Allentown High School freshman wildcat quarterback Sadik Queen was a big reason why the Redbirds rolled Hightstown 38-8 on October 16 despite being down four vital players.
ALLENTOWN -- Allentown High School freshman wildcat quarterback Sadik Queen was a big reason why the Redbirds rolled Hightstown 38-8 on Oct. 16 despite being down four vital players, including their quarterback.
Queen, along with teammate Brett Masci, filled in as a signal caller and racked up 12 carries for 136 yards (11.3 yards per carry) and a touchdown.
The 6-foot-1, 165-pounder's score came in the second half and put the game away. In the third quarter of action, Queen broke loose for a 48-yard scamper that he took all the way to the house.
"That score by Sadik, right after the break, was a momentum changer," Masci told NJ Advance Media after the victory. "We saw the energy drain from them. They played a great game and they were on the same fence as we were. We were both 2-3, and we were just fighting for our lives. We tried to do everything in our power to win."
"Now we have to just do what we have always been doing," Masci continued. "We all buy into the program and that is what makes us successful."
Allentown head coach Jay Graber, who explained that the four absent players had been suspended from the game due to a violation of team rules, was understandably proud of Queen and the Redbirds' efforts.
"I am happy with the resilience that we showed," Graber told NJ Advance Media after the win. "We lost two games in a row and we have been down, so we showed a lot of resiliency in this game and I am happy to get the win and shift our focus to next week."
Queen explained that his dominant performance was fueled by his suspended teammates.
"We had to get it done for those guys," Queen told NJ Advance Media after the game. "They made a mistake and we had to recover for them. You can't throw someone out of the family when they mess up, so we are going to welcome them back."
"I felt like I was doing my job for the team and I am so proud to be here as a freshman, helping contribute to a win like this," Queen said. "I am going to do whatever coach needs me to do for the team."
Rich Cuccagna may be reached at rcuccagna@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RichCuccagna. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.