LIC Bulldogs Demolish Flushing 42–0 For 5th Win Of Year
by richard kagan

There are days when a team clicks and everything falls into place—and there are those days when nothing works right and it’s one long game for the loser. For Long Island City H.S., last Saturday, it was a great day, when players made big plays, one right after the other. For host Flushing H.S., (1–5), it was another tough game in what is a rebuilding year for the team.

The Bulldogs took the bus from Astoria to face area foe Flushing and came away with perhaps the most impressive win of this turnaround year for the varsity football program. LIC won 42–0 as quarterback Danny Urquia threw two touchdown passes, running back Richard Akowuah scored two rushing TDs, and the defense, to use a baseball term, threw a shutout.

LIC, in its second full year of playing varsity football has won five games, the most in the school’s history. "It’s the most wins for an LIC team," head coach Doric Capsis said after the game. Since 1998, when the school started playing junior varsity ball, the team has made significant progress. Last year the Bulldogs finished 3–5. What a difference a year makes.

LIC (5–2) got the touchdown machine cranked up in the first quarter when quarterback Urquia found sophomore Corin Erby for a short two-yard pass in the end zone. Csaba Rojas, the Bulldogs’ steady extra-point kicker had a busy day, making the first of six extra points in the game. LIC scored quickly in the second quarter when Akowuah dashed to the right corner just inside the pylon for the second score of the day. Fourteen points, and the game was just in the second quarter. The Bulldogs would roll to a commanding 21–0 half-time lead.

Flushing coughed up the ball numerous times to the opportunistic LIC squad. The third LIC TD came courtesy of great field position when the Bulldogs defense forced the Red Devils’ QB to fumble the ball. Quindell Curry, having a solid season in the LIC backfield, ran the ball in from inside the five-yard line.

Capsis thought that last week’s loss to Boys and Girls HS motivated the Bulldogs to be ready for Flushing. "That (loss) definitely jolted them. When you win four games and lose one, you come down to reality," Capsis said. The Bulldogs had seen some lean years. This year Flushing is fielding a young, inexperienced team with only four seniors on the squad. Joe Kaso, Red Devils head coach, noted that there were no returning players on the offensive and defensive lines. Unfortunately for the Red Devils, the Bulldogs took advantage of Flushing’s inability to execute and walked away with the dominating win.

LIC’s Jessie Joy helped anchor the defense which had another fine game. In the second half, the defense constantly got the ball back for the offense, which quickly moved in for another score. After recovering a Flushing fumble, Urquia hit Douglas Stokeling, a wide receiver for a 30-yard pass play. Rojas made good on the extra point despite his team being penalized five yards on he previous attempt.

Joy wanted this game, especially after the tough loss last week. "(We were) upset about last week’s loss to Boys and Girls," Joy said. "We could have beat them." It appears the Bulldogs took out their frustration on Flushing.

Akowuah showed his tenacity when he made a nifty 50-yard run after breaking some tackles. LIC went up 34–0, pending the extra point. And Rojas came through again. Akowuah wants to end the season on a high note. It was great to get the win, he said. "But we have to be ready for our next game."

Thomas Gamard, a reserve running back, saw some action and took advantage of the opportunity. With the game clearly in hand, Gamard took a hand-off, saw an opening and out-ran several defenders for a nice 30-yard score. Gamard was glad he could help the team with his contribution. "When I get in I try to do my best," he said. "I saw an opening and I went for it and hit the end zone," Gamard said of his TD run.