By Anthony Bosco
Farrell jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead on two long pass plays and an interception return midway through the first half increased the lead to 21-0, all without the benefit of a long, sustained drive.
“They didn't have any drive there,” Cassidy said. “It was just bang, bang, bang.”
The Royals were severely hampered in the first half, playing with wide receiver Steven Shell at quarterback, taking snaps for the injured Malcolm Gibson, who suffered a concussion and chest trauma during the team's 7-0 loss to Holy Cross a week earlier.
Also not seeing action for CK were key players Eddie Cuero, Freddie Johnson and Brandon Taylor. Orion Sykes also saw limited time coming back from a bout with strep throat.
Still, with star running back Jason Sullivan going down in the first quarter, Farrell never flinched, scoring once more before the half on the team's first sustained scoring drive of the day to go up 28-0 at the break.
Cassidy moved Marcus Smith to quarterback in the second half and went almost exclusively to the option, which paid dividends for the Royals. Tim Ducey and Anthony Lazares both scored rushing touchdowns, enabling CK to outscore Farrell over the final two periods, 14-7.
“Our kids stepped up,” Cassidy said. “They came out and played a really good second half.”
Christ the King finishes the regular season with a 2-5 record, 2-6 overall and will again head back to Staten Island this weekend to take on the Lions, who finished the season 6-1 in league play and 7-1 overall.
Kellenberg 37, St. Francis Prep 10. St. Francis Prep could do little to stop undefeated Kellenberg, which scored on the first play of the game on an 80-yard run by Quanne Tomlinson.
The Terriers trailed 6-0 before Michael DaSilva kicked 28-yard field goal to make it 6-3. But Kellenberg scored 18 straight points to take a commanding 24-3 lead before Prep could score again.
Danny Ibanez blocked a Kellenberg punt in the end zone and Giuseppe Roccisano recovered it for St. Francis' second score of the game and pulling them to within 14, 24-10.
Two more scores, however, put the game out of reach, as Kellenberg raised its league mark to 7-0.
Chris Zambrano carried the ball 19 times to lead the Terriers, who finish 3-4, with 91 yards. St. Francis Prep will face Cardinal Hayes in the AA playoffs.
