It was a wild, rollercoaster game – until Augustus Edwards told the Tottenville coaching staff to keep things simple. After the Pirates stopped Port Richmond on its opening drive in overtime, the junior running back did his best Keyshawn Johnson impression: “Just give me the damn ball.”
“That’s what we did,” coach Jim Munson said. “We gave him the ball five times and he scored. Game over.”
The 2-yard plunge gave Tottenville a dramatic, 26-20 win over host Port Richmond in PSAL City Championship division football Sunday. The Pirates (4-1) led 20-6 only to see the Red Raiders (3-2) chip away and send the game into overtime. It was similar to Tottenville’s only loss, last week to Erasmus Hall, when the Pirates led 13-0 only to fall 14-13.
“I would prefer it to be a blowout,” Munson said with a laugh. “But this really tested our character.”
Edwards had a rushing touchdown and took a 67-yard pass from Brandon Barnes (13-of-28, 220 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions) to the end zone and Barnes had a rushing score to give Tottenville a 20-6 lead. Port Richmond, which got a kickoff return touchdown from Aaron Yates in the first quarter, came back to make it a one-score game at the end of a first half when Mike Goffredo hit Shaquan Gordon for a 32-yard strike.
Erasmus Hall also scored at the end of the half last week and like the Dutchmen, Port Richmond scored again, on a 2-yard touchdown run by Goffredo. The quarterback hit Compton Richmond in the end zone to tie things at 20 in the fourth quarter.
Tottenville actually had a chance to win in regulation. Austen Moccia intercepted Goffredo and returned the ball all the way to the one-inch line before being tackled there, forcing overtime. Previously, a 35-yard field goal by Benjamin Bifalco, that would have given the Pirates the leadm missed. James Munson, the coach’s son, also had an interception in the win.
Tottenville won the toss and Munson chose to defend. He was pleased that his defense, which had just given up two unanswered scores, was able to hold firm and stop Port Richmond.
Then Edwards did the rest. He finished with 122 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 20 carries. The burly back didn’t want the ball going to anyone else with the game on the line.
“I was wonderful with that,” Munson said. “That showed a lot on his part.”