By Dylan Butler
After opening the season with a pair of victories, the John Adams football team dropped a pair of close games and coach Jerry Weitzen thought Saturday’s game at undefeated Long Island City would be a good test for his Spartans.
And John Adams passed with flying colors, defeating the Bulldogs, 22-16.
“It’s a big win, the kids stuck in there and the defense came together,” Weitzen said. “We’re starting to gel a bit.”
Leading John Adams (3-2, 3-1 PSAL) was the running tandem of Richard Lopez and Tristan Lefoon, who each ran for 100 yards. Quarterback Kyle Piccirello scored on a one-yard sneak, Lopez added a 65-yard touchdown run while Lefoon also found the end zone for the Spartans, who were led defensively by Robert Knight, who had 10 unassisted tackles.
LIC (3-1) was led by running backs Mark Satterwhite (25 carries for 128 yards) and Ronald Whittingham (12 carries for 107 yards), who head to John F. Kennedy (3-1) Sunday, while Adams hosts Springfield Gardens at 11 a.m.
Springfield Gardens 14, George Washington 6. Brandon Rush scored the game-winning touchdown, returning an interception for a school-record 101 yards and Rahjay Williams blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown in the opening series for the Golden Eagles (3-2 PSAL), who had only eight plays from scrimmage all game. Springfield, which was led defensively by Garet Lynch (15 tackles) and Dwayne Brown (13 tackles), avenged an 18-0 loss to the Trojans last week.
“The defense was on the field the entire game,” Springfield Gardens coach Charlie Yarborough said. “I’m proud of the effort, the way they stepped up after a tough loss like that.”
Bryant 8, McKee/Staten Island Tech 6. Juan Gonzalez connected with Bryson Ricks on a 20-yard touchdown pass and Karsheem Robinson ran in the two-point conversion for Bryant (1-3 PSAL). After McKee/SI Tech (0-4) scored midway through the third quarter, Bryant safety Bryan Marte stopped the two-point conversion. The Owls host Far Rockaway (3-1 PSAL) Sunday at noon.
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by email at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 143.
