This is probably the best “feel good” story of the 2019 high school football season.
The clock was winding down at Caven Point Cochrane Stadium last Saturday and two teams without a victory this season, namely Ferris and Dickinson, were in the midst of an offensive slugfest, a fine warm-up before the state’s top-ranked team, St. Peter’s Prep, took the field against rival Don Bosco Prep.
Ferris was clinging to a 33-32 lead and there was 1:36 remaining in the game. The Bulldogs were faced with a fourth down-and-one yard at the Dickinson 21-yard line.
Usually, Ferris head coach Juan Garcia would turn and hand the ball off to senior running back Esaw Jameson to get the necessary yard that would essentially clinch the victory for the winless Bulldogs. And after all, Jameson had 122 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns already in the contest. What was another yard?
There was only one problem: Jameson was on the sidelines.
“He kept cramping up,” Garcia said. “And my backup running back broke his collarbone.”
With the Bulldogs already facing a major numbers crunch, Garcia had to turn to his third string running back, a freshman who is listed at 5-foot-5 and 130 pounds, but in reality is considerably much smaller.
Even Garcia would admit to that.
“He’s about 5-foot-3 and 110 pounds soaking wet,” said Garcia, who should know what the third-string running back weighs more than anyone.
That’s because that running back is none other than Jason Garcia, Juan’s son.
“I looked at my son and said, ‘Look at me, I need one yard,’” Garcia said. “He said, ‘Don’t worry, Dad, I’m going to score.’”
That’s pretty confident stuff, considering that the undersized rookie had never even touched the football in any varsity game all season.
“I wanted the ball,” Jason Garcia said. “The team was depending upon it. I figured the line could block for me. I thought it could be the last time I ever played for my Dad, so I wanted to score a touchdown.”
Well, the little guy took the ball toward the left side of the line and instead of just falling forward, Jason Garcia took it to the outside, which made the head coach’s heart race just a little bit faster.
“I didn’t know what he was doing,” the coach said.
Well, Jason Garcia busted the play to the outside, eluded two would-be tacklers and took it 21-yards for the incredible touchdown that sealed the 39-32 win, giving the Bulldogs their first win of the year. It marks only the third win for Ferris since 2013, a stint that included a hideous 25-game losing streak, going three straight seasons without a win.
Needless to say, the win – and the run, not the running back – were huge.
“It was crazy,” the elder Garcia said. “I could have died right there and been happy. It was pretty surreal. I was ecstatic and super happy for Jason, because he’s so dedicated and hasn’t missed a practice.”
Like he has a choice?
The younger Garcia never thought he would get a chance to carry the ball in a varsity game this season.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Jason Garcia said. “I knew everyone was going to be so happy. We just beat Dickinson. I scored my first touchdown as a freshman. I was excited and happy. I’m glad I had a chance to do it. I think it’s just the start of some big things. I’m way more focused now. I’m going to keep working at it.”
The elder Garcia said that he never had the opportunity to coach his son on any previous level growing up – and only had this opportunity this season due to the injuries.
“I never wanted to be the crazy Dad in the stands, yelling down,” Juan Garcia said. “He’s been waiting his whole life for this chance. I’ve never given him any leeway. I coach him the same way I coach everyone else. Except at home, maybe I tell him not to play too much Xbox. I make him do push-ups instead.”
It’s a family moment that will never go away.
“Never in a million years did I think this could happen,” Juan Garcia said. “I never thought he was going to be the guy. I’m just super proud of him. It’s up there among the top five moments of my life. I know he can get better. He needs to get bigger and stronger, but he has some potential.”
If not, then Jason Garcia gave his old man a moment to last a lifetime…
In the game, Ferris quarterback Cameron Scott completed 10-of-14 passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns…
North Bergen running back Xavier Figueroa, who has enjoyed two games of 200-plus yards rushing this season, had 91 yards and two touchdowns in the Bruins’ big win over Memorial last weekend. Up next for the 4-2 Bruins is a big contest with rival Union City…
Snyder had a big 22-13 win over Newark East Side last week, thanks to the play of Donnell White and Juwan Smith. White had 13 tackles, four of which were unassisted, including one sack and one blocked kick. Smith had an interception return for a touchdown that sealed the victory.
Other than Prep, North Bergen and Snyder were the only two local schools to earn a victory last weekend…
St. Peter’s Prep product Jonathan Hilliman had the chance of a lifetime when he was elevated to the New York Giants’ 53-man roster when star running back Saquon Barkley injured his ankle last month. It was what every kid dreams of, a chance to play in the NFL.
Hilliman, the two-time Hudson Reporter All-Area recipient and the 2013 Offensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player during his days at Grand and Warren, carried the ball 30 times for 91 yards in three games for the Giants.
But Hilliman lost two costly fumbles, which led to his subsequent release from the team entirely when Barkley returned from injury. However, on Oct. 15, Hilliman was brought back by the G-Men and placed on the team’s practice squad again, so it’s good to know he’s back in the NFL with Big Blue, even if it’s with the practice squad…
Two former four-time All-Area selections were selected in the new XFL Player Draft last week.
Evan Rodriguez, the 2006 Hudson Reporter Defensive Player of the Year out of North Bergen, was taken by the Seattle Dragons and Will Hill, the two-time Hudson Reporter Most Valuable Player (2006 and 2007) out of St. Peter’s Prep, was taken by the St. Louis Battlehawks (whatever that is). Both played in the NFL and had those chances to play for pay on Sundays ruined by substance abuse problems…
Congrats to Secaucus cross country coach Stan Fryczynski who recently collected the 500th win of his coaching career. That’s some achievement, so way to go, Stan…
How unbelievable was it that the St. Peter’s Prep-Kearny soccer game that would have decided the Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic League regular season championship last Tuesday was postponed because the air quality near Kearny’s Harvey Field was contaminated and deemed unplayable because of the state Environmental Protection Agency’s regulations at Kearny’s Keegan Landfill, which is near Harvey Field? That was the first time anyone can recall a game being called because of air quality…
Condolences to the family of Hudson County Sports Hall of Famer Artie Kaplan. The former long-time Weehawken football coach died last week at the age of 93…
Within the next two weeks, be on the lookout for the Hudson County Sports podcast, a weekly podcast show featuring the best in Hudson County sports and the county’s sports personalities, featuring yours truly as the host. It should be a lot of fun. The first guest? None other than Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame legend Bob Hurley, who has had a relationship with the host for more than 50 years. So follow the podcast on here, Twitter, Facebook and wherever you download your podcasts for listening pleasure.
Hudson Reporter High School Football Top Five: 1. St. Peter’s Prep (7-0). 2. Union City (4-3). 3. North Bergen (4-2). 4. Bayonne (4-3). 5. Lincoln (3-4)…
Hudson Reporter High School Soccer Top Five: 1. St. Peter’s Prep (13-5-1). 2. Union City (9-6-1). 3. Hudson Catholic (10-3). 4. Ferris (13-3-1). 5. Dickinson (10-7-1).—Jim Hague
