The Educational Complex Barracudas football team moved their record to 2-0 by crushing the Private Schools Pirates 42-0 Saturday night in just three quarters.
The game at the Educational Complex football stadium was called after three quarters based on the 40-point mercy rule.
The game was over early as the Barras, coming off of a 20-0 win over archrival Central High Caribs last week, dominated on both sides of the ball. Educational Complex jumped out to an 18-0 lead in the first quarter and was never seriously challenged by the undermanned, undersized Pirates.
Bernardius “BJ” Cruel opened the scoring for the Barras in the opening period with a 21-yard scamper. Anthony “Smurf” White ran in the two point conversion for the 8-0 lead.
On the ensuing possession by the Pirates, an overpowering Barracudas defense sacked the pirates quarterback in the end zone for a safety and a 10-0 lead.
The lead was 18-0 after fullback Kenny Williams’ bruising 20 yard touchdown run and quarterback William Tutein’s keeper for the successful two-point conversion.
Things would only get worse for the Pirates. Forced to punt on their first possession of the second quarter, the Pirates saw the Barras punt returner/ wide receiver Shaquille “Tampa” Rhymer go 48 yards for the score and the only points of the second quarter. Tutein hit Cruel with a pass for the two-point conversion and a 28-0 Barracudas halftime lead.
The home team would wrap the game up in the third quarter with two quick scores. After Tutein hit wideout Cruel for 30 yards to the Pirates five-yard line, Jabari Peters went in from the one two plays later for the score. Tutein ran in the two-point conversion for a 34-0 lead.
Tutein then hit Rhymer on a nice pass for the final score of the game as the referee mercifully called the game after the Pirates’ next possession.
Having taken care of their St. Croix rivals, the Barracudas travel to St. Thomas next week for their first big test against the St. Thomas Private Schools Arawaks.
A confident Coach Junior Garcia was happy with his team’s performance in the victory and told his players to remember the feeling because last year they came within one game of winning the championship. This year the coach feels that they can go all the way.
“I have seen the Arawaks and I believe that we can take them," he said. “Our biggest issue right now is finding playing time for all our running backs because they are all so good. Other than that, I think we will go undefeated this season."
On a serious note, the Barracudas have dedicated this season to the mother of strong safety/wide receiver Ethan Patrick’s mother, Sephora Patrick, who is in Florida seeking treatment for breast cancer. The entire team wore something pink in recognition of her struggle.
