The losses continued to pile up, one after another. What was supposed to be a successful season for the Weehawken High School football team was rapidly drifting away toward oblivion.
“It was absolutely unexplainable,” said sophomore running back/quarterback Damian Corredor. “We really thought we were going to the playoffs this year. But then we were 0-4, 0-5 and things were really tough. It was frustrating, because we weren’t doing the little things we needed to do to win games. We would have fumbles and penalties. I couldn’t believe what was happening. It was definitely not the way we planned it.”
The Indians reached rock bottom two weeks ago, losing to Manchester Regional by the ungodly score of 60-18, putting the Indians’ record at a dismal 0-7.
“We needed to get a win,” Corredor said. “We needed a win in the worst way.”
“We were just trying to get one,” Weehawken head coach Chris Johnsen said. “So we went back to basics.”
One of the things Johnsen had to do was to move Corredor from running back to quarterback.
“He makes our team go,” Johnsen said. “Everyone looks to him to make plays. He had to be the quarterback. I knew he didn’t want to do it. But he’s our best football player and makes good football decisions. He makes plays.”
“It’s not what I wanted to do,” Corredor said. “I’m a running back. It’s what I do. But Coach thought that it was going to give me more chances to have the ball. It gave us a better chance to win and that’s what I wanted to do more than anything.”
So as the Indians prepared to face Palisades Park/Leonia last weekend, Corredor felt that the Indians had their best chance to get the long elusive victory.
“It was Senior Night, so we really wanted to make it a good one for the seniors,” Corredor said. “We weren’t sure when we would get another chance to win. So we had to make sure that we left it all on the field.”
Johnsen said that he talked with Corredor before the game last Friday night and had a sense it was going to be a good one for his impromptu quarterback and the rest of his teammates.
“During pre-game warm-ups, I talked to him and told him that he had to do what his brother [Angelo] did,” Johnsen said.
Older brother Angelo Corredor was a standout running back for the Indians who graduated a few years ago.
“I told Damian that he had to start the game off the right way,” Johnsen said.
Sure enough, the younger Corredor responded, returning the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown.
It set the tone for Corredor’s night to remember.
Corredor rushed for 217 yards on the ground and scored a touchdown. He returned the opening kickoff for a score and threw a touchdown pass to Umberto Leigue for another score. All totaled, Corredor compiled an astounding 392 yards in rushing, passing and kick returns, leading the Indians to a huge 20-14 victory over Palisades Park/Leonia at Lou Ferullo Field at Weehawken Stadium. Corredor also had an interception on defense.
For his efforts, Corredor has been selected as The Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week for the past week.
Johnsen was impressed with the way the youngster led the way.
“Seeing is believing,” Johnsen said. “He made all the right reads. He had to be a little selfish to make plays, but he did it.”
Corredor is the last in a line of four different Corredors who starred at Weehawken High. Eldest sister Crystal was a two-time First Team Hudson Reporter All-Area honoree in basketball. Older brother Angelo was a three-sport standout, as was older sister Daisy.
“I’m the last in line,” Corredor said. “They were great athletes and they always told me just go out and play hard. It’s a good family tradition we have. When we were little, we always would play together. We still have a basketball hoop in the yard and play out there. They set the bar high for me. I felt like I had to keep up with them and it wasn’t easy. I knew I couldn’t let them down.”
Johnsen knew that his best player had a game like that in him.
“He’s our best football player and best playmaker,” Johnsen said. “Hopefully, he’s going to lead us to a few more wins.”
One thing is for sure: Corredor’s confidence level is very high now.
“I know I can do this and know I can do it again,” Corredor said. “If I can get this many yards in a game, I can do it again and help us out in the future. I didn’t know I had that many. It’s a great feeling. I was a little amazed by it. It was a great night.”
It also shows that patience and perseverance are good virtues when it comes to high school football. – Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.