By Benjamin Leibowitz
While Springfield Gardens wide receiver Christophe Spain refused to take any of the credit, he was still the hero of the day Sunday, hauling in the game-winning touchdown to lift the Golden Eagles to a 28-22 OT victory over Jamaica in the first-round of the PSAL bowl conference football playoffs.
The junior was quick to point out he didn’t win the game on his own.
“I am just so happy that we were able to come out of this game with a win,” Spain said. “It’s all about team in this program.”
Spain’s extra-time touchdown reception was, of course, the highlight of the game, but there was plenty of drama on both sides of the ball throughout the matchup.
The Golden Eagles (7-2) offense racked up nearly 300 yards—averaging over eight yards per carry—but struggled to take care of the ball deep in Jamaica territory, failing to put up any points in the first half. The game nearly got away from Springfield Gardens late in the game when the squad found itself down by two touchdowns heading into the fourth quarter.
Springfield Gardens rallied down the stretch, however—racking up 14 points in the final 12 minutes of play and staging a goal-line stand in the waning minutes of regulation to force the game into overtime.
“I am so proud of this program,” Golden Eagles coach Charles Yarborough said. “Garfield (Jamaica’s running back) was very tough on us today, as he has been the last four years, but I have to give this team credit; they hung in there and fought.”
The Golden Eagles hit their stride in OT as Steve Cadesti intercepted a Jamaica pass early in extra time, setting up his touchdown pass to Spain a few moments later.
Junior Senai Haywood was another key factor in the Golden Eagles’ win. He racked up 190 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries and was a force to be reckoned with on the defensive side of the ball with a whopping 11 tackles. Haywood’s presence on both sides of the ball kept Jamaica on its toes throughout the game and helped spark Springfield Gardens when it looked like the squad was running out of steam.
Jalanni Springer also chipped in 94 rushing yards and one touchdown of his own, while Philemon Benjamin added 10 tackles as well. It doesn’t get any easier for Springfield Gardens this weekend with a quarterfinal matchup against No. 4 Bayside on the schedule. And the Golden Eagles know the team will need to seize control from the get-go to keep its season alive. Still, Springfield Gardens isn’t going down without a fight. After all, they didn’t in this one.
“This was a really important team win for us,” Haywood said. “We’re just trying to win a championship.”
