His players were mugging for a television camera after a 17-14 win against Kellenberg at Coffey Field in The Bronx Friday night, but Pete Gorynski stood off to the side. The Fordham Prep football coach was in no mood to celebrate.
“Someone watching from Mars would think this is not a coached team,” Gorynski said. “We go over these situations on a daily basis week in and week out and then it’s very frustrating when you get out on the field and you make these kinds of mistakes.”
If Gorynski thought it was bad the first time, no doubt he’ll hate reliving the costly penalties and being burned over the top numerous times by Kellenberg quarterback Anthony DiLorenzo on film. But the Rams won the game, a critical result for a team hoping to compete in the CHSFL Class AAA playoffs next month.
“An ugly win is better than a pretty loss any day of the week,” Gorynski said.
It seemed the only thing that could change Gorynski’s demeanor Friday night was Bruce Grant, the Rams’ workhorse and best player. The senior running back never got going last week in a 27-8 loss at Holy Cross, but the electrifying Grant exploded for 176 yards on 38 carries and one touchdown. For the second game in a row, he had a touchdown called back because of a penalty.
“Awesome, flat out awesome,” Gorynski gushed. “He’s a tremendous back, arguably the best back in the city. I haven’t seen everybody, but this kid just makes it happen. He takes a bad situation and turns it into something really good.”
With his team trailing 7-3 late in the second quarter, Grant assembled his team together on the sideline and delivered a message.
“I told the guys that we were playing down to the competition, we know we’re better than them,” said Grant, who is being recruited by Columbia, Fordham, Lehigh and Bryant University. “That’s when I took it upon myself to run hard and keep going.”
Grant needed just two rushes to get into the end zone, including a 33-yard TD following a series of dizzying cutbacks that made Kellenberg defenders look silly. After the first of Anthony Bronzo’s two interceptions, Max Kinder hit Michael Seminario for an 11-yard score and Fordham Prep (2-3, 2-2 CHSFL ‘AAA’) led 17-7 at halftime.
With DiLorenzo’s ability to shred the Fordham defense and connect with Frank Antetomaso over the top at will, as he did for a 79-yard score in the first quarter, Kellenberg (1-4, 1-3) was never out of the game. And after Patrick Healey went up the gut for a 7-yard TD to cut the Rams lead to 17-14 with 3:37 left in the fourth quarter, the Firebirds were never out of the game.
But Matt Casella came up with an interception as time expired to seal the Rams’ sloppy, but crucial win.
