October 23, 2011

QB Laquan Rouse (left) spins to break the tackle as he scores a touchdown for Snyder. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

Hudson Catholic at Snyder Football Photo Gallery

JERSEY CITY – When Laquan Rouse's senior season appeared to be in jeopardy, he vowed to his Snyder teammates that he'd come back and make a difference.

Even at less than 100-percent, the Tigers quarterback and is acting on his promise as he led the way for Snyder in its first win of the season - a 16-6 victory over Hudson Catholic yesterday at Caven Point.

"I was dedicated from the start," said Rouse, who missed the first three games of the year due to a non-football-related leg injury suffered less than a week before the opener. "I let my team know that I knew when  I come back it'd get better.

"I cried. I cried every day (after I was out). I came to practice every day as soon as I started to walk again, I came to practice and watch my team play every game. When my doctor cleared me, I was ready to play."

"You don't get too many kids that come along like that," head coach Chris Grant said. "He's the vocal and emotional leader. When he showed back up it was a different atmosphere."

Despite getting forced out of the game on two separate occasions, Rouse delivered when his team needed it the most with a run that seemingly defied logic as well as gravity.

With the Tigers (1-6) up 8-6 and the ball on the 10-yard line, Rouse scrambled left only  to be sent airborne and spinning by a pair of defenders. Despite being spun in the air, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound signal caller landed on his feet, made a 360-degree spin to break a tackle and lunged into the end zone for a touchdown with 7:23 remaining in the game, leaving everyone in stunned disbelief.

"I saw the hole and when I went to it, he low-cutted me," said Rouse about the play. "He put me in the air, but I knew to keep my balance. When I got my balance I knew I was going to get the touchdown. No one was going to stop me."

"I was pretty amazed, I was like wow," teammate Calvin Geathers said. "I can't even explain. It was just tough, I can't even explain."

Christopher Barnes would dash any hopes of a Hudson Catholic (2-5) comeback with an interception on the 4-yard line four plays later to effective end the game and the Hawks' playoff chances.

"After 0-6 it takes a lot to keep playing," Grant said. "These kids had every reason to quit, but they didn't. They came to practice, we had an excellent week of practice this week and the kids continue to work hard. I appreciate that from them."

For Rouse and Geathers in particular it would have been easy for them to give up. Neither were able to play a season ago after being ruled academically ineligible and had never experienced a varsity win in a Snyder uniform.

"We couldn't play because of grades, but this offseason we worked hard on the school work and we got back on the field."

"I felt terrible, I felt like it was my fault," said Geathers, who was an All-League defensive back as a freshman before missing the past two years. "I needed to go out there and do my thing in school so that's what I did. I got my grades up and I came out here to play."

Geathers put Snyder on the scoreboard in the opening quarter with a 38-yard touchdown run and kept the offense in sync when he  moved over to quarterback  in place of Rouse.

Geathers finished with 138 yards on 16 carries, caught four passes for 40 yards and recorded an interception on defense. Rouse rushed for 80 yards in the second half to finish with 93 on 12 carries. He completed 8-of-13 passes for 76 yards. Barnes hauled in three of those passes, totaling 38 yards.

The Hawks cut the deficit to 8-6 in the second quarter after a partially-blocked punt gave them the ball on the Snyder 3. Quarterback Kevin Albert cashed in on the opportunity one play later when he called his own number for a touchdown.

The junior led Hudson Catholic with nine carries for 48 yards and 49 yards passing. Byron King added 40 yards on nine attempts.

The Hawks will host Marist next Saturday night while Snyder will face arch-rival Lincoln that same day at noon.  Both games will be at Caven Point.

Junior Kevin Albert rushed for 48 yards and scored Hudson Catholic's lone touchdown. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

Hudson Catholic at Snyder Football Photo Gallery