Football Players Honored at Yankee Stadium

David Stephens ’20 (#2) played multiple positions this year, including quarterback. Photo Credit: Continental Studios

By JADEN KEATON and ANISA KALOSHI

Varsity football players David Stephens ’20 and Jerry Springer ’21, were honored at the PSAL City Championship game at Yankee Stadium on December 4. 

The ceremony took place during halftime. Each award-winner was given a plaque and a feature on the Yankee Stadium Jumbo Screen. 

Springer, who plays free safety, won an award for the most tackles in PSAL this season. 

“Having my name called in front of such a big crowd under the lights at Yankee Stadium felt unreal,” said Springer. 

He said that it was nice to see not only his teammate get acknowledged for his hard work, but talented players from other schools as well. 

 “I had to work hard to get to this point,” Springer said. “I’ve always been smaller than most, so I put the most heart I can into my game and it shows with the award I was given.” 

This was his first year on varsity, and he had to show that he was up to the challenge. 

Mr. Anthony Odita, the varsity football coach, said, “For a kid who isn’t the biggest or strongest, Jerry plays with a lot of heart.”  

“We had many doubting us coming into this year,” Springer said. “A lot of our impactful seniors from last year graduated, so people didn’t think our team was a threat this year. With so many young players, some of us had to step up and prove them wrong, so every week we played with something to prove, and even if we lost, we showed people that we were still a team to fear.”

According to Springer, practices are always fun, but the team knows when it’s time to work.

“Our team always wants to make each other better, and I think that is what will make us a really great team,” he said.

Stephens, a wide receiver who played multiple positions this season including quarterback, won an award for Most Valuable Player.

“Winning this award does not change my goal,” he said. “It just shows how hard I’ve worked to this point to receive it.”

Stephens has played on varsity all four years at Midwood, so he is no stranger to the intensity of the high school game.

“My skill and work ethic have only gotten better,” he said.

Being one of the few seniors on the team, Stephens had to step up and be a leader this year. “A lot of the other players look up to me,” he said. “I just want to lead by my actions on the field.”

Mr. Odita said he would remember Stephens as “one of the best players that has played at Midwood.”

“From an award standpoint, David was rated one of the best players in the city in 10th and 11th grade,” said Mr. Odita. “He is a very dynamic player.”

Both Stephens and Springer are in consideration for All City (top players) Announcements at the end of January.