Long Island had the lead and New York
City pinned on its own 23 with one minute left in the fourth quarter last night
in the 13th annual Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge. Making
matters worse for the NYC team was the fourth down and 20 it faced. Then, the
other shoe dropped on Long Island -- literally.
New York City stunned Long Island 21-20
at Hofstra University’s Shuart Stadium in front of an Empire Challenge record
crowd of 11,005. Fort Hamilton’s Jeffrey Legree connect with Stephan
Benjamin of Campus Magnet on a 13-yard fade pattern in the left corner of
the endzone with 23 seconds left in the game. St. Joseph’s Michael Horowitz
booted the extra point to give NYC its fourth win of the series and second in a
row.
The play of the game, however, was
turned in moments earlier. Facing a fourth and what seemed like forever, Legree
found Curtis’ Shaahiyn Alston over the middle. Alston caught the ball
short of the first down marker, but shed a gang of would-be tacklers and one of
his shoes as he cut across the field and down the sideline for a 57-yard gain.
The play put Long Island on the ropes and the knockout followed soon after
that.
“Man, anything is possible,” said
Legree, who will play next fall at Buffalo. “You just have to put your mind to
it. We kept thinking positive thoughts.”
Legree hit Benjamin for a 10-yard gain
to get the ball down to the Long Island 13, then threw a perfect ball to the
corner of the endzone where Benjamin made the grab as he fell to the turf.
Legree, who finished with 149 yards passing and two touchdowns, was named Most
Valuable Player. Benjamin had four catches for 30 yards.
“The boys didn’t give up,” said NYC
coach Fred Olivieri, who led Curtis to this year’s PSAL title. “They were
determined to score at the end of the game. I was so proud of them for the way
the performed and came together.”
The New York City squad nearly took the
lead at the beginning of the third quarter, but its 16-play drive stalled at
the Long Island five. The drive would have been a three-and-out, but a penalty
on Long Island for rushing the punter (not allowed in Empire Challenge) gave
NYC new life. Curtis’ Dominick LeGrande, who is heading for Boston
College, chewed up 26 yards on the ground during the drive before it ended in a
sack. Long Island took over at its own 14 with 17:19 left, but couldn‘t add to
its lead.
“It was a good Long Island team,” said
Lincoln’s Khalif Staten, who is committed to Iowa University, “but an
even better New York city team. We played out hearts out until the clock hit
three zeros.”
The game was entertaining from the
start, as Long Island took the opening possession and marched 80 yards in 5:07.
Hofstra-bound Joe Sidaras, who was named Canon Player of the Game, connected
with Trevor Perryman for a 19-yard touchdown. Jonathan Korn added the extra
point for a quick 7-0 lead. New York City answered back with a 12-play, 64-yard
drive for a touchdown. Legree scrambled out of the pocket and threw an
eight-yard laser to Alston with 3:23 left in the first quarter. Horowitz added
the extra point.
Long Island again jumped out in front on
a Sidaras two-yard pass to Conrad Stewart with 7:57 left in the second quarter,
as LI took a 14-7 lead. New York City countered with its most sustained drive
of the game, a 14-play, 67-yard march that ended in a one-yard touchdown keeper
by Legree. Long Island regained the lead for the last time on a 40-yard field goal
by Korn as time expired in the first half.
Extra Points … Thirty-five
of the 50 players on the New York City team were PSAL players … Curtis filled
the most roster spots with eight players, followed by New Utrecht with five …
The 2008 Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge will air tape-delayed on MSG on
Saturday, June 28th at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, June 29th at 1:00p.m.