Standout Glenn QB Rielly remains low key

Ryan Rielly hems awkwardly when asked how all this happened - those numbers, these results, and how a relatively small, effortlessly nimble lacrosse player from Division IV became one of the most talked about quarterbacks on Long Island.

He settles on talking about his coaches, his receivers, his offensive line. After a career game against Mt. Sinai in October, he gave props to the JV practice squad. Monday, he'd likely have mentioned the groundskeeper and the water boy, if only he'd have thought about it.

If some athletes treat self-aggrandizing like it's a competitive sport, Rielly acts like it's a communicable disease.

Yes, his Glenn Knights are 11-0 and set to play powerhouse Seaford in the first Long Island championship in school history on Saturday and yes, his 3,230 passing and rushing yards are an all-time Island high, according to Newsday records. He is 88-for-139, with 1,828 yards and 19 touchdowns, and added 197 carries for 1,402 yards and 17 TDs. He has only three interceptions.

Still, you know, no big deal.

"The coaches put a lot of faith in me," he said. "They just let me play and make plays, throw the ball and run the ball."

The Hofstra-bound senior conceded that, at 5-11, 180 pounds, he'd have been an undersized football recruit and that "I'm better at lacrosse, I guess." He must be a pretty good lacrosse player then, right? "Yeah, I'm all right," he said, not giving an inch.

See, there's at least one thing Rielly can't do on a football field. Standing on Glenn's battered grass Monday, he refused to talk himself up.

No matter, he's got others to do it for him.

His coach, Dave Shanahan: "He's very smart. He takes no days off. He's an excellent athlete and part of it is his ability to listen and he wants to improve on his weaknesses."

His assistant coach, Fred Fusaro, who coached Sachem for 34 years: "He could be the best quarterback I've been around. Aside from his physical abilities, there's his leadership. He took this team on his back."

And don't be fooled by the humility, Fusaro said. "Most quarterbacks have this arrogance about them," he said. "He has confidence, but no arrogance."

That powerful mixture, self-assurance without self-indulgence, was on display during Glenn's 34-26 win over Babylon in the county finals. It was a game where the Knights trailed 14-0 and 20-7 in the first half. Rielly ran for 224 yards and two TDs and passed for 207 yards and three more scores.

"I just make plays," Rielly said. "It helps everyone out. If people see me panicking, then they'll start to panic. "

Rielly is undeniably mellow. He's much less imposing out of his pads - lacrosse-player lean, with saucer-sized brown eyes, and an easy cadence to his voice that belies the hurt he's put on teams all year.

But those numbers don't lie. On Oct. 23, Rielly made school history for total offense, going 12-for-18 for 376 yards and four TDs, and adding 130 yards on 14 carries and three touchdowns on the ground against a Mt. Sinai team that had, up until then, only allowed 32 points all year.

Rielly knows that being in Division IV means that his team and sometimes maybe his own accomplishments can be overshadowed, even with results as indisputable as those. What he won't downplay, though, is what this crew has done this year.

"We're doing something right," he said. "Only us and Seaford are undefeated and no matter what division, it's hard to win 11 straight games. That's impressive." He's quick to add the modifier: "I guess."

Glenn will need all of Rielly's heroics (with assists from guys like Nick Wagner and Tom Forsberg at wide receiver and Kevin Massa at tight end) to solve Seaford. The Vikings are making their fourth straight trip to the LICs and boast a ground-and-pound offense that differs starkly from Glenn's spread-out, high-flying attack.

Turns out, Rielly's even-keeled nature goes both ways.

"We're probably not the favorite to win," he said. "But that doesn't really matter, anyway. Whoever wins, wins. It doesn't matter what other people say."

If anyone knows about letting your game talk for you, it would be him.