Dominating JV Peglegs End Season 5-1

by Eli Lifton

Last year’s junior varsity (JV) Peglegs had a tough year, to say the least. Finishing with a 1-6 record, the team faced the harsh reality of being inexperienced with a low turnout of players. As a sophomore-heavy team, most players would not be returning to JV, leaving the roster sparse for this season. Making things even more complicated, with Varsity head coach Mark Strasser’s retirement, last season’s JV head coach Jonathan Goffman was moved to Varsity defensive coordinator this fall, leaving JV without a head coach. There was a lot of uncertainty coming into the season—they would need to prove themselves. And they have.

The 2023 JV Peglegs opened the season against Specialized High School rival Brooklyn Tech in a game filled with first-game nerves but the Peglegs were able to hold on to the slimmest of leads and won the game 2-0 after recording a safety in the first half. Although happy to get the win, the team was not satisfied with their performance and knew that there was a lot of work to be done. Since then, the team defied all expectations and shown themselves to be league-leading competitors. With new head coach Cam Simerau leading the ship, the Peglegs have shined, scoring 34 points and 20 points against John Adams and Truman, respectively. Entering the midway point of the season, the JV Peglegs were not only undefeated at 3-0, the defense had given up a total of ZERO points in those three wins. 

Following a midseason bye week, the next matchup was against perennial Brooklyn power Fort Hamilton. In a nail-biter, the Tigers took the lead late in the 4th quarter en route to a 22-18 final score which was both the first loss and the first time the JV Peglegs were scored on all season. But with two games left, the team was ready to prove themselves once again. “This game lit a fire in us,” sophomore lineman Nisan Safanov said. In the final two games of the season, the defense reverted back to their pre-bye ways and shut out Flushing (12-0) and Lehman Campus (6-0) to end the season 5-1 with shutouts in all 5 of the wins. 

With this breakout season for the JV Peglegs, it must be asked: how has this team exceeded all expectations? One major aspect of these new-look Peglegs is the coaching. Coach Simerau, in addition to being JV head coach, is the Peglegs’ primary line coach. His background of playing offensive and defensive line in high school and college, as well as his strong coaching history, has carried over to the success of JV. Many of last year’s struggles spawned from an inexperienced offensive line, but this year’s version has proven extremely solid, allowing sophomore running back Aiden Bailey and sophomore quarterback James Boodhoo to excel, as well as giving the team a better opportunity to throw. “[The JV offensive line is] a really enjoyable group to be around. In my opinion, this group’s early success can be attributed to their high motors [and] effort,” Simerau said. First-year Coach Sean Coffin also came in with a lengthy background and as the JV defensive coordinator, was a key factor leading the team to all of the aforementioned shutouts. 

Another strength of this team came from the second-year players who stepped up as leaders of the team. Three of the four captains were returning players, and their play this year showed why they deserved to be in that position. On top of guiding new players and keeping the team functioning as one unit, the three returning captains—Bailey, Boodhoo, and sophomore linebacker and tight end Aidan Chan—all had incredible performances on the field. Chan finished the year with 3 TDs, 1 2-pt conversion, 21 tackles, a sack, and an interception; Bailey has 350+ rushing yards, three touchdowns, and 13 tackles; and Boodoo has five passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns, and even his own pick-six on defense. “This has been a really fun squad to watch and practice with,” said junior and varsity cornerback Daniel Teboul, who was a JV captain last year. 

Lastly, despite the low number of players on the team by the end of last season, many new players joined the JV Peglegs coming into this year and made an immediate impact: Sophomore defensive end Isaac Peng recorded a fumble recovery scoop-and-score touchdown against John Adams, Freshman linebacker Issac Sprung has been a defensive centerpiece with 21 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries and a sack, and Freshman Captain Jonathan David has not only done an incredible job blocking on O-line but has also been a disruptive force at D-line. This added depth was also due to to the PSAL’s new All-Access program. This season, the JV Peglegs gained impact players such as sophomore safety and wide receiver Aaron Beck (School of the Future) who had the game winning touchdown on a pick-six against Lehman and sophomore cornerback and receiver Ryan Maxius (Murry Bergtraum) who had a touchdown saving tackle in the same game. “I am really glad that I got this opportunity to play for Stuyvesant, and I believe that as we get used to this new system, All-Access will only become more beneficial for the team,” Beck said. 

For any high school student, the daily practices followed by games on the weekends while managing schoolwork can be a huge commitment. But this was especially impressive for the freshmen who were getting acclimated to Stuyvesant and the All-Access players who had the additional commute from their own schools to get to practice every day. “For me, the commitment is easy because it’s just fun. To come out every day and practice and get better and just play football with my boys is something I will miss once the season is over,” Chan said. Despite coming from different schools, the team came together with the added bonus of having a strong bond with the varsity squad. This relationship not only helped the players learn valuable lessons about football but also about what to expect moving forward in their high school careers. 

With the All-Access Program and the addition of many newcomers to the team, a change in dynamic seemed inevitable. However, instead of the team becoming less invested and less connected, the change ended up being much more positive. This success is not only exciting for the team and the players, but also for the future of the JV and Varsity Peglegs. Like last year’s Freshmen, this year’s group shows promise to replicate the growth and the success of the JV team. Their success also gives the Varsity underclassmen something to look forward to next fall following a 1-7 season filled with multiple close losses. This team proved to themselves and the rest of the PSAL that they are a group to be feared in the years to come.