From the New York Times - Fort Greene Local

November 19, 2010, 1:00 pm
‘Battle-Tested’ Engineers to Face Fort Hamilton
By MICHAEL RANDAZZO, Community Contributor

Brooklyn Tech head football coach Kyle McKenna had something to say about the Engineers’ upcoming game this Saturday at noon, against second-ranked Fort Hamilton.

“If nothing else,” Coach McKenna said, “last week’s game proved that we are battle-tested and ready to face anything that comes our way.”

You can say that again. After a miraculous 30-28 double-overtime victory last Saturday, which included a heart-stopping fourth-down play, Brooklyn Technical High School football squad stunned their highly regarded opponent, Thomas Jefferson High School.

In a rallying victory over a talented Thomas Jefferson team, which had already beaten the Engineers earlier this season, Coach McKenna’s team generated one of those “where were you when it happened?” moments, which make sports so memorable.

The moment came on a fourth and 18 pass play from junior quarterback Kevi Shyti that senior wide receiver Babatunde Adeyemi improbably turned into a first down, keeping alive the winning touchdown drive that has defined Tech’s season to date.

But that was last week against the porous Orange Wave defense. This Saturday, the undefeated Tigers of Fort Hamilton, with one of the best defenses in the city, will be Tech’s opponent

To paraphrase sportscaster Al Michaels, do you believe in miracles again? Tech will need another one to beat Fort Hamilton.

The Engineers will seek to advance to the PSAL football final for the first time since 2006, and claim their first PSAL City Championship title since 1962. The team will have to figure out a Fort Hamilton defense, which has given up only 88 points over its last 10 contests. While Tech’s defense — ably manned by Michael Plonski, Igor Grekov and Mazaharul Islam — should be up to the task, its offense will face its biggest challenge of the season.

Shtyi and Adeyemi will need to come up big against the Tiger’s ferocious pass-rush, led by Rasheem Stroud and Kevon Foster, while Brooklyn’s emerging star, sophomore James Gales, needs to be a difference maker against Fort Hamilton’s talented defensive backfield, featuring Brandon Reddish, James Howell and Travon Segure.

Revenge is also a factor, as Tech players are still smarting from last year’s 25-6 loss to Fort Hamilton. The only positive from that game was that the Engineers’ defense held the Tigers to their second-lowest point total of the season.

The game will be held on Saturday at noon, on Fort Hamilton High School’s field at 83rd Street and Shore Road. Fans — and we hope to see many — can take the R train to 86th St and walk four blocks west to the field.

Most Exciting Game in Tech History?

Engineers that could: Tech wins wild, 2-OT affair with Jefferson
By MARC RAIMONDI

Last Updated: 8:31 PM, November 13, 2010

Posted: 8:26 PM, November 13, 2010

The season was just about over for Brooklyn Tech. The Engineers hung tough for four quarters and an overtime period, but were going to fall short again to Thomas Jefferson.

Facing a 4th-and-18 and down six points, there was no possible way they could convert. Quarterback Kevi Shyti found Babatunde Adeyemi for a long gain, but he was still short of the marker. It was going to be the final play of Tech’s season.

But Adeyemi dug deep, spun away from defenders and dived forward to somehow earn his team the first down. A few plays later, James Gales rushed for a touchdown and went in for the 2-point conversion and No. 11 Brooklyn Tech pulled off an incredible, 30-28 win over sixth-seeded Thomas Jefferson in the first round of the PSAL City Championship playoffs Saturday afternoon at Moe Finkelstein Field.

“He’s staring at his season being over right there,” McKenna said of Adeyemi. “We talked a lot this week about extending the season. That play was like, 'we’re not going anywhere yet. We’re still here.' We knew when we got that first down, anything is possible.”

The first time Brooklyn Tech (6-4) met Jefferson (7-3), it was another wild affair with the Orange Wave scoring a late touchdown to win 40-38. This game even topped that in terms of drama. McKenna said both teams were absolutely gassed by the time the second overtime came around. Afterward, players from both sides exchanged pleasantries.

“It was definitely one of the wilder games as a player or coach that I’ve been a part of,” he said. "I’m gonna sleep like a baby tonight because I’m so drained. They played their hearts out. … It was like eight-plus quarters of a heavyweight fight between those two teams. Everybody had a great deal of respect for everyone on each team.”

Gales started the scoring for Brooklyn Tech and Shyti got in on a quarterback sneak in regulation. But Jefferson was able to respond to both touchdowns. Shyti hit Adeyemi for a score in the first overtime and the game could have been over then, but the Orange Wave refused to quit.

After Jefferson scored to start the second overtime, Adeyemi put together his heroics and Gales, the emerging superstar sophomore, completed the remarkable victory. Brooklyn Tech will now travel to No. 2 Fort Hamilton for the quarterfinals next weekend. The victory marks McKenna’s first postseason win.

“Words can’t describe how good it feels,” the second-year coach said. “It’s a group effort. I’m happy for the program. I’m happy that the program is where it is today. … We’re real happy to still be in the mix.”