WOODBRIDGE >> There were plenty of candidates for a game ball following Amity’s 48-13 romp over Sheehan on Friday night. David Buono scored five touchdowns and rushed for 165 yards, Spencer Thomas gained 129 yards on just 12 carries, Michael Butler tallied four sacks and the offensive line opened holes Buono said he could see “from 100 yards.”
But there was really only one person to give the game ball to when it was all said and done: head coach Bert Mozealous.
Mozealous’s mother, Bernice, passed away at the age of 90 on Sept. 12 and was buried on Thursday. A service will be held today.
It was with a heavy heart that Mozealous led his team into action on Friday night.
“Pretty emotional week,” he said afterwards, his voice breaking a little bit. “It’s going to be an emotional season for us. But we’re just going to keep working, and hopefully it’ll carry through.”
Amity (2-0) couldn’t have been much more dominant on Friday. A 49-yard scamper by Joe Choiniere helped set up Buono’s first TD, a one-yard plunge, and the onslaught was on. Buono scored two more times before halftime, including a 24-yard run, and Thomas added a one-yard run as the Spartans entered halftime with a 27-0 advantage.
Sheehan picked off a pair of David Ryan passes early in the second half, the latter by Bobby Carey which ultimately led to the Titans’ first score — a 36-yard hook-up from Justin Lange to Jeremy Gannon.
But Amity countered on its very next play from scrimmage on a 65-yard scoring run by Thomas.
By the time Buono scored his fifth TD, a 28-yard run on the second play of the fourth quarter, it was all over but the shouting.“We came out tonight and said, ‘Let’s try to get the offensive line going a little bit,’” Mozealous said. “The way to do that is a good running attack. The backs did a great job.”
Added Buono: “The linemen did an unbelievable job; holes wide open. I could see them from 100 yards. It was unbelievable.”
Sheehan fell to 1-1.
“The big difference this week is they looked for the right holes a few times, where last week being the first game, they had a few jitters,” Mozealous noted. “Tonight, they came through for us. The O-line will grow up, it’s going to take us some time. We want to win these games early to build some confidence in ourselves, because the schedule just gets tougher down the road.”
There won’t be any more emotional weeks than this one.
“Practices are kind of a release,” Mozealous said. “I know she’s watching, so we’ll just keep trying to do what we do. She would be really upset if we didn’t try to keep going on, so that’s what we’re trying to do. The kids are trying to pick up the pieces.”
“It was a rough (week),” Buono added, “but we all pushed through like a family. That’s what you’ve got to do.”
Amity 48, Sheehan 13
(at Woodbridge)
Sheehan 0 0 6 7 — 13
Amity 14 13 14 7 — 48
First quarter
A—David Buono 1 run (Lyle Luth kick)
A—David Buono 25 run (Luth kick)
Second quarter
A—Spencer Thomas 30 run (Luth kick)
A—David Buono 3 run (run failed)
Third quarter
S—Jeremy Gannon 36 pass from Justin Lange (kick failed)
A—Spencer Thomas 65 run (Luth kick)
A—David Buono 5 run (Luth kick)
Fourth quarter
A—David Buono 28 run (Luth kick)
S—Nolan Cloutier 8 run (Brandon Gauthier kick)
Team records: Amity 2-0; Sheehan 1-1
Love that Choiniere kid. Give him the ball more often