Veteran quarterback is changing strategy

After playing quarterback on Cardozo High School’s junior varsity team last season, Perry Haskowitz has one thing on his mind – it is time to throw the ball.
The 16-year-old heads into the 11th grade this fall and joins Cardozo’s varsity team on the gridiron. With new varsity teammates surrounding him on the offensive line, Haskowitz is gunning for more opportunities to pass the ball.
“Hopefully my linemen will get bigger and I’ll have more time,” he said. “I didn’t have much of a throwing game last year, but I hope that’s going to change.”
Haskowitz hopes to have more pass-heavy games like one during his sophomore year. It was one of the last games of the season and Cardozo had a 7-0 record – this prompted coach Joseph Kaso to loosen the reigns and give his quarterback an opportunity to launch the football.
“It was definitely my best game,” he said, as he recalled going 9-for-10 with a touchdown pass and over 200-yards passing. Cardozo won that game and finished undefeated for the season.
That stellar season was due in large part to running back Fabian Bramwell and his over-1,000 rushing yards on the season, as well as a defense that stifled its opponents all season long. Haskowitz credits his entire team, but his poise in the pocket combined with physical and mental toughness catapulted Cardozo to numerous victories.
“When I’m in the pocket, in game mode, I’m not scared of linebackers,” he said. “I’ve been run over and crushed a couple of times and it’s not fun at all. But during the game I’m so pumped up with adrenaline that I don’t feel any pain until the play is over. If I get the pass off before I get hit and the receiver catches the ball, then it hurts much less.”
Preparation is the key to Haskowitz’s success. The lifelong Bayside resident said that he attends every practice and tries to be a leader during drills. He believes that in-game situations are not the time to worry about mistakes – that is what practice is for.
“You make mistakes in practice,” he said. “But during the game, you just have to forget about it.”
It is this belief in preparation that enables his success in the classroom, as well as on the gridiron. Haskowitz boasts an average around 90 and finds that if students just did their homework, grades and averages would be a lot higher.
“I don’t find it hard at all,” said Haskowitz referring to maintaining a high average. “It’s like football practice – if you do your homework every day it’s a lot easier to get good grades.”
As an athlete with towering grades, Haskowitz knows the value of time management and keeping a smart balance between work and play. Coaches at Cardozo do not allow athletes on their team who do not maintain a certain grade standard .In an age where big-name college players and pro-athletes are given free passes, it is important for coaches at the high school level to be relentless when it comes to grades.
“You definitely have to study. The focus can’t be just on football because if you don’t pay attention in school, your grades will slip,” he said. “And the coaches won’t take you on the team if your grades aren’t up to standards.”
While maintaining his grades, Haskowitz also maintains the belief that playing on varsity won’t have that much of an impact on how he approaches the game. He does, however, hope that varsity means less quarterback scrambles.
“I’m not very fast,” he said. “The only change I’m looking for is more time in the pocket.”