By Matthew Rostkowski
After nearly 2 years McVicar Field gave a warm welcome to the Rocky Hill High School football team this past Friday night—and the Terriers made sure not to disappoint.
Winning 27 to 15 against the Hartford Public Owls, third year Head Coach Richard Dance and his team played with a flair and style that looked and felt like it was uniquely theirs.
And with a quarterback that has the ability to score four touchdowns and run for more than 100 yards in a single half, it is no secret as to why.
However, quarterback and captain Tyriece Dominique was quick to accredit his team for their early-season successes, “It’s not me. The only reason I’m able to score is because my line and wide receivers are blocking. That’s one thing Coach tried to emphasize this year and it’s working.”
A refreshed game plan is exactly what the Terriers needed this season given that during their 2019 season they only went 2 and 8.
Already 3 and 0, this group of players has surpassed any milestones previously reached during their high school careers.
“Being in this position is new to us, so we are just taking it game by game and playing our hearts out,” Dominique said.
Given the fact that most of the players on this team have spent their entire varsity careers under Coach Dance, it makes sense why the team is firing on all cylinders now.
“Playing with a foundation under us has opened up so many opportunities for us to create new plays and be creative with our offense. Now we can take those shots down the field or those nice route combos while also having a reliable offense to go to. Defensively it’s the same way; we can take more risks since we always have that foundation that we’ve built up,” Junior Captain Alex Peruta acknowledged. “The chemistry the players and coaches have built in these last three years isn’t something words can describe; it’s something truly special.”
Yet, this basis of support Peruta described extends well beyond the sideline. With students, friends, and families filling the bleachers, a sense of normalcy seems to have made its way back under the Friday night lights in Rocky Hill.
“It feels great to finally have our supporters back in the stands. Being able to see friends and family at the games truly means the world to my teammates and I,” Peruta said. “We really want to do this for the town, and it’s a good feeling knowing the town has our back as well.”
