By Stephen Zitolo
If Flushing got going early it knew it couldn’t let up against South Shore.
“The game plan is pedal to the metal and never let go,” Flushing senior quarterback Terrence Chavis said.
That’s exactly what the Red Devils did in an important and convincing 41-14 road win over South Shore in PSAL City Conference football last Saturday afternoon. It is Flushing’s fifth straight win.
Red Devils coach Jim DeSantis said he came into the game nervous because South Shore nearly knocked off division leader Erasmus Hall two weeks go. It was like a playoff game in Flushing’s eyes because of the effect it could have on the standings.
It will remain in the upper echelon of the league thanks to the play of Chavis. He was able to pick apart the South Shore defense in the air by throwing touchdowns to three different receivers and also running for a score. DeSantis believes Chavis isn’t getting the respect he deserves despite his stellar performance.
“He’s been with us since his sophomore year,” DeSantis said. “He’s thrown for more than 1,000 yards in every season, yet they want to talk about every other quarterback in the city of New York, except for him. He’s 5-7 or 5-8 and he can throw it.”
Despite his praise of Chavis, DeSantis knows he isn’t doing it alone. He talked about the diversity of his offense and how it could be any one of his guys stepping up on a different day.
“We have enough guys if the guy getting the touches doesn’t do it, the next guy can step in,” DeSantis said.
They had plenty of it against South Shore (5-3), which went through some turmoil internally leading up to the game. On Flushing’s first drive of the game Chavis scrambled in the pocket and found receiver Keron Hermitt for a 43-yard score on a fourth-and-3 play to help give his team a 7-0 lead. Chavis, who also had a 3-yard touchdown run, would hook up with senior Marcus Mendez on a slant that went for a 64-yard score and a 14-0 lead later in the quarter. Mendez also added a score on the ground.
Senior D’Andre Sapp’s 8-yard touchdown run gave Flushing (6-2) a 28-8 lead just before halftime.
The Red Devils got the ball to open the third quarter and picked up where they left off. Chavis found junior receiver Tajmaleeak Beckett for an 11-yard pitch and catch for the touchdown and a 35-8 lead. It put his team well on its way to another win. Flushing’s confidence continues to grow heading into a key matchup with Tottenville this week.
“The city isn’t ready for Flushing,” Mendez said. “We are all together and we are coming to bring the pain.”
