Sweet redemption for San Miguel
Prep receiver enjoys fine moments against Hoboken, one week after BC debacle
It was probably said by some ancient and wise sports sage that football can be a redeeming sport. You can be in the outhouse one week and the penthouse the next. No one knows that better than St. Peter’s Prep junior wide receiver Adam San Miguel.
Two weeks ago, San Miguel had a day to forget in the NJSIAA Parochial Group 4 playoffs against Bergen Catholic. San Miguel dropped his share of open passes, missed tackles, made some ill-fated judgments in fielding punts and generally had a nightmare game in Prep’s 38-9 loss.
"I was definitely disappointed in the way I played," San Miguel said. "I just don’t know what went wrong. We all fell apart, but I really played poorly. I knew I had a chance to make some good plays, but I let it all slip away."
"You try to forget those kind of days," Prep head coach Rich Hansen said. "Of course, he had a tough day, but we all have those days. That’s what the game is all about. You get knocked down, you suck it back up and get back on your feet. You have to be able to come back from days like that. In high school sports, it’s tough to come back and refocus after a tough loss. It’s even more magnified when the loss comes in the playoffs."
Before St. Peter’s Prep played its season finale last Saturday against county rival Hoboken, Hansen said that he didn’t need to speak a single word to his trusty receiver.
"He knew that he was one of my guys, that he was making plays all year long," Hansen said. "He just had to step up and play the way he was capable of playing. I’d love to be able to tell you that it was something that I said to him, but he just went about the same approach he always has."
Putting the Bergen Catholic disaster behind him, San Miguel went out last Saturday and had the game of a lifetime, catching five passes for 177 yards, including three for touchdowns of 28, 71 and 59 yards respectively, leading the Marauders to a thrilling 21-14 victory over Hoboken at JFK Stadium in Hoboken.
And for his efforts, San Miguel has been named The Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week for the past week.
Needless to say, there was no carryover effect from one tough game to the next for the 5-10, 175-pound speedster.
"I wanted to end the season on a good note," San Miguel said. "I was just looking for the opportunity to get the ball. I knew that if I got the chance, that I was definitely not going to drop it. But I never thought it would come out the way it did, with me scoring three touchdowns. Everything came together for that game. I work well with [Prep quarterback] Joe [Dailey], so I expected him to get me good throws. He put it in the right spot for me and there was nothing else more I had to do."
Other than run past the secondary, which San Miguel did with ease on all three big plays.
"I think I got more opportunities to make the big plays, so that was a big help," San Miguel said.
"Joe and Adam have been playing catch for three years, so there’s this sixth sense that they each know where the other is going to be," Hansen said. "I think Adam did a much better job of getting open against Hoboken and the passes were there. Games are won by big-play players making big plays, and Adam made those big plays. He made the catches and then just ran away from people. It sounds simple, but that’s what he did."
Hansen said that he felt happy for San Miguel, that the North Bergen resident was able to get past the tough times of the week prior and have the game of a lifetime.
"It’s great for Adam, because he does all the right things you want a player to do," Hansen said. "He never misses practice and works hard all the time. He’s very focused and prepares for every game the same way. They say that 75 percent of the game is from the neck up. He came out with confidence and he made the plays. It’s no coincidence that the outcomes are totally different."
Hansen also pointed out that San Miguel had a stellar defensive day as well, collecting eight tackles from his cornerback slot.
"He made some nice plays defensively," Hansen said. "I think that’s a better illustration of how he was able to bounce back, the way he played on the defensive side of the ball as well. I think we played our best team defensive game of the year, and Adam had a lot to do with that."
Added Hansen, "Personally, I feel so good for him, because he works so hard. You don’t like to see anyone have the game he had, but he came through one week later and had the best game of his life. I just hope he’s able to do what he did against Hoboken more than what he did against Bergen Catholic."
San Miguel is fortunate to have another year of high school football to build on this fine performance against the Red Wings.
"I wanted to come back and finish on a good note, so thank God for that," San Miguel said. "Things really turned out well for me. I don’t want to do it all over again, but I certainly wouldn’t mind having another game like this. It will be good to look back at this game, instead of the other."
And after the strong performance last Saturday, it’s safe to say that the Bergen Catholic nightmare is a distant memory for Adam San Miguel.