The hype machine
- August
- 21
Let’s get it cranking…
It figures. I went to Mamaroneck in the afternoon instead of the morning, only to find out that the player I mainly went to see, quarterback Andrew Benkwitt, wasn’t there. He had a death in the family and missed the afternoon practice because he was at the wake, so I didn’t get to watch him play.
But I heard more than enough.
“He’s the best quarterback in the section,” Mamaroneck coach Harry Peterson said, the first thing he actually said when I shook his hand. “I don’t BS anyone. If he’s not the best, he’s definitely in the Top 5.”
Those weren’t exactly the words I expected to hear. It’s not that I doubted the hype I’d been hearing about Benkwitt. I wasn’t expecting everyone to be so up front about it, that’s all.
Benkwitt is being strongly recruited by Temple, Hofstra and Stony Brook, and a bunch of other I-AAs are expected to get on board once they see his senior tape.
Both Peterson and JV coach Mike Chiapparielli (who coached Benkwitt as a state champion pitcher in baseball) raved about how good his feet are and how accurate his arm is.
Benkwitt is working a lot with Mamaroneck assistant Bill Brodie, whose father is former San Francisco 49ers quarterback John Brodie. Bill’s brother-in-law is former NFL QB Chris Chandler.
“Whenever we have a question, Bill just gets on his cell phone and makes a call,” Peterson said. “With Bill we know Andrew is getting an NFL style of coaching; the right way to play the position.”
Mamaroneck wisely installed a shotgun offense that allows Benkwitt to sit back in the pocket and deliver the ball. His arm strength and accuracy are superb. But what should separate him this season is his confidence. Being a state champion in baseball, pitching the winning game, does that.
Plus, the Tigers used the offense for the last two games last season and scored over 60 points. There will be carryover, especially now that they’ve spent the whole offseason perfecting it.
Gabe Yizar and Patrick Joyce, both basketball players, will be his primary targets, and he’ll be protected by the biggest offensive line Peterson said he’s had in a long time.
“We’re about 235 on average across the line,” Peterson said. “We graduated a lot of guys. But we have a nice team coming back.”
I’ll definitely get back to Mamaroneck next week and watch Benkwitt first-hand. So far, I like what I’m hearing.
At Rye now. Will report back soon.












