Bozin, Stevenson introduce themselves to a 'W'
Stevenson sophomore Anthony Bozin introduced himself to reporters after the Patriots' 42-7 win over Highland Park to start the 2010 season Friday night.
He spent the better part of the evening introducing himself to a capacity crowd at Stevenson, both those overflowing the Stevenson stands and those perpetually blaring blue vuvuzelas on the Highland Park side.
Even while managing just 25 rushing yards on four carries and 29 receiving yards on 1 reception, the 5-foot-8, 155 yard running back made the most of his touches scoring 3 touchdowns in his varsity debut.
"I was just hoping I would get the ball a little bit," Bozin said. "I never thought I'd get a chance to score 3 touchdowns."
The second time Bozin got the ball, he made the most of his opportunity. After a holding penalty wiped out what would have been a 10-yard Joey Cassata touchdown run, the Patriots face first-and-goal from the Giants' 17. A sweep around the right side went for 17 yards and gave the Patriots a 14-0 lead.
Bozin's most memorable play came at the start of the second half, when he took the Highland Park kickoff at the left hash mark on the 15 yard line, cut up the middle of the field, hit a hole and then cut down the right sideline. The 85-yard return gave the Patriots a 35-0 lead and helped set the stage for the running clock to be instituted early in the third quarter.
"The blocking was perfect," Bozin said of the return. "One blocker laid out a guy from Highland Park, and it gave me the hole I needed."
"One blocker?" Doesn't he know who?
"I'll find out," said Bozin, who now has a little extra interest in studying the game film. "I'll be thanking him."
Senior quarterback Kevin Earl might be thanking Bozin after saving him the indignity of a sack late in the second half. With a heavy Highland Park rush, Earl found Bozin break free from a Highland Park defensive back on a hitch-and-go. A wide-open Bozin pulled down Earl's pass with 1:01 left in the second quarter to stretch the lead to 28-0.
"He was hit as he threw it," Bozin said. "It was still perfect. That's how great a quarterback he is."
Earl finished the night 6-of-11 for 129 yards and a touchdown.
"People are saying that with all the guys we lost that we're not the same team," he said. "But you're seeing people that are coming in and stepping up like Anthony Bozin and Cassata. We knew we have these athletes and we know what they provide."