Poly Prep finished its second-straight one-loss season with a fittingly dominant performance.
Poly Prep quickly established that it intended to run the ball on the windy and rainy night, and the game plan paid off as senior quarterback Chris Parker and senior running back Brendan Femiano exploded for 342 yards and four touchdowns on the ground combined to lead the Blue Devils football team to a 29–7 victory over Delbarton (N.J.) last Friday night.
“We came out and didn’t throw one pass,” said Poly coach Dino Mangiero. “It was so windy we figured, ‘let’s keep it on the ground.’ We thought we could pound them, and we did.”
The Blue Devils wasted no time getting on the board. Parker capped a 12-play, 76-yard opening drive with a 26-yard touchdown run to make it 7–0. Mangiero spoke highly of his senior quarterback, who rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns.
“He’s not only an elusive player, super fast,” the coach said. “He’s so smart. He runs the team, calls audibles and knows exactly what to do and when to do it. Terrific kid and an unbelievable talent.”
Two drives later, Parker showed his skill on the defensive side of the ball. He intercepted Matthew Zebrowski’s pass at the three-yard line to keep the Blue Devils ahead 7–0.
On the next play from scrimmage, Femiano took the ball 72 yards and after penalties Poly Prep had first-and-goal from the six. Femiano, who ran for 193 yards, had his number called again and took the ball in for the score to make it 14–0 late in the second quarter. The senior running back said the final game was the perfect end to his career.
“The emotions, I can’t articulate,” he said. “The feeling, the drive I have had my whole life, to demonstrate on a big bend to end it was perfect.”
The Blue Devils were on the doorstep again to begin the third quarter, but Parker fumbled on first-and-goal at the one and the ball was recovered by Delbarton. The Poly Prep defense answered right back. On the next play, Luca Tria was hit in the end zone by Ray Marten and Isaiah Wilson for a safety. Femiano praised the way the team’s defense played.
“Our defense has been our backbone,” he said. “They stop them and we finished them off.”
After the safety, Parker made up for his fumble by capping a 74-yard drive with an eight-yard touchdown run. Femiano punched the ball in from one yard out on Poly Prep’s next drive to make the game 29–0 in the fourth quarter.
“It was fun,” Parker said of his final game as a Blue Devil. “I gave it my all. It’s over now, but I’ll never forget this.”
