Irvington rises up to the challenge in 38-7 win over Clifton
Irvington Head Coach Ashley Pierre said culture was big for his Blue Knights squad and city of Irvington. When other coaches were worried about wins and losses they had, Pierre said Irvington was all about playing football.
“I expressed to my administration I wanted to play as many games as possible,” Ashley Pierre explained. “We were able to play nine games and a lot of teams haven’t played a lot of games and I know for unfortunate reasons because people have gotten sick.” We love playing football and if they say we could play next Wednesday we will and I think that’s the difference with us. In this city(Irvington) we love playing and coaching and our kids love playing football whether we win or lose and just want to play.”
On Friday night the Blue Knights would finish the 2020 regular season against Clifton (4-3) and in search of their seventh win. “It’s kudos to Clifton for accepting this game because it’s been hard for us to get games and not a lot of people like to play us or against our team,” Ashley Pierre described. “A compliment to Clifton High School for allowing us to play on this day.” A lot of people showed they play for games they can win but we play anybody in the state and anytime.”
After a scoreless first quarter, Irvington got on board early in the second quarter on a 16-yard touchdown run from senior running back Al-Jay Henderson. With five minutes remaining, Clifton answered back. Starting out with excellent field position at the 41-yard line, quarterback Kyle Vellis completed a 24-yard pass to Omar Muheisen. Aided by a personal foul assessed against the Irvington defense moved the ball to the nine-yard, it just took one for the game to be tied up on a 14-yard run from wide receiver Caleb Boneparte with less than four minutes left.
However, the tie would be broken in just nine seconds on a short kickoff. Vamuynye Toury fielding the ball at the 48-yard line and off to the races for the touchdown. Miscues continued to plague the Mustangs with a pair of safeties leading to a Blue Knights 18-7 advantage at halftime.
In the second half the game spiraled out of control with numerous penalty flags thrown, jawing among players and both sidelines. Even with those disruptions the third quarter belonged to Al-Jay Henderson. Irvington getting the ball to start the half, marching down the field in seven plays that were all on the ground that chewed up almost four and minutes of the clock seven resulting in Henderson scoring his second rushing TD of the game from 12 yards out.
Displaying his talent on the defensive side of the ball, Henderson picked off Kyle Vellis on the ensuing Mustangs offensive series. Facing a fourth and four at the Mustangs 39-yard line, proved to be no problem with Lockhart handing the ball off to Henderson who blasted through the line and off to pay dirt with four minutes left.
“Al-Jay is an elite and athletic man, he can play offense, defense and special teams,” said Ashley Pierre. “He is just fast and explosive.” Anytime you have that and he is being coached by some guys that have played in the NFL. He is going to play big time college football.”
Pierre on the offensive line blocking up front, “We have been leaning on those guys, we call them the ‘Fat Boys’. They enjoy the process of blocking for Rahkeem (Ross) and Al-Jay and along with (Al-Muhaymin) Lockkart at the quarterback so those guys are one of the best groups on the team.” They come to work every day, do the extra work and meet up on off days and go work out and we are going to continue to lean on those guys year in and out.”
“It’s really important that we play solid defense and some defensive backs played big from VT(Vamunye Toury) Adon Shuler and Omar Jackson, our linebackers played really well and defensive line.” “It allowed our offense to get the ball and continue to capitalize and score points.”
“We have been playing solid defense all year, Mikai Gbayor who was out today had been leading our defense and keeping teams under seven points throughout the year except for one hiccup.” “It’s a tip off the hat to those coaches and defense is what we do here that we like to play aggressive, violent and tough.”
Tempers continued to flare in the fourth quarter but once again could not diminish a pair of memorable moments for the Blue Knights. Al-Jay Henderson amassing 1,000 rushing yards for the season as his teammates and coaches swarmed around him to recognize his milestone accomplishment. Henderson finished the game carrying the ball 17 times for 170 yards while Rahkeem Ross rushed for 87 yards on 19 carries. The icing on the cake occurred late in the quarter with 310-pound senior guard/defensive lineman Zaire Agnoy taking the direct snap and busting through the line for a three-yard touchdown.
“The offensive line did an excellent job all year round and I want to thank them,” Al-Jay Henderson remarked. “Coach (Ashley Pierre) Pop Smoke brought me here from DePaul Catholic and it’s been wonderful.” I have learned stuff that I don’t think I learned over there and life lessons and a lot of it goes to the coaches at Irvington.”
In a emotional and passionate post-game speech to the team and interview Pierre emphasized the importance of the players conducting themselves the appropriate way and challenges faced in life.
“Every year it’s championship time, you play the level and set the tone and how the game goes, Ashley Pierre noted.” “Doesn’t matter where you go in life and life you are going to be challenged and integrity is going to be challenged.” Don’t ever go to the other side and people are going to have a perception of you and about us and we are going to continue to prove people wrong. This is a first-class elite program, this is what we run here and don’t let anyone tell you different and do the stuff the right way and love the game of football.”
“We leaned on our leadership a little bit, it got bumpy and things could have gone in a different direction and we handled it the right way.” “We had leadership to make sure we stayed in control, people think we are undisciplined and don’t know how to act.” People may call us hoodlums and say you don’t have great coaches but we are raising kids the right way and to be great men.”
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