Varsity Football Manhandles Bayside at Homecoming

Jaydon Rose ‘24, who finished with 171 yards and two touchdowns, was named the Offensive Player of the Game. *Photo: Continental Studios*

By ELLIOTT PIERCE

Elliott Pierce is a member of the varsity football team.

The varsity football team defeated Bayside 28-14 at Midwood Field for their Homecoming White Out on October 28 in front of an electric crowd, perhaps turning the corner on a bumpy season.

The team is currently sitting at 2-4 in the most competitive conference in PSAL football: the AAAA. With large numbers of inexperienced underclassmen filling out the roster, the team chose to forfeit their first three games of the season rather than risk injury.

In their on-field debut against Tottenville Oct 13, the team suffered a tough defeat, but the Hornets bounced back for their first win by spoiling James Madison’s homecoming with a dramatic 30-20 victory on Oct 21. The team then carried that momentum into the homecoming game.

For returning coaches and players, the first half of the season was uncharted territory, as the team had to wait a full month to play their first Varsity game. “It was tough,” said lineman and co-captain Taevion Cush ‘24. “I just wanted to play ball.”

“It was hard because we had to start from the middle of the season while other teams played three games,” said linebacker, running back, and co-captain Jaydon Rose ‘24.

While varsity games remained absent through September and the first week of October, the large number of underclassmen on the team suited up on Junior Varsity and went to battle against Poly Prep, Erasmus Hall, and Eagle Academy II, going 1-2.

“It was kind of fun,” said lineman Naseem Parker ‘26. “I got more experience and it helped me get better prepared for varsity.”

“It was great,” said starting quarterback William Forte ‘26. “Most people don’t really start as a sophomore. I’m blessed.”

So on Oct 13, after a full month of waiting, varsity football games were finally a go, with underclassmen like Parker and Forte being heavily relied on. After the Tottenville loss, the exciting win against rival James Madison was a huge tone shift.

“We took a good dub,” said Forte. “Battle of Bedford, and it felt really good to get a win with my brothers.”

In the week leading up to the homecoming game, the hype was palpable, and the team was eager to perform for the large crowd of Midwood faithful that painted the stands white on Saturday.

On the Hornets’ first drive, Rose opened the scoring with a 5 yard touchdown to go up 6-0. Immediately after, Orlando Mohammed ‘25 scored off of a muffed punt to increase the Hornets’ lead to 14. In the waning moments of the first half, the team tacked on some insurance, with Forte tossing his only touchdown pass of the game to receiver Marlon King ‘24, who made an acrobatic catch in the left corner of the end zone that had the crowd buzzing.

“I feel like we started out good,” said Cush, who was named Defensive Player of the Game with 6 tackles and 1 sack. “But then we lost steam in the second half. We should’ve put 50 on the board.”

Though Bayside came out firing in the second half, they never crept within two scores. Rose extended the Hornets’ lead in the 4th quarter with his second rushing touchdown of the game, then iced the game with an interception on defense to seal the 28-14 win. With 171 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns, he was named the Offensive Player of the Game. “It was great to perform in front of all the students, the band, and all the parents,” said Rose.

Now having gone 2-1 in games they’ve actually played, with two straight wins, it's clear the team’s 2-4 record is not a reflection of their actual talent.

“We just kept practicing,” said Rose. “We knew we were gonna play eventually, so we just kept practicing and getting better.”

“The start of the year, I wasn’t really into the varsity thing,” said Forte. “But now I’m loving it and doing what I got to do.”

With only two regular season games to go, the team hopes to win out to make the playoffs.

“We get better every week,” said Cush.

With the momentum and confidence they have, anything is possible.