Fleet footed Bryant running back Justin Polizzi, a resident from Ridgewood, scores first of his two touchdowns. Photos Dan Miller/DMD Images John Adams H.S. (8-1) hosted William Cullen Bryant H.S. (8-1) in the regular season finale for both teams. The atmosphere was that of a playoff game since both teams were tied for first place and heading for the PSAL playoffs, which begin next week.

Homecoming weekend for Adams helped fill the stands with hundreds of spectators, many of whom had returned to their alma mater to renew friendships and see their playoff-bound team play Bryant, another top Queens football team.

Bryant struck first on a 37-yard first quarter touchdown pass by quarterback Nicholas Dais to wide receiver Felipe Cardosi, No. 87. The PAT kick by Dais was good to give Bryant the lead, 7-0. The Bryant Owls outplayed the Adams Spartans in the game that would help decide team alignments in the upcoming playoffs.

The second score of the contest came on a 10-yard run by fleet-footed Justin Polizzi. The kick by Dais was good again to lift Bryant to a 14-0 lead. Bryant scored two more times and did not allow Adams to cross their goal line.

The third Bryant score came on another Polizzi score. The touchdown was set up on an interception by Bryant standout defender, Mario Yu (No. 51), who picked off a pass from Adams quarterback Luis Cerna, (No. 7) at the Adams 23 and ran it back to the Adams 13. Polizzi ran it in from the 13 and the extra point was good again by placekicking quarterback Dais to move Bryant further ahead, 21-0.

The final score of the game came on a third touchdown run by Bryant's Marcus Boisrond with about four minutes remaining in the contest. The kick was blocked, giving Bryant a commanding 27-0 lead. Boisrond ran the ball three times for 24 yards and one touchdown. Poluzzi ran the ball 20 times for 112 yards and two scores. Bryant quarterback Dais was 2-5 for 46 yards and one touchdown. His longest pass went for 37 yards.

Offensively, two Adams players who excelled were Darren Baker, who ran the ball 10 times for 52 yards and made six catches for 48 yards, and his teammate, Kevin Patterson, who posted 69 yards on 12 carries.

Standouts on defense for Adams were Ariel Medrano, who made 16 tackles, tops in the game, Darren Baker and Kevin Patterson, who each made 13 tackles. For Bryant, the top defender was Mario Yu, who made 12 tackles and one sack.

As the referee held up the game football to signify the end of the game, one of the Bryant players said, "This is our biggest win of the season," and raised his right hand in a number one sign to the sky. Bryant Coach Carl Brosnan lined his team up for the ceremonial end-of-game player handshakes and told his players, "Do not gloat on your win." Brosnan's father, Joseph, who like his son Carl, his two daughters and his wife, is a Bryant alumnus, commented: "I was nervous because they were playing away and Adams in power points was in third place."

The victory put Bryant in second place in power points to top-rated Wadleigh Secondary School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Manhattan and tied with the Upper Manhattan school at 9-1 for the regular season.

For more information about the game and other high school sports, visit the PSAL Web site, www.psal.org