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Sports

Daily Sports Digest: Harrison Native Takes Field for Army In College Rivalry

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Whether it be Bobby Dodd, Jerry Sandusky, or Bernie Fine the last few months have not been great for college sports. That changed this weekend in Landover Maryland with an experience much more important than playoff races or conference championships.

Army took on Navy for the 112th time since 1890 on the football field, for a contest that means much more than scores and records. Not only are the athletes some of the brightest young men in the United States, but they have already dedicated their lives to serving their country and protecting the freedoms we know and love.

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The rivalry itself has been the subject of books, movies and television specials and this year the game was so important that President Obama was among the fans in the seats. Like most college rivalries, the Army Navy games posses a competitive animosity between the two teams. But unlike Alabama-Auburn or Michigan-Ohio State rivalries, there's another level of respect -- when they graduate, these players will head off to places like Afghanistan.

Former three-sport athlete at Harrison High School Steven Ricciardi got his first taste of the rivalry over the weekend as a member of the Army football family. Ricciardi has been a member of the junior varsity team at West Point all year and has played on both sides of the ball.

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“From day one all you hear is 'Beat Navy.' It grows on you and throughout the year you realize how big of a game this actually is," Ricciardi said. “If you go to West Point you do not like Navy, period.”

Navy ended up winning the game 27-21. Army hasn’t won since 2001.

“One day you are on the field against each other, but when we graduate we'll be playing on the same team," Ricciardi said.

Locally we are all well aware of rivalries like Harrison/Rye, Pearl River/Nanuet, and White Plains/New Rochelle, but the Army Navy game is unlike any rivalry in sports. Despite the outcome, the seniors walking off the field for the last time immediately shed their team colors and put on a much more important uniform. It's a uniform we can all cheer and root for regardless of any rivalry.

Yesterday’s Results:

Sport: Girl’s Basketball

Game: Port Chester vs. Hamilton

Score: Hamilton Won 79-21

Highlights: Maia Hood was one of four Hamilton players to reach double figures, she led the game with 22 points. Kyra Hart led Port Chester with 7.

Today’s Schedule:

There are no local varsity games scheduled for today.

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