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Bayside's chances improve as Gurbuz's role expands
By Zachary Braziller October 9, 2008
A soccer player all his life, Onur Gurbuz took an interest in football later than most. He caught the itch in eighth grade, when he was 14, at a time most kids his age have years of Pop Warner football experience under their belt.
Gurbuz enjoyed the game, he said, because he was often the fastest player. But he knew little about the sport.
“People would come over my house to play (football) video games and I was like, what does that line mean,” he said, referring to the first-down marker. “It took me a while to learn.”
Because of his soccer background, Gurbuz tried out for Bayside’s JV team as a kicker his sophomore year. He was just hoping to stick on special teams. He made the team as a kicker – Gurbuz routinely successfully booted 30-yard field goals in practice – but quickly became a fixture at other positions – as the team’s starting middle linebacker and one of its wide receivers.
“He was faster than everybody,” Bayside coach Jason Levitt said. “They used to call reverses all the time and he’d run all over the field.”
Nothing much has changed in the last two years. Gurbuz, at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds of muscle, is still one of the quickest players on the field. Except he is excelling on the varsity and is thekey to the surprising 3-2 Bayside Commodores as their punter, kicker, middle linebacker, go-to receiver and sometimes running back. He never leaves the field. The sideline may as well be a soccer pitch.
He doesn’t just play all over the field; he does so with an impact. He turned the Commodores’ 14-10 come-from-behind win over Midwood last Friday around with a 26-yard sprint on a fake punt, calling his own number when he saw open space. He also caught a touchdown pass on a broken play, had two sacks, forced a fumble and registered a game-high nine tackles while playing with a dislocated right thumb that, senior quarterback Damir Dukanovic said, “was the size of my head. He’s a warrior.”
“He singlehandedly took us out of our whole offense,” Midwood coach Steve Basile said. “He kicks the ball, he runs the ball, he catches the ball and he’s probably one of the best inside linebackers in the PSAL. I bet you after the game he’s probably in there sweeping the locker room.”
Much of Gurbuz’s success is due to natural instincts, not necessarily knowledge of the game. On defense, he can overrun plays, yet is often the first player in the backfield, beating offensive linemen before their heads turn.
On the touchdown reception against Midwood, there were only white jerseys in front of him, on what was supposed to be a flanker screen. So he patiently waited, reversing field to use his superior speed. On the fake punt return, which awoke the Commodores from their slumber, the designed play called for a rollout punt. Yet as he drifted toward the sideline, prepared to launch the pigskin downfield, he saw nothing but green ahead.
“Onur’s speed,” one Bayside player said to another after the play, “is a lifesaver.”
Although he played offense on the JV, he resisted the urge on the varsity. Gurbuz didn’t know the plays and wanted to make sure he could handle the next stage of his career. He quickly found a niche at linebacker his junior year, leading Bayside with 46 tackles and two fumble recoveries.
“He just wrecks kids,” Dukanovic said.
After the two-win season, he spent much of the summer catching passes with Dukanovic, his close friend. When Levitt opted for the spread offense to take advantage of the signal-caller’s shotgun for a right arm, Gurbuz fit in as his slot receiver.
“He’s our playmaker,” junior wide receiver Kory Dildy said.
The leader of the defense and spark to the offense, life is indeed good these for Gurbuz, a Bayside native. College coaches have taken notice. CW Post, Stony Brook and Wagner on Staten Island have expressed interest. Stony Brook came to see him last year.
Nonetheless, Gurbuz still misses soccer, his first love. This past offseason, he played in the Long Island Junior Soccer League. When Gurbuz, who also suits up for the wrestling team and runs outdoor track and field in the spring, gets banged up, soccer seems like a better option. Then he straps on his shoulder pads and helmet, pops in his mouth piece, and makes such a difference, opposing coaches can’t help but to seek him out, Gurbuz said, and offer praise. The pain immediately subsides.
The team’s igniter, Gurbuz has gone from a football novice to being the linchpin for a once proud program which had won just a combined three games the last two seasons, but now finds itself back in contention, in fine position to make the 16-team city playoffs.
He is doing his jersey number – 44 – proud. The previous Commodore to wear it was Richie Parker, a dynamic fullback/linebacker who was on the last Bayside team to make the playoffs.
