Peglegs Drop Homecoming Game in an Offensive Shootout

At the start of every football season, there is one day everyone in the Stuyvesant community circles on their calendars: Homecoming. It was that time of year again on Friday, October 25, with numerous festivities having taken place throughout the day, including a pep rally, a faculty versus student dodgeball game, and a questionable dance performance by the Peglegs, Stuyvesant’s football team. All this was in the rear view mirror once the Peglegs took the field under the Friday night lights for their final home game of the regular season. The game was bittersweet for the seniors who stepped onto Pier 40 wearing the grey, red, and blue Pegleg jerseys for the final time.

Each and every Pegleg knew at kickoff that this game meant much more than could be understood by those on the outside looking in. On the opposing sidelines stood the William E. Grady football team, which entered the game with a record of 6-1 and a share of second place in the League Cup Conference. With the season at its latter end, every game’s meaning increases exponentially (playoff seeding is at stake). The Peglegs came in with a 4-3 record, putting them in the middle of the pack. A win could move the Peglegs up the rankings, even possibly earning them a first-round bye in the playoffs. The momentum was undoubtedly in the Peglegs’ favor, coming off a 41-14 blowout win against the Warriors of Alfred E. Campus, with a large showing made of fellow students, staff, family, and alumni.

Nevertheless, the anticipation amounted to yet another loss, as the Peglegs fell to William E. Grady in a 76-50 thriller. The basketball-like score conveys the narrative of the Peglegs night: excellent offense met with lackluster defense. It was only fitting that senior Lucas Dingman statistically had the biggest game under center of his Peglegs career. As expected, Dingman got it done in the air and on the ground. The southpaw amassed a career-high 520 passing yards and four touchdowns, doing so very efficiently with a 63 percent completion percentage. Dingman was also the top rusher for the Peglegs with 96 rushing yards and one touchdown. A performance like this was much needed for Dingman as he was struggling for much of the season. Dingman’s favorite target throughout the season, senior and wide receiver Clement Chan, showed out in a like manner. Chan also set a career-high with an unprecedented 303 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Owen Potter didn’t shy away from the limelight either, posting his second straight 100-yard performance, with 106 yards and two of the seven touchdowns. Senior Franklin Liou continued his solid season in the backfield, displaying his abilities as a multifaceted back. Liou yet again recorded over 100 yards from scrimmage with 67 rushing yards and 50 receiving yards, accounting for the Peglegs’ other two touchdowns.

Despite the Peglegs’ best offensive showing of the season, there was nothing to show for it in the wins column due to flat defensive and special teams play. The Pelegs’ secondary was able to limit William E. Grady’s passing game, giving up a measly 82 yards in the air. Though this statistic may be impressive, Grady’s offense had come into the game with the reputation of a run-heavy team, and run they did. The Peglegs’ largest hole in regards to their defense was exploited, as Grady accumulated 496 rushing yards for eight touchdowns, overwhelmingly the most given up by the Peglegs over the course of the season. Much of the struggles can be blamed on the front seven’s play at the line of scrimmage, recording a single tackle for loss throughout the whole game. Consistent poor play at the line resulted in backs making their way into the secondary, and in turn, big plays. The longest runs for Grady’s two leading rushers, William Stoney and Tyler Francis, were 65 and 45 yards, respectively. Though the secondary played a stellar game, they were not immune to big plays. Grady’s only receiver to record a reception, Kevin Robinson, had two receptions, each for 46 yards. The Peglegs’ offense was forced to play from behind the entire game and was not aided by the special teams play. The aforementioned Stoney was the primary kick returner for Grady during the game. Over four kick returns, he accumulated 153 yards. The big blow: an 85-yard return for a touchdown that drained the Peglegs of all momentum following a scoring drive.

The Peglegs will look to add to the win column next week in their regular season finale against the Tigers of Evander Childs Campus. This game will have serious playoff implications, as the Peglegs currently find themselves near the bottom of the top 12 in the Cup Conference, the teams that qualify for the playoffs. A win will improve the Peglegs’ playoff seeding, but may also be necessary to clinch a playoff berth with many teams knocking on the door of the top 12. Expect the highlighted seniors to play with a sense of urgency, hoping to end their Pegleg career off on a positive and memorable note.