In the longtime heated rivalry for bragging rights as Bayside’s best, Cardozo and Bayside High School can now add football to the sports in which they compete.
The newly formed Cardozo junior varsity football team might be comprised of only freshman, but they look to throw their helmets into the ring in a highly competitive division.
The first hurdle on their new journey begins with their regional neighbors, the Bayside Commodores.
“I saw that he [Joe Kaso, Cardozo head coach] had started a football program at Cardozo so I called him, and said ‘Joe, would you be interested in having a scrimmage?’” said Bayside head coach, David Velkas. “I mean, Cardozo and Bayside is such a great rivalry in Queens – it’s like Notre Dame and USC,” he added.
The exhibition game didn’t count for the record, but one could see which team was a little undersized and heavily overmatched.
Cardozo began the exhibition contest on defense, but the developing freshmen couldn’t cover the deep routes, stop the quarterback from scrambling for a large gain, or tackle a man in the open field.
On offense, they looked just as inexperienced and unproven as the stitches of the numbers on their freshly pressed jerseys.
Fumbles, interceptions and a lackluster run game pestered Cardozo all afternoon – but one really shouldn’t find fault with a young team in their first game ever.
“Since it’s their first year, they are trying to get better – they look pretty good though,” said Christian Saldarriaga, Bayside’s wide receiver. “I think it could be a great rivalry.”
The Commodores, on the other hand, proved to be a seasoned football team with a veteran coaching staff and a positive outlook for the rest of the season. Currently, their record is 2-3, but quick offensive strikes and ferocious gang-tackles are the attributes that will ensure that Bayside is able to put up a few more wins before the playoffs begin.
The coaches and kids are pumped for real action to begin. While they don’t have any regular season games scheduled together, Bayside and Cardozo look to duel it out in the borough tug-of-war next season.
“These two schools are so competitive in basketball and baseball – now it’s time for it to happen in football,” Velkas said. “This is the beginning of a rivalry that will stand for years and years.”
