Heading into Saturday’s Homecoming game against Austin Prep, Greenwich Country Day School’s football team had scored more than 30 points in three of its first five matchups.

And as Saturday’s game progressed, it was apparent the Tigers were going to continue that impressive trend.

Greenwich Country Day’s playmakers once again, made plenty of plays, resulting in a Happy Homecoming.

Senior quarterback Jesse Ripka passed for 191 yards and three touchdowns and senior tight end Cooper Edwards caught two touchdown passes for Greenwich Country Day School, which also played lock-down defense in a convincing 36-6 victory over Austin Prep under the lights at Offit Stadium.

The win was the second straight for the Tigers, who upped their record to 4-2 overall and 3-2 in the NEPSAC’s Evergreen League.

“Our team is playing complementary football,” Greenwich Country Day coach Kevin Avery said. “Our defense sets a great tone, our offense is taking advantage of great field position and our special teams continues to be a weapon. I’m proud of our players, they had an awesome week of practice. It was a great program win.”

The Tigers, who rolled past Portsmouth Abbey, 47-15, on the road last week, outgained the Cougars, 315-137 and took a 22-0 lead into halftime.

“We did enough on offense, a lot to clean up for sure, but we put up some points and it was a good team win on Homecoming,” said Ripka, who completed 13 of 17 passes against Austin Prep, which traveled from Massachusetts.

Greenwich Country Day’s defense held Austin Prep (0-6) off the scoreboard until the fourth quarter, making it tough for the visitors to move the ball on the ground and through the air. Austin Prep totaled just 36 rushing yards for the game.

“The biggest thing was working throughout the week in practice,” said senior linebacker/running back Jake LeDonne, who paced the Tigers’ defense and running game. “The way that we practice is our best quality we come out and run the same way on game day.”

Edwards had four receptions for 59 yards, junior wide receiver Austin Rinello caught three passes for 48 yards and a score and junior wideout Luke Miles had a pair of catches for 37 yards in the winning effort.

“When you have guys like Luke Miles, Austin Rinello and Connor Crain that are going to take a hitch or a tunnel screen and rip another 15, 20 yards – it’s a lot of fun to play with,” Avery said. “Cooper is so dynamic because he has the size element, the jumping element, the body control element and he can catch a hitch route and then break it and take it. He’s a matchup problem.”

The home team’s first possession ended with Ripka throwing a 4-yard touchdown pass to the 6-foot-4 Edwards in the left corner of the end zone. Crain, a junior, kicked the extra point, giving GCDS a 7-0 lead with 4:54 remaining in the first quarter.

A reception off a screen pass by Rinello and a Ripka scramble highlighted the Tigers’ opening drive, putting the ball in the red zone. In the second quarter, Ripka rolled to his right and connected with Edwards on the same type of route in the corner of the end zone, giving the Tigers a 14-0 advantage.

“He’s been pretty un-guardable on that route all year,” Ripka said of Edwards. “If you put it in his area, he’s going to come down with it. I have full confidence in him, he’s got trust in me.”

“We’ve been doing it now for four years, so we have the connection,” Edwards said of his rapport on the field with Ripka.

At the 2:41 mark of the second quarter Greenwich Country Day padded its lead. This time, the elusive Rinello took a pass in the flat from Rinello and dashed to the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown. A low snap prevented the Tigers from kicking the ensuing extra point, but LeDonne, the holder was resourceful. He scrambled, eluded two Austin Prep players and completed a pass in the end zone to Edwards for the 2-point conversion, making it 22-0.

Meanwhile, Austin Prep’s offense had trouble gaining traction against GCDS’ defense. LeDonne, junior linebacker Joe Citrin, Rinello, sophomore linebacker Colin Mackey, senior defensive lineman Murphy Watner, junior Brennan Cunnion and senior defensive back Bailey Gendason were among some of the defensive standouts for the Tigers.

“The defense played lights out,” Avery noted. “The kids do a great job of absorbing the game plan and applying it. We’re playing relentless right now on the defensive side of the ball. It was an absolute lights out day for the defense.”

“From the jump, we want to have a scoreless game on defense,” LeDonne said. “Our coaches prep us for these games and put us in a very good spot.”

LeDonne bulled his way into the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown run with 2:58 to go in the third quarter, giving GCDS a commanding 29-0 advantage.

“I told Jesse before the game, every time I score we win, so I need to get in,” LeDonne said with a smile.

Avery appreciates the qualities LeDonne brings to the field each game.

“Jake is an absolute battering ram,” he said. “He runs so hard and runs downhill, he pass protects well and catches the ball out of the backfield – he is a complete running back.”

The final touchdown of the game for the Tigers was a 24-yard reception from Crain off a pass from senior quarterback Jake Murphy with four minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Ripka received good protection from the squad’s offensive line, which also opened holes up for the running backs.

“Our offensive line – they work harder than everyone they don’t the credit they deserve,” Ripka noted. “We ran the ball well today against a stern defensive front. I’m really proud of them and it’s good to come out of here with a full team win in all three phases.”

Austin Prep’s touchdown came on a 24-yard reception by sophomore wide receiver Landon Bentley late in the final quarter.

“The defense played great, I thought the front seven played very well, stopping the run,” Edwards said. “We’re considered undersized, but we went out and played dominant.”

LeDonne rushed for 33 yards, Ripka gained 27 yards on the ground and Cunnion and Miles each had 21 rushing yards in the winning effort.

“Jesse continues to play really solid football,” Avery said. “He leads the team and he’s got a great understanding of what we’re trying to do in the game plan and how to attack the defense. He was incredibly accurate today. We got great contributions from our offensive line – we ran the ball effectively.”

Up next for GCDS is a game at Dexter Southfield in Brookline, Massachusetts on Saturday. They then will travel to Hamden Hall Country Day School on Nov. 3.

“I feel pretty good about where our team is at this point of the season,” Edwards said. “We had a tough loss against Canterbury, which kind of stings. But over the course of the season, you have to forget. We have two tough games coming up against, what I think, are the best two teams in the conference, so we’re going to give it our all.”