Despite the weather not having that fall crisp to it, PSAL football kicked-off last Saturday afternoon with a whole slate of games featuring many Brooklyn teams that have serious title aspirations. Sheepshead Bay, touted as the city’s number one team, got things started as they pummeled neighborhood rivals, Grady, 42-6. Canarsie, last season’s first runner-up, opened their season with a 30-22 victory over New Dorp. Fort Hamilton, starting the Legree-less era, opened their campaign with a nail-biting 21-20 defeat of Wagner.
Sheepshead Bay 42, Grady 6- It was all Ayo, all the time, as Sheepshead Bay RB Ayo Ishola Isijola ran for two scores in a 42-6 shellacking of Grady. Isijola had five carries for 81 yards.
The day started out really bright for the Sharks as it only took them three plays from scrimmage to score their first touchdown. Isijola, on his third carry of the game, ran 57 yards for a score while kicking the extra point for a 7-0 Sheepshead Bay lead.
But the Falcons would answer right back on the ensuing offensive sequence. Starting from their own 35 yard line, Grady stretched the field for nine plays and 65 yards as #4 capped the drive with a touchdown to trim the lead to only 7-6.
It was in the second quarter that the Sharks would blow it out. On their first drive of the new period, Sheepshead Bay had perfect field position as they started on Grady’s 33 yard line after a Falcons fumble. Lone and behold, the Sharks would cash in their scoring opportunity as Isijola torched the Falcons defense for a 10-yard scoring run for a 13-6 Sheepshead Bay lead, after the feature back missed the extra point. After forcing the Falcons to punt for a second consecutive time, Sheepshead Bay punched in a second scoring opportunity as RB Devon Jordan had a 35 yard touchdown reception and had QB Joel Bowen ran in a 2-point conversion to extend the lead to 21-8 heading into the half.
It was more of the same in the third quarter as Bowen capped a seven play, 52-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown run of his own and it was punctuated by an extra point kick from Isijola to further the lead to to 28-6.
On Grady’s second drive of the second half, the Falcons had an opportunity to climb right back into this game. After back-to-back 20-yard runs by the Falcons’ running core, Grady had the ball on the Sharks’ 20-yard line but Grady QB Kenny Leveille looking for an open man in the field found the wrong receiver – Sharks S/CB Naquan Alexander, who would proceed to take it to the house for an 86-yard interception return which was capped with an extra point.
In the fourth quarter, the Sharks defense slammed the door on Grady’s running game by stuffing the box for three plays that totaled 16 yards. With the ball close to the red zone, Bowen cashed-in a four-yard touchdown run while Isijola added his final extra point for the 42-6 win.
“My offensive line provided me with great blocks and we just did what had to do to win,” said Isijola on the victory.
Added QB Bowen, “We came in here with our heads atop our shoulders and we just pulled it out, that’s simply it.”
Canarsie 30, New Dorp 22- Backed by a 216-yard, five-touchdown showing from Canarsie RB Steven Rene, the Chiefs were able to beat New Dorp, 30-22 in their season opener. Rene, the number two running back behind Brandon Jones in 2007, solidified his spot as the team’s feature back by rushing into the end zone four times against the Central Cougars. Not only did Rene had a good day running the ball but he had a wonderful time defend it as he had two tackles and two interceptions, with one of those interceptions returned for a touchdown. Speaking of defense, Allen Delpeche and Rashuan Samuel each had 10 tackles and a sack to lead the Chiefs stifling defense.
Midwood 30, Grand Street Campus 20- Midwood QB Colin Hannay and RB Deshuan Dussap opened their respective 2008 seasons with two impressive performances as the Hornets buzzed past Grand Street Campus 30-20. Hannay completed 9-of-12 passes as he tossed for 126 yards and three touchdowns, two of which went to WR Miguel Arias. Dussap rushed for 124 yards and one touchdown in 12 carries. On defense, Hannay and Dussap combined for eight tackles and two sacks.
Boys & Girls 28, Lincoln 14- Boys & Girls RB Michael Alexander ran for 113 yards in 11 carries as the Kangaroos leaped pass Lincoln, 28-14 in the Kangaroos’ home opener. Alexander and four other running backs torched the ‘Splitters defense for 309 yards and two touchdowns while LB David Nooks picked-off a pass and ran it into the end zone for one of four Kangaroo scores.
Port Richmond 43, Brooklyn Technical 12- Despite getting a formidable 212 rushing yards against a swarming Port Richmond defense, Brooklyn Tech managed to only getting two touchdowns in the 43-12 loss to Port Richmond. Leading the Tech offense was QB Peter Mackins, who led the way by rushing for 83 yards in eight carries while scoring a touchdown. The other touchdown went to Denzel Mclarty, who had 13 carries for 91 yards.
Campus Magnet 36, Madison 6- After being shutout for the first 16 minutes of the contest, Madison RB Dominique Wilson ran 53 yards for the sole Knights score in the third quarter as they were pummeled by Campus Magnet, 36-6. Madison was only able to put 81 yards of offense as RB Daniel Grant, Jr. led the way with 10 carries for 22 yards.
Fort Hamilton 21, Wagner 20- In a nail-biter, Fort Hamilton escaped the claws of the Falcons 21-20 in their season opener. Tigers QB Jose Morban completed 4-of-11 passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns, one each to WR Taurel Price and WR Gardner Robinson.
Bayside 21, South Shore 6- It was not the way that South Shore coach Tommy Salvato wanted to open the home slate of the 2008 campaign as his Vikings allowed 196 total offensive yards, with 181 of those yards coming via the air attack, as South Shore was knocked off course, 21-6.