“He’s doing pretty good,” Levitt said, stating the obvious.
zbraziller@fiveborosports.com
Gurbuz enjoyed the game, he said, because he was often the fastest player. But he knew little about the sport.
“People would come over my house to play (football) video games and I was like, what does that line mean,” he said, referring to the first-down marker. “It took me a while to learn.”
Because of his soccer background, Gurbuz tried out for Bayside’s JV team as a kicker his sophomore year. He was just hoping to stick on special teams. He made the team as a kicker – Gurbuz routinely successfully booted 30-yard field goals in practice – but quickly became a fixture at other positions – as the team’s starting middle linebacker and one of its wide receivers.
“He was faster than everybody,” Bayside coach Jason Levitt said. “They used to call reverses all the time and he’d run all over the field.”
Nothing much has changed in the last two years. Gurbuz, at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds of muscle, is still one of the quickest players on the field. Except he is excelling on the varsity and is thekey to the surprising 3-2 Bayside Commodores as their punter, kicker, middle linebacker, go-to receiver and sometimes running back. He never leaves the field. The sideline may as well be a soccer pitch.
He doesn’t just play all over the field; he does so with an impact. He turned the Commodores’ 14-10 come-from-behind win over Midwood last Friday around with a 26-yard sprint on a fake punt, calling his own number when he saw open space. He also caught a touchdown pass on a broken play, had two sacks, forced a fumble and registered a game-high nine tackles while playing with a dislocated right thumb that, senior quarterback Damir Dukanovic said, “was the size of my head. He’s a warrior.”
“He singlehandedly took us out of our whole offense,” Midwood coach Steve Basile said. “He kicks the ball, he runs the ball, he catches the ball and he’s probably one of the best inside linebackers in the PSAL. I bet you after the game he’s probably in there sweeping the locker room.”
Much of Gurbuz’s success is due to natural instincts, not necessarily knowledge of the game. On defense, he can overrun plays, yet is often the first player in the backfield, beating offensive linemen before their heads turn.
On the touchdown reception against Midwood, there were only white jerseys in front of him, on what was supposed to be a flanker screen. So he patiently waited, reversing field to use his superior speed. On the fake punt return, which awoke the Commodores from their slumber, the designed play called for a rollout punt. Yet as he drifted toward the sideline, prepared to launch the pigskin downfield, he saw nothing but green ahead.
“Onur’s speed,” one Bayside player said to another after the play, “is a lifesaver.”
Although he played offense on the JV, he resisted the urge on the varsity. Gurbuz didn’t know the plays and wanted to make sure he could handle the next stage of his career. He quickly found a niche at linebacker his junior year, leading Bayside with 46 tackles and two fumble recoveries.
“He just wrecks kids,” Dukanovic said.
After the two-win season, he spent much of the summer catching passes with Dukanovic, his close friend. When Levitt opted for the spread offense to take advantage of the signal-caller’s shotgun for a right arm, Gurbuz fit in as his slot receiver.
“He’s our playmaker,” junior wide receiver Kory Dildy said.
The leader of the defense and spark to the offense, life is indeed good these for Gurbuz, a Bayside native. College coaches have taken notice. CW Post, Stony Brook and Wagner on Staten Island have expressed interest. Stony Brook came to see him last year.
Nonetheless, Gurbuz still misses soccer, his first love. This past offseason, he played in the Long Island Junior Soccer League. When Gurbuz, who also suits up for the wrestling team and runs outdoor track and field in the spring, gets banged up, soccer seems like a better option. Then he straps on his shoulder pads and helmet, pops in his mouth piece, and makes such a difference, opposing coaches can’t help but to seek him out, Gurbuz said, and offer praise. The pain immediately subsides.
The team’s igniter, Gurbuz has gone from a football novice to being the linchpin for a once proud program which had won just a combined three games the last two seasons, but now finds itself back in contention, in fine position to make the 16-team city playoffs.
He is doing his jersey number – 44 – proud. The previous Commodore to wear it was Richie Parker, a dynamic fullback/linebacker who was on the last Bayside team to make the playoffs.
“He’s doing pretty good,” Levitt said, stating the obvious.
zbraziller@fiveborosports.com