Joaquin Dejesus takes aim on career-day against Flushing. (Photos by Ted Levin)
Perhaps more equally matched than even their respective 4-1 records would suggest, from the very onset you had the feeling Sunday's Flushing at Clinton PSAL battle would ultimately boil down to a test of wills.
Yet, as fast as you could say 'playoff positioning on the line,' the Govs made it clear that they were the squad that was not going to be denied this day. Special team stars Oscar Martinez and Patrick Lindo blocked a punt and recovered a fumbled kickoff respectively over the opening six minutes, setting up a pair of short scoring runs by Joaquin Dejesus and Alonzo Merchant in what would become a 37-0 rout for the surging Governors.
Coach Howard Langely's crew has now annihilated its last two opponents by a combined score of 82- 6, keeping them firmly perched near the top of the league standings in their ongoing battle for a Championship Division crown.
Special teamers Patrick Lindo and Oscar Martinez starred in Clinton's win. (Photos by Ted Levin)
“Those plays were huge and kind of set the tone for everything,” said Langley. “I'm also the special teams coach, so we work on that stuff all the time. Coming in here, we thought there might be a few things we could take advantage of in that area.”
But oh, the Govs found other avenues as well. Dejesus also ran for a 52-yard score, and he and Merchant connected on a 70-yard scoring bomb just before halftime, staking the Govs to a 30-0 advantage and all but clearing their bench for much of the second half.
“We don't worry about the score,” said Langley, when asked if, with the playoffs looming, he felt his starters could remain sharp in such limited action. “As long as we're getting better as a team, we feel good about how everything is turning out,” he added.
Much of that improvement can be traced to all the extra work the Govs put in the days leading up to game time. “Take special teams,” said Martinez. “A lot of teams don't put in all the work they could in that area, but we put an emphasis on it. Any advantage we can get, we work extra hard to make it happen .
”Added Dejesus: “We feel we have a good chance to go all the way in the city. If that means a lot of hard work, we're willing to put it in to get what we want.”
Junior linebacker Bryan Jolly closed the scoring for Clinton by returning a fourth quarter interception 55-yards for a score.
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