Football: Rescigno, Davenport excel as Arlington dominates Kellenberg in season opener

FREEDOM PLAINS - Mike Rescigno had longed to play defense, in part because the star quarterback felt almost guilty watching teammates remain on the field while he rested.

"I’d see my guys working their tails off, tired, while I was on the sideline," the Arlington senior said. "I knew we were in need of a safety, and I wanted the opportunity to contribute."

When he approached his coach with the request last offseason, there was a classic, "Funny you should ask..." response. Because Michael Morano already had that in mind, believing it would better maximize his talents.

"When you have an athlete of that caliber, you don’t want him only involved in half the game," Morano said of Rescigno, who has gained 15 pounds since last winter.

So, when an opponent was sent sailing, lifted off the ground by a jarring hit from No. 3, spectators and teammates gasped before erupting in cheer.

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"Yeah!" defensive back Jayden Tuttle said. "That’s our quarterback, but he can come get you. He’s been waiting for his chance to do it, and you can see why."

It mattered little that the tackle followed an 11-yard run, because Arlington already had a comfortable lead and there was little indication its offense could be slowed. Well, the quarterback played a part in that, too.

Rescigno threw three touchdowns and ran for another, leading the Admirals in a head-turning 49-21 home win over Long Island's Kellenberg in their season opener Saturday.

"The hit was more exciting to me than a touchdown," Rescigno said with a grin.

But he's still good at his day job, apparently.

Behind an offensive line that seldom allowed pressure and consistently cleared lanes, James Davenport broke three long touchdown runs, helping Arlington make quick work of an opponent that dealt it an 18-point loss last September.

Kellenberg still is a strong program, and it remains one of the better Catholic School teams, Morano said. But the Admirals have improved considerably and were better prepared for this non-league rematch.

"This is the kind of start you want," Morano said. "Winning like this gives us the momentum we need, and hopefully we capitalize on it."

In a recent LoHud poll of Section 1 coaches, Arlington was voted the favorite in Class AA, ahead of defending champion Carmel, whom they'll host Sept. 14. The Admirals returned a slew of standouts after reaching the sectional semifinals. Morano typically sidesteps preseason hype, but he told his team it was capable of "doing something special" this season.

All of that is flattering, Wisconsin-bound right tackle Colin Cubberly said, "but it doesn't mean anything if we don't make good on our potential and accomplish the goals we've set for ourselves."

They took an emphatic first step toward validating that confidence, showing off the explosiveness and depth at the skill positions, and the power in the trenches on both sides. The game, in fact, was more lopsided than the score suggests because three Admirals touchdowns were negated by holding calls.

"We're happy overall about the win, but we know that’s something we have to fix," Cubberly said of the penalties.

Arlington scored on its third play from scrimmage, Davenport cutting behind the left guard then breaking a tackle on the edge before scampering for a 31-yard touchdown 1:27 in. The Admirals again scored quickly on their second possession when Rescigno faked a handoff before shooting to his right and outrunning the pursuit for a 75-yard touchdown.

"We don't have to worry about up front," Rescigno said, referring to the offensive line. "That's where it starts and those guys are dogs. They've pushed themselves throughout the offseason and they want to be great."

Kellenberg pulled within 14-7 on Sean Hayden's touchdown pass to Jamison Heneghan with four minutes left in the first quarter, but the Firebirds would draw no closer.

Satiro Kazolias answered two minutes later, catching a pass underneath and powering through defenders for a 12-yard touchdown. Robbie Jordan and Cartier Joshua also caught touchdowns as Arlington pulled away. Tight end Joe McGann had a 40-yard reception in the first quarter and contributed to the excellent run blocking. Davenport also had touchdowns of 52 and 21 yards.

For the Firebirds, Heneghan scored after recovering a teammates' fumble and Casimir Marszalek burrowed in for a 2-yard touchdown that created the margin with 5:34 remaining.

Joshua and Luke Lavello each had an interception for Arlington. Jordan and Tuttle each tipped two passes and Cubberly made three tackles for loss. Rescigno, in his defensive debut, had two tackles for loss and deflected a pass that he nearly intercepted.

The lofty expectations from outsiders mirror those the team has for itself. Having reached at least the semifinals the previous two years, the Admirals believe now they can clear the hurdle.

"It means people believes in us," Tuttle said of the projections. "But we got something to prove and we're serious. There's a big opportunity in front of us and we’re not playing about that."

Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Football: Rescigno, Arlington dominate Long Island's Kellenberg