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Bragging rights, playoffs on the line in Queens battle
By Marc Raimondi October 31, 2008
Eric Barnett isn’t one to bite his tongue. But this week is different for the Campus Magnet football coach. Though the Bulldogs are hosting bitter rival Bayside on Sunday, Barnett is set on keeping his barbs to himself.
And it’s not out of fondness for the opposing coaching staff.
“You’d probably hear me bragging more if the playoffs weren’t on the line,” Barnett said.
This game means as much as any game could for both teams. With a loss, Campus Magnet (5-3) will almost surely be ousted from city championship playoff contention. Bayside (6-2) would still be in if the Commodores lose, but coach Jason Levitt is stressing home-field advantage in the first round.
And putting standings aside, there just isn’t a whole lot of love between these two programs. Bayside is the traditional Queens power that Levitt and his staff have resurrected after two uncharacteristically down seasons. Campus Magnet is the upstart, a program that Barnett, a longtime coach and administrator with the Springfield Rifles youth organization, has turned around.
The players all know each other and share a common dislike. Comments were shot back and forth between coaches and players last year during and after Campus Magnet’s 33-7 win.
“To me, this is like Ohio State-Michigan,” Levitt said. “It’s the same idea. We don’t like each other.”
Revenge is fueling Bayside’s fire, on top of all the other motivation the Commodores have. Last year, the Bulldogs ousted Levitt’s squad from Bowl playoff contention. This time, Bayside doesn’t just want to win to get the ‘W.’ The Commodores want to knock their rivals out of the 16-team city championship playoffs.
“It’s definitely on our kids’ minds,” Levitt said.
The teams play contrasting style. Bayside likes to air it out with strong-armed quarterback Damir Dukanovic and his array of aerial weapons. Campus Magnet plays it close to the vest. The Bulldogs have a strong defense and a versatile running attack led by Anthony Roberts.
The Commodores have used Dukanovic’s talents to perfection this year after winning only three games combined in 2006 and 2007. But Barnett doesn’t think that means Bayside is back to where it was.
“I don’t think they’re that talented,” the coach said. “I just think they’re doing the right thing according to their talent.”
That’s as much as a compliment Barnett is going to give his counterpart. But both head coaches agree they root for the other during the year. Only for selfish reasons, of course.
“I’m not even trying to put up a smoke screen,” Barnett said. “I’m happy for their record, because if we beat them we get their power points.”
Statistically, that’s truth. But this game means so much more. It’s about Queens bragging rights and major playoff implications. There may be a huge game going on in Staten Island on Sunday, but there will be major fireworks in Cambria Heights, too.
“It’s important,” Levitt said, “for so many reasons.”
mraimondi@fiveborosports.com
And it’s not out of fondness for the opposing coaching staff.
“You’d probably hear me bragging more if the playoffs weren’t on the line,” Barnett said.
This game means as much as any game could for both teams. With a loss, Campus Magnet (5-3) will almost surely be ousted from city championship playoff contention. Bayside (6-2) would still be in if the Commodores lose, but coach Jason Levitt is stressing home-field advantage in the first round.
And putting standings aside, there just isn’t a whole lot of love between these two programs. Bayside is the traditional Queens power that Levitt and his staff have resurrected after two uncharacteristically down seasons. Campus Magnet is the upstart, a program that Barnett, a longtime coach and administrator with the Springfield Rifles youth organization, has turned around.
The players all know each other and share a common dislike. Comments were shot back and forth between coaches and players last year during and after Campus Magnet’s 33-7 win.
“To me, this is like Ohio State-Michigan,” Levitt said. “It’s the same idea. We don’t like each other.”
Revenge is fueling Bayside’s fire, on top of all the other motivation the Commodores have. Last year, the Bulldogs ousted Levitt’s squad from Bowl playoff contention. This time, Bayside doesn’t just want to win to get the ‘W.’ The Commodores want to knock their rivals out of the 16-team city championship playoffs.
“It’s definitely on our kids’ minds,” Levitt said.
The teams play contrasting style. Bayside likes to air it out with strong-armed quarterback Damir Dukanovic and his array of aerial weapons. Campus Magnet plays it close to the vest. The Bulldogs have a strong defense and a versatile running attack led by Anthony Roberts.
The Commodores have used Dukanovic’s talents to perfection this year after winning only three games combined in 2006 and 2007. But Barnett doesn’t think that means Bayside is back to where it was.
“I don’t think they’re that talented,” the coach said. “I just think they’re doing the right thing according to their talent.”
That’s as much as a compliment Barnett is going to give his counterpart. But both head coaches agree they root for the other during the year. Only for selfish reasons, of course.
“I’m not even trying to put up a smoke screen,” Barnett said. “I’m happy for their record, because if we beat them we get their power points.”
Statistically, that’s truth. But this game means so much more. It’s about Queens bragging rights and major playoff implications. There may be a huge game going on in Staten Island on Sunday, but there will be major fireworks in Cambria Heights, too.
“It’s important,” Levitt said, “for so many reasons.”
mraimondi@fiveborosports.com