Jim DeSantis expected Campus Magnet to resort to its hurry-up offense after his Flushing football team took the lead late in the fourth quarter. He prepared the Red Devils for the empty backfield, five wide receiver look.
What he never saw on game tape – the Bulldogs attacking the middle of the field with their tight end – was Flushing’s undoing.
Nmesoma Okafar, a newly converted tight end, caught a seam pass for a 46-yard gain on the game’s deciding drive of what would be a dramatic, 14-7 Campus victory Saturday afternoon.
“I watched five films and they never threw to the tight end once,” he said. “I was shocked when he (Okafor) was going up the field.”
Quarterback Scott Gadsden completed a 19-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Karim Pierre, but the big gain to Okafor stood as the penultimate moment of the physical affair for Queens bragging rights.
On 2nd-and-5 from the 35, Gadsden dropped back and saw Okafor streaking unguarded. The entire secondary had followed the Bulldogs receivers and running backs. He laid the pass in softly but with enough zip to hit the 6-foot-6 senior in stride. Okafor stuck his two massive hands up, watched the ball into them and rumbled an additional 25 yards.
“I was like ‘Catch it, don’t worry about scoring,’” Pierre recalled.
In preparation for the borough showdown, Campus Magnet coach Eric Barnett worked on the play since he noticed Flushing (5-3) didn’t keep a safety over the middle. He also knew DeSantis wouldn’t see it coming, considering he had infrequently used the tight end this fall.
“We have a deep playbook,” he said. “I’m not gonna show all my toys.”
The dominant defensive end, who had eight tackles and picked up his team-leading eighth sack, only moved to tight end two weeks ago. He played the position sparingly before, but his two receptions on Saturday were the second and third of his high school football career at Campus Magnet (6-2).
“He had to get rid of his linemen hands and get his receiver hands back,” Barnett joked. The coach added: “He’s by far a Division I ballplayer.”
Gadsden said the Bulldogs worked on the seam pass frequently in practice. Okafor dropped more passes than usual, he said, for a starter. But after he hauled in his first catch, a 19-yard gain in the flat, he trusted the senior.
“He’s a clutch player,” Gadsden said. “He always makes big plays for us.”
Okafor’s star turn was in stark contrast to his first trip to a police station 15 days ago, when he was mistakenly held for several hours in the murder of 13-year-old Kevin Miller. The next day, the Bulldogs lost to Canarsie, 28-12, although Okafor did suit up and play every down.
“It’s in the past, we’re looking forward,” he said.
Okafor likes the ball in his hands, but doesn’t want to give up on his duties as an offensive tackle. He enjoys pulling on running plays, pancaking defenders, and the every-down contact that is the life of a lineman.
“Anything,” he said, “to help us win.”
There was one gripe he had on the play.
“I’m fast,” he said, smiling broadly. “I could’ve scored.”
