By David J. Hill<br><a href="mailto:hilld@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail David</a>
SYRACUSE — His teammates have said all year how happy they are that Darrik Bloomfield decided to come back to football for his senior year. They, and Bloomfield himself, couldn’t have been happier with his decision following Sunday’s thrilling 14-7 victory over New Rochelle in the Class AA state final at the Carrier Dome.
Bloomfield was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after snaring the game-winning touchdown with 8:49 remaining in the game to break a 7-7 tie.
“That kid’s a freak,” said senior Steve Kijowski. “That kid’s crazy. I’m so happy he played football for us this year. He’s one of the biggest parts of our offense. He’s great.”
Bloomfield played football for the Jacks his freshman year but took the next two years off to focus on basketball. Something told him that he should give football another try for his senior season. A perfect 13-0 campaign and a state championship later, it’s a decision with which he’ll forever be happy.
“It’s an indescribable feeling,” Bloomfield said.
When asked if he’s glad that he came out for football again, he said, “Yes sir. The last two years of me not playing was one of my biggest regrets. I came out this year and made the best of it.”
He did so by making one of the finest catches of the season. On third-and-7 at the New Rochelle 12 yard line, the Jacks tried a little trickery. “We said, we’re not holding anything back. It’s a state championship, so let’s give it everything we’ve got," said senior quarterback Mike Tuzzo.
Tuzzo handed the ball off to junior Joe Montesanti, also the Jacks’ backup quarterback, who dropped back for the halfback option pass and tossed the ball toward the shallow right corner of the end zone. Bloomfield leapt and got his hands on the ball, stealing it away from the Huguenots No. 1 defensive back, senior Jonny McGhee. The touchdown came with 8:49 left in the game, and will go down as one of the biggest plays in more than a century of NT football history.
“The ball was hung up in the air a little bit,” Bloomfield said. “I just made an athletic play, went up and got it.”
The plan all along was to get the ball into Bloomfield’s hands, Jacks head coach Eric Jantzi said. “He’s just been making plays like that all year long and the guys on the head phones just said let’s just get it up to Darrik and let him make one more play for us,” Jantzi said.
They were certainly rewarded for their decision as the play was executed perfectly.
“I knew it was good as soon as I threw it,” Montesanti said.
North Tonawanda players weren’t surprised that Bloomfield came up huge, as did senior lineman and defensive MVP Sean McDonough, who knocked down a pass on fourth-and-2 late in the game, sealing NT’s historic victory. “It’s expected,” junior Dan Montesanti, Joe’s twin brother, said of Bloomfield and McDonough. “They’re two great athletes. They have to make plays. They got the job done and that’s why we won.”
Senior Casey Shreve was named NT's most outstanding offensive lineman.
Contact reporter David J. Hill at 693-1000, ext. 115.
