By Stephen Zitolo
Flushing didn’t miss its chance to capitalize on South Shore’s mistakes, swinging a deadlocked game in its favor.
The seventh-seeded Red Devils’ ability to take advantage of miscues by the No. 10 Vikings and not letting their own come back to haunt them was the difference in a 34-14 home victory in the opening round of PSAL City Conference football playoffs Saturday afternoon. Flushing advances to visit defending champion and No. 2 Abraham Lincoln noon this Saturday in the quarterfinals.
“We know we have a tall task ahead of us,” Red Devils coach Jim DeSantis said. “We want to get to Yankee Stadium and we moved one step closer to that goal today.”
Flushing senior quarterback Terrence Chavis recorded four total touchdowns, three passing and one on the ground. Senior wide receiver Keron Hermit had two touchdown receptions.
“I talked to Keron both last night and this morning,” Chavis said. “I told him that today was going to be a big day. Whenever I need someone to make a play, he is the guy I look to.”
The game appeared it was going to be a close battle from start to finish after the first half. Chavis was able to find Hermitt for a 48-yard score to give Flushing a 6-0 lead early in the first quarter.
South Shore tied the score and the Red Devils’ offense got sloppy, turning the ball over on consecutive drives — once at the South Shore 7-yard line. The defense picked up the slack by keeping South Shore off the board.
Flushing would get a turnover of its own in the second quarter as sophomore Kameron Walker had an interception. It was able to capitalize when Chavis hooked up with Hermitt on a short route. It turned into a 78-yard touchdown as Hermitt juked his way into the end zone to make it 14-6.
“A lot was going through my head on that play,” Hermitt said. “I knew I had to do anything I could to help my team win.”
South Shore tied the score at 14-14 just before the half, but Flushing dominated after the break with 20 unanswered points.
A fumble recovery on a punt return gave Flushing great field position. It would score on the drive as they sent in offensive tackle Bromwell Roache to punch the ball into the end zone from 5 yards out to make it 20-14.
“He (Roache) runs scout against our defense in practice and no one wants to tackle him,” DeSantis said. “He really knows how to run the football.”
In the fourth quarter Chavis found junior wide out Tajmaleeak Beckett for a 22-yard pitch and catch for the score and a 28-14 lead. South Shore again had trouble on the punt. This time the punter couldn’t handle the snap and was taken down at his own 18 yard line. Chavis would run the ball in from 10 yards out to provide the final margin.
Flushing now has a chance to get to the semifinals for the second straight year, but will need to get through a formidable opponent.
“We have to prepare very well,” Chavis said. “Lincoln is a very good team. We have to do everything well to beat them.”
Bayside in Bowl semis
Tyrell Plaza rushed for 65 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries to propel No. 4 Bayside to a 26-6 home win over James Madison in the PSAL Bowl Conference quarterfinals Sunday. He also recovered a fumble.
Marcus Watson ran for 111 yards on 11 carries and Charles Flug completed 5 of 12 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown pass to Tyrell Graham.
The Commodores visit No. 2 FDR noon Sunday at Midwood Athletic Complex in the semifinals.
