H.S. Beat: Sharks Back in the Hunt

Sheepshead Bay beats Brooklyn Tech for first win of season

September 25, 2013 By John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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Winless in their first two games of the season, outscored by more than five touchdowns in their previous defeat and down 17-8 at the half to Brooklyn Tech last Saturday afternoon, coach Fred Snyder’s Sheepshead Bay Sharks appeared ready to sink to the depths of the Public School Athletic League City Championships Standings.

“They were down,” Snyder admitted. “They were ready to crack at halftime. They thought everything was going to go wrong. But I told them they needed to believe in themselves.”

The long-time coach’s halftime encouragement paid instant dividends as the Sharks rallied for a 32-17 victory over the Engineers, thrusting Sheepshead Bay back into the mix for a coveted spot in the PSAL playoffs come November.

Senior quarterback Imani Vincent completed just three short passes on the day, but rushed for 81 yards and two touchdowns while backfield mate and fellow fourth-year standout Stephan Garrick added 114 rushing yards and a score for the Sharks (1-2), who blanked the winless Engineers (0-3) after intermission.

“The kids rose to the occasion,” gushed Snyder, who has led Sheepshead to two city championships during his tenure, the last coming in 2005.

“They called some plays on their own and came together,” he added. “I told them [Friday] to believe in themselves, I told them at halftime to believe in themselves. We had a poor first half, but they rose to the occasion.”

Next up for the revitalized Sharks is Saturday’s showdown with borough rival Fort Hamilton (3-0) in Bay Ridge.

The Tigers, coming off an uncharacteristic two-win campaign in 2012, remained unbeaten with last weekend’s 30-8 thumping of Curtis.

Fast-emerging sophomore quarterback Sharif Harris completed 9-of-14 passes for 131 yards and senior running back Isaiah Washington had two touchdowns on the ground for the Tigers, who are eager to get back in the city title hunt after winning it all back in 2010.

The 2011 champions from Lincoln (3-0) inched their way just ahead of reigning champion Erasmus (3-0) in this week’s PSAL power points rankings with a 26-7 win over Tottenville, last year’s championship game runner-up.

Senior quarterback Javon Moore overcame two interceptions by throwing for 190 yards and rushed 12 times for 45 yards and a touchdown as the Railsplitters built momentum for this weekend’s clash against fellow Brooklyn unbeaten New Utrecht (3-0).

Fourth-year running back Antoine Holloman Jr. rumbled for 129 yards and three TDs for Lincoln, which holds a slim 439 to 436 lead over Erasmus in the power rankings entering Week Four of the campaign.

“He’s just being Holloman,” Lincoln coach Shawn O’Connor said of his star back. “He’s been doing that since his freshman year on JV. He’s got a very low center of gravity. He’s hard to take down. He’s not a big back, but he’s got some great speed.”

The Dutchmen had no trouble dismantling Campus Magnet, 42-0, last Saturday at Sid Luckman Field behind a combined 252 rushing yards from the all-city tandem of Curtis Samuel and Elijah Davis.

Samuel will officially be selected to the 2013 U.S. Army All-American Bowl at Erasmus’ Sid Luckman Field on Friday afternoon, making him one of only 90 players across the nation to receive the prestigious honor.

The Utes kept pace with Brooklyn’s top units by beating Wagner, 30-20, in Bensonhurst as senior Jaleel Brown ran for 122 yards and two TDs on 22 carries.

New Utrecht’s visit to Lincoln this weekend guarantees that one of Brooklyn’s four unbeaten squads in the City Championship Division will absorb its first defeat.

In other local high school football action from last weekend, Boys and Girls (2-1) bounced back from its 20-0 blanking at the hands of Erasmus by beating up on Truman, 30-6, last Saturday in the Bronx.

Senior quarterback Dashawn Brice completed 10-of-12 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown and junior Brandon Harding piled up 124 yards on 16 carries for the Kangaroos, who host Canarsie (1-2) this weekend.

The Chiefs finally got off the schneid with their first win Saturday as senior signal-caller Antonio Snell led the way to a 12-6 victory over Flushing. Snell ran for 82 yards on 10 rushes and threw for 109 yards and a TD as Canarsie overcame a 6-0 first-quarter deficit with strong play down the stretch.

Midwood (2-1) blanked John Adams, 38-0, in Queens last weekend behind senior Brandon French’s domination on the ground. The running back gained 171 yards and scored twice on only nine carries, complementing junior quarterback Nicholas Falzone’s two TD strikes through the air.

For more on local high school sports, make sure to log on to www.brooklyneagle.com and check out Rob Abruzzese’s Eagle sports blog.