William Bryant football stuns Eagle Academy

It was a stunner that nobody expected. Eagle Academy III (Queens) had outscored opponents 366-6 this season. But William C. Bryant wasn’t fazed when it had to face the giant in the PSAL 2A semifinals.

Despite dropping the first meeting 38-0, Bryant pulled off the shocker of the season against the defending champs.

With 30 seconds left, Bryant defensive back Kassimou Bouda intercepted a pass in the end zone to lead No. 4 William C. Bryant over No. 1 Eagle Academy III (Queens) in an 8-6 upset victory on Sunday at Springfield Gardens High School.

Bryant advances to its first-ever PSAL football championship appearance.

“No one gave us a chance,” Bryant coach Vincenzo Donato said. “Before the game our team knew we weren’t getting respect, but our guys trusted each other and this group really wants it, and it showed.”

In the first quarter, Bryant quarterback Mahdi Kobeissi took 11 straight carries to move the chains and get the Owls down to Eagle Academy’s 18-yard line. Kobeissi then rolled out and threw a pass up to Lorenzo Lopez, who came down with it in the end zone to give Bryant a 6-0 lead. Kobeissi found Adam Oueraguli for the two-point conversion to put Bryant ahead by eight.

“We preached the whole week at practice we will come out physical the entire game,” Kobeissi said. “They talked a lot, but we knew we were going to talk with our pads, and that’s what we did, and we wanted it more.”

Bryant’s defense flipped the script in the second meeting. The Owls’ zone defense flustered Eagle Academy III and kept it off the scoreboard for the first three quarters. Defensive tackle RaQuan Daniels took on double and triple teams and still made plays.

“We just prepared nonstop,” Donato said. “We tried to take away their main plays, and our guys did a great job covering their areas in our zone defense. We had a few guys dedicated to stopping the run, and they were able to take away what Eagle brings to the table.”

In the fourth quarter, Eagle Academy III finally struck. Jordan Smith II connected with Khasir Wright for a touchdown with five minutes left, pulling them within two. But a penalty after the play moved the two-point conversion to the 18-yard line, where the pass attempt fell incomplete.

Eagle Academy III had one final chance with less than a minute left. They drove downfield, but Bouda’s interception left Eagle fans stunned.

Before this season, Bryant had never won a playoff game in program history. Now they will have an opportunity to take home a PSAL 2A championship this Sunday, when the Owls play Boys and Girls High School at 10 a.m. at the Midwood Athletic Complex.

“We were flipping out,” Kobeissi said. “Our school doesn’t usually win these games. Nobody had us winning, and this feels great. It’s just been a family, and it’s amazing to have.”