By Joseph Staszewski
The Flushing defense refused to crack against New Utrecht before helping to break the game wide open.
The unit provided the Red Devils with two goal-line stands and three fourth-quarter interceptions, including one it returned for a touchdown, in a lopsided 27-0 win over the visiting Utes in PSAL city Championship division football Friday afternoon. The victory gave Flushing its second straight win after a disappointing loss to Carnarsie.
“We are trying to get a donut,” Flushing safety Kevaun Dunn said of the team’s plan to shut out the New Utrecht offense. “They came in here thinking we were going to lose. No, we are not going to lose.”
It was the senior who helped ensure it. He blitzed and pressured New Utrecht quarterback Richard Wright into an incomplete pass on fourth and goal from the 2-yard line early in the fourth quarter with Flushing (4-1) leading just 14-0. The defense also halted the Utes on fourth and goal from the 7-yard line early in the second quarter. The second stand, however, was a turning point, according to Red Devils Coach Jim DeSantis.
“When you get a goal-line stand, fourth and goal on the one and you don’t let them in, that is huge,” he said.
Dunn, who is also an excellent kicker and receiver, wasn’t done there. In the fourth quarter he returned an interception 65 yards up the right sideline for a touchdown to provide the final margin. It was his second pick of the season. Keron Hermitt and DeShawn Scott also added interceptions against New Utrecht (3-2).
“I just wanted a touchdown,” Dunn said. “I just wanted to run, trying to get a score on the board.”
Flushing running back DeAndre Lomax-Ross has been doing that all season and this game was no different. The senior carried the ball 16 times for 176 yards and two touchdowns. His 4-yard scoring run helped give Flushing a 7-0 lead on its opening series. A 28-yard touchdown pass from Terrence Chavis to Adam Singleton extended the lead to 14-0 in the third quarter.
Lomax-Ross eventually broke open the game after the fourth-quarter, goal-line stand. Four plays later, he scampered for a 78-yard touchdown up the right side to make the score 21-0 with 7:28 to go in the contest.
“When I run the ball, I just think, ‘I got to score,’” the elusive Lomax-Ross said. “I got to score, get as many yards as possible. Don’t go down easy.”
He team has gotten back up after falling to Canarsie, a loss DeSantis blamed on disorganization in the coaching staff that day. Flushing has momentum again heading into this week’s matchup with Queens rival Campus Magnet, which has struggled so far this season.
“We cannot lose to a team that is going to be 0-5,” Dunn said. “That is going to make us look bad. We got to go in there and fight.”
