The Peglegs: Stuyvesant’s Football Team is on the Rise

Eager to improve their record from last year, Stuyvesant’s varsity football team, the Peglegs, have been working harder than ever. This season, the Peglegs have won all three of their away games. However, they suffered losses at both home games, making their record 3-2 after another win at a non-league scrimmage against Petrides. Last year, the Peglegs only achieved two wins, so the team has already improved their record.

This year, the team is led by senior co-captains Efe Kilic, Samuel Glusker, William Opich, and Anvar Kadirbekov, who play the positions of quarterback, running back, defensive end, and linebacker, respectively. Part of what makes this team so special this season is its strong student leadership. “The team’s greatest strength is their resiliency and no-quit attitude,” said coach Eddie Seo. This is made possible because of the Peglegs’ excellent senior leadership. “Many of the seniors came into this year with a lot of playing experience from last year, and that has turned into a solid foundation for the team this season. Our senior captains have really set a great example of how to show commitment to this team and the rest of the team has followed their lead.”

A team is only as good as its morals and integrity, both of which the Peglegs certainly have. Stuyvesant hosted its annual Homecoming game at Pier 40 on October 28. There was a large turnout, and many students were dressed in accordance with the game’s “pink-out” theme. The theme was chosen to promote breast cancer awareness month (the entirety of October), and it gave the students an opportunity to show their school spirit. The game was a close call, with the Peglegs barely losing to the Governors of Dewitt Clinton High School, their long-time rival. Last year, we were crushed 0-22 against Clinton. It was a tough defeat, which pushed the team to fight their hardest in this year’s game. It came down to an extremely close play in the last few seconds of the game, with the Peglegs only a few yards from scoring a game-tying two point conversion. In the end, they lost 26-28, but they were able to show incredible improvement from the previous year. ”The whole team, coaches and players, are extremely hard workers and the past couple of years they’ve been doing very well in their division. This Homecoming game is one of the best I’ve seen in a while,” Stuyvesant athletic director Peter Bologna said.

Despite their current success, there are many misconceptions and stereotypes about Stuyvesant’s football team. “It seems like Stuyvesant kids will always assume we’re not good at football.” Opich said. It seems to be somewhat of a running joke that the football team is one of Stuyvesant’s weaker teams; Coach Seo described how they have a reputation for not being very nice and losing a lot of games. Despite this, the Peglegs consistently exceed the expectations of the majority of the student body at games, as seen through their track record this year. They are playing in the A Conference League, the most competitive league in PSAL, and currently have a good chance at making the playoffs. “We have shown the entire PSAL that we can hang with the top teams, and now we just want the school to see that too,” Kilic said.

Only two games remain in the regular season, including one against the undefeated Cardozo Judges, so the Peglegs deserve all the support that they can get. The players dedicate a large portion of their time to the sport, with daily practice and many weekend games. According to the captains, the Peglegs are underappreciated for their time and commitment to the team and should be seen more as a symbol of school pride as opposed to the weak-link of Stuyvesant sports. “The football team has been around for over 100 years at Stuy and that tradition should be something that you want to embrace and be a part of, and not avoid,” Seo said.

What sets the Peglegs apart is that they are more than just a team—they are a tight-knit community, one of the closest groups of players that the captains have seen during their time at Stuyvesant. “[I’ve] never seen seniors and sophomores get along as much as this season,” Opich said. Football is an effective way to get to know new people and build lasting friendships, especially since it’s a considerable time commitment.

When asked what he’s looking forward to about the team this year, Seo mentioned some talented up-and-coming players, including a few first-year varsity junior starters and prospective sophomores. “It’s always exciting to see surprises like new players join the team and make a difference right away. I’m excited to see their development the rest of this season and how much better they’ll all be next year,” Seo said. He also hopes to work on technique and fundamentals such as blocking and tackling, though he said that the team already has a solid foundation in these skills. The team has experienced various setbacks this year, such as persistent injuries and having to figure out ways to effectively communicate with the new players. However, the team has persisted through these challenges, exhibiting admirable teamwork and determination. The team’s improvements in the past year alone illustrate the magnitude of potential that the Peglegs have in the years to come.