Mike Saunds called it the longest week of football in his life – so he couldn’t imagine how his players felt.
Lehman had its Homecoming game taken away Friday night when the Department of Education and SUNY-Maritime couldn’t get together on a contract. Earlier that morning, a player the Lions took on their roster two weeks ago, Kino Brown, was stabbed and killed after an argument in a parking lot.
“There was some crying,” Saunds said. “There was some hand-wringing. They chose to practice, though. They chose to be together with their teammates.”
Topping off a week of emotions was a game with Brooklyn Tech, Saunds’ alma mater where he was also an assistant coach. Somehow, Lehman was able to dig deep enough for 34-30 victory in PSAL City Championship football Sunday in Brooklyn – on a goal line stand, no less.
Senior linebacker Brandon Martinez wrapped up Brooklyn Tech star James Gales to seal the win for Lehman (2-2). Billy Hall, a defensive end assistant Larry Thomas convinced Saunds to insert on the series, had three huge tackles.
Moreover, the Lions were coming off a disheartening loss to Susan Wagner and just a horrible week.
“I know they’ve been up and down,” Saunds said of his players. “I tip my cap to them. I tip my cap to my coaches. … [The players] love being around each other. They love to work together. Sometimes the breaks don’t go their way, but my kids are tough, man.”
The second-year coach had a whole Homecoming ceremony set for Friday in a game that was supposed to be at Maritime, but the DOE and the school were not able to broker a deal, Saunds said. Instead, Lehman had its first Homecoming party Wednesday before the Rosh Hashanah holiday and 200 students showed up. Senior football player Josh Romanger was named Homecoming king.
There would be no pomp and circumstance Sunday in Brooklyn – it was only a home game for Saunds, who lives minutes from the field – but Lehman did its celebrating between the lines. David White rushed for 300 yards on 36 carries with four touchdowns. It’s his second straight 300-yard day. He’s run for more than 200 each week and has 11 touchdowns and 1,080 yards this year.
“That’s like Tecmo Bowl numbers,” Saunds said. “That’s like a create-a-player.”
Heads were still hanging in memory of Brown, though. Saunds took him on the roster two weeks ago, because he had fallen in with the wrong crowd and was looking for a new direction in his life. On Sunday, 22-year-old Pedro Suazo was arrested the fatal stabbing, The Post reported. Brown was stabbed once in the chest and rushed to Montefiore Hospital, where he died, police said.
“I want to remember him as a kid that came up and wanted to be a part of something special,” Saunds said.
The victory was special in its own right, for him because Brooklyn Tech is his school and for the whole program.
“It was gratifying, but even more so for the kids this week after what they’ve gone through,” Saunds said.
