Goal-line stands are becoming New Utrecht’s thing.
Dayquan Russell and the Utes defense used a stop at the goal line to ensure victory in a second-straight game — this time for a 16–0 win over host Brooklyn Tech in a battle of unbeaten Public School Athletic League teams on Sept. 21.
New Utrecht ended a win against South Shore the week prior with another goal-line stand.
“They followed the plan well,” Utes coach Alan Balkan said. “Two weeks in a row, two big goal-line stands, it’s huge.”
Quarterback Angelo Carrera hooked up with Walid Othman for a 12-yard score on fourth down and then found Yousef Othman to complete the two point-conversion to give New Utecht an 8–0 lead in the third quarter. It was all the points the Utes would need thanks to a big day from Russell. No play was bigger than when he jumped over the top of the defensive line to tackle Brooklyn Tech’s Lawrence Manyah at the goal line, to keep the Utes ahead 8–0 midway through the fourth quarter.
“The goal-line stand was big,” Russell said. “I went over the top and that was it.”
Russell called for the ball after his big defensive play. He then gave his team insurance on an 82-yard touchdown run, which after a successful two-point conversion put New Utrecht up 16–0.
“After the goal-line stand, I told Bryan [Burroughs] go in and get two reps and I’ll come in after you,” Russell said. “I came in and the O-line said ‘we got you Day, just run hard and with your head up.’ I got the ball, cut it back and I was gone.”
New Utrecht coach Alan Balkan was impressed by the junior’s ability to make plays on both sides of the football and called him the real deal. Kadeem Dryden added three sacks.
Before the Utes got rolling, Brooklyn Tech had opportunities to score. On the Engineers’ first drive of the game, quarterback Elijah Rueda connected with Alpha Gamby for a 27-yard gain to set up first-and-goal at the 2-yard line. Manyah found his way into the end zone on the next play, but it was called back because of a holding penalty. The Engineers couldn’t get past the 10 on the next four plays after the penalty. Brooklyn Tech coach Kyle McKenna felt his team could have played better.
“I am disappointed in the inability to score on the goal line,” he said. “We came out strong on the first drive and we got some bad field position, which changed the way we called things. I think we are a better football team that we showed on the field today.”
