By Five Boro Sports
Walter Wilkerson didn’t second-guess his decision to put the ball in the air on Far Rockaway’s first offensive play of overtime. But his players certainly did.
Moments after quarterback Daniel Marc was picked off by his counterpart, George Washington’s Chayanne Hidalgo, the play that ended their Cup Division title dreams, 20-14, Sunday morning at Midwood Athletic Complex, several Sea Horses not only questioned the play call – Far Rock did go away from running Gregory Ibe, the team’s bread and butter – but disrespected the coach.
“Why the f— did we not run the ball,” Ibe lashed out to nobody in particular. “What are we passing for?”
Many of his teammates slammed their helmets on the cold turf, arguing with assistant coaches. PSAL officials excused the team from the trophy celebration.
“They expected us to run,” was Wilkerson’s explanation. “If I had it over again, would I do the same thing? Yes. If we throw that pass and he goes into the end zone, it’s ‘Great call, Coach.”
Ibe had a reason to be upset. The Cup Division’s leading rusher, he led Far Rock’s comeback from a 14-0 first-half deficit, scoring twice on the ground to extend his touchdown total to 17. He got them even with 10:36 remaining when he found the edge on a 30-yard stretch play.
“All great players want the ball in their hands in crunch time and he was no different,” Wilkerson said.
Wilkerson said he called 43 power pass, a play that begins with Daniel faking the handoff to Ibe and looking deep downfield. It had often worked this year, Wilkerson recalled, so he hoped to catch GW off guard. Instead, Marc threw into double coverage, the wobbly pass finding its way into Hidalgo’s waiting arms. He underthrew the post-corner route intended for Jevaughn Pinnock.
“It was a bad pass,” the senior said. “It was my fault.”
The two teams had met to open the season, a showdown won by Far Rockaway, 38-8. But the Trojans were without several notable players, including their entire front four of Adrian Cabrera, D.J. Greene, Cody Thompson and Chazoi Hardware, either due to injury and eligibility reasons. With those contributors there to stuff Ibe, GW got off to a 14-point lead thanks to a pair of Hidalgo keepers.
The Sea Horses have come a long way since the last two years, after winning just four games combined. But that was of little consolation when defeat had been assured. The unsightly reaction made a tough ending to the season even worse.
“The scene afterwards wasn’t what I expected,” Wilkerson said. “I was disappointed. I understand it was a tough loss, but all season I preached good sportsmanship. I wasn’t pleased.”
