The anticipation for the PSAL City Conference football championship game at Yankee Stadium Tuesday night was greater than ever with an unusual 17-day layoff between the semifinals and the final, up from the normal 10.
It made the hurt worse for Lincoln HS senior quarterback Javon (Spanky) Moore when he sprained his left ankle on Lincoln’s first play from scrimmage as he rushed for a 14-yard gain - all that time to prepare, and he’s hurt on the team’s first offensive snap, an injury so bad Moore said after the game he was bound for a hospital.
But Moore refused to come out of the game and managed to lead the No. 1 Railsplitters to an undefeated season by capturing its second city title in three years with a wild 28-27 win over No. 3 Tottenville. The game was won after a high snap on a Tottenville punt was kicked out of the end zone for a safety, putting Lincoln ahead by a point with less than 5:00 left.
Mark Bonifacio
Lincoln celebrates after its victory in the PSAL city football championship game at Yankee Stadium Tuesday.
“He was a warrior and battled through and made a play when he had to,” Lincoln coach Shawn O’Connor said of the Railsplitters’ quarterback.
Moore’s most pivotal play came in the middle of the fourth quarter after Tottenville (10-3,) which trailed 20-0 in the first half, had just taken a 27-20 lead on a 9-yard rushing score from junior quarterback Josh Rainey, marking only the second time Lincoln (13-0) trailed in a game all season.
Moore had thrown two interceptions in the third quarter, but he didn’t let that faze him when he came out after Rainey’s score and hit senior wide receiver Malik Andrews over the middle for a 61-yard touchdown with 6:57 left in the game. Andrews said it was “scary” when they lost the lead but his score wiped that feeling away.
Mark Bonifacio
Tottenville's John Fischetti lies facedown in the Yankee Stadium grass after a heartbreaking loss to Lincoln in the PSAL city title game.
PHOTOS: KINGS OF THE CITY! LINCOLN WINS PSAL FOOTBALL TITLE
Lincoln came out in an unbalanced formation on the two-point attempt, which drew a Tottenville timeout, one that proved costly as the Pirates attempted a game-winning drive at the end of the game and advanced to Lincoln’s 18-yard line only to be unable to stop the clock. So even though senior Antoine Holloman, who had Lincoln’s first touchdown, couldn’t get in for the two-pointer, the confusion the play caused Tottenville was worthwhile.
On the ensuing Tottenville drive, sophomore punter Salvatore Henrique had to kick the ball out of the back of the end zone to avoid surrendering a touchdown, but it gave Lincoln a one-point advantage.
Mark Bonifacio
Thomas Holley and Lincoln stand alone after a 28-27 win over Tottenville in the city football title game at Yankee Stadium Tuesday.
“I didn’t think it would come down to that,” said Lincoln’s star senior defensive tackle Thomas Holley, who had a sack.
Moore had a 19-yard touchdown pass to senior Carlos Stewart with 3:14 left in the second quarter, which gave Lincoln a 20-0 lead. The Pirates scored twice in 50 seconds right before halftime to cut the lead to six; the first touchdown a 1-yard rush from senior Andrew Russo and the second a strip and fumble recovery that turned into a 65-yard run-back from senior linebacker John Fischetti.
The Pirates tied the game on a Rainey 19-yard touchdown to senior James Munson five minutes into the third quarter before taking the lead in the fourth.
“I didn’t really care about the score,” Moore said. “I was going through a lot emotionally worrying about my (ankle), and trying to do my best and not worry too much. But it’s hard to do that when it feels the way it feels.”
Hoisting a championship trophy helps ease the pain.
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