Rain was certainly a factor this past Saturday as the Floral Park varsity football team was defeated by the Roosevelt Roughriders, 34-13. After a drizzle soon transformed into a downpour, this game would be settled in the trenches. A huge goal line stand by the Knights followed by a turnover inside the five-yard line brought the crowd to its feet. But it wasn’t enough to withstand the 286 yards on the ground from senior running back Kevon Hall, one of the top returning players on Long Island this season.  By the end of the game, Roosevelt’s running game totaled 335 yards and five touchdowns, overwhelming Floral Park with its ground-and-pound attack.

Despite the loss, there were plenty of positives to take away for the Knights. Senior wide receiver Michael Matich had an exceptional game, catching five balls for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Senior quarterback Mitch Kozak was also on the mark, completing 12 of his 21 attempted passes for 104 yards, two touchdowns, and only one interception. He also added 42 yards on the ground.

Although the defense gave up 34 points, Floral Park’s secondary was impressive as Roosevelt’s quarterback had almost nowhere to throw. He was 2-for-4 on the day with a mere 28 passing yards.

The Knights return to the gridiron this Saturday at North Shore (1-0) as they look to bounce back from a tough week one loss.