New Rochelle football turns back the clock, beats Mount Vernon

NEW ROCHELLE - It certainly was a surprise to anyone within earshot, hearing Miley Cyrus blaring from the speakers inside the New Rochelle locker room. And it was even more surprising, and somewhat comical, hearing the football players giddily recite every lyric.

But it's quite fitting, considering "Party in the USA" was soaring up the Billboard charts around the same time the Huguenots were climbing the state rankings.

It was Landon Walsh's idea to bump the 2009 pop hit which, for this bunch, would be considered a throwback. But their play on the field to this point is giving some observers reason to hearken back to that period and wonder what the future could hold.

Malachi McFarlane threw three touchdown passes and Luke Zaccagnino returned a kickoff for score, caught a touchdown and starred defensively, leading New Rochelle to a 39-14 win over Mount Vernon in a reminiscent-of-yesteryear kind of performance.

See photos from New Rochelle football playing Mount Vernon

This win followed their upset of Long Island's Kellenberg, a season-opening game that "sent our confidence through the roof," lineman Kevin Stevens said. And there's reason to believe now that, after a series of disappointing years, the Huguenots could finally be turning a corner.

Stephen Haynes covers sports for The Journal News/lohud.