has a great program,” said first-year Royals coach Atilla Sengul. “Hopefully, one day our program will get to that, but it’s going to be a grind.”
Perhaps the most important number to note for the Royals is 27, as in 27 players who came running onto the field in their Royal blue. After the game, there were no Ridgefield injuries of note.
“We are going to watch film, and we will point out a lot of wrong things, obviously, but I have to point out the positives, too, and we will definitely find some positives,” said Sengul.
NJIC Football
