Standing on Unfinished Business: The JV Peglegs Rebuild to Dominance

Beginning in the grueling hills of Camp Scatico on August 26, Stuyvesant’s JV Peglegs were served a tall task: one-upping last year’s elite team of freshmen and sophomores that moved up to the varsity team. Key players on the 2023 Peglegs, including quarterback James Boodhoo, running back Aiden Bailey, linebacker Aidan Chan, and wide receivers Isaac Sprung and Isaac Peng, led the powerhouse team to a 5-1 record and set the bar high. However, their departure left the program raw; very few returning sophomores took on leadership roles. Undeniably, the JV Peglegs had high expectations to live up to and needed a spark to start the fire.

With such a strong record, a second year with JV head coach Cameron Simerau left little to be desired. Early in the year, the team dominated; two defensive shutouts put up a staggering 40 points against Harry S. Truman High School during their homecoming. Regarding their home game against Fort Hamilton, sophomore and wide receiver Julian Pontano said, “We had to get this one back for last year: 12-0,” referring to the one loss of the previous year’s Peglegs. 

Sophomore and tight end Daniel Kim added, “They took away our 6-0 season. They were the only ones that scored on us, so we had to get them back.” On a true revenge tour, the Peglegs went on to beat John Jay 34-6—sophomore and running back Eitan Kanayev had four touchdowns dedicated to the varsity team’s loss, which took Fort Hamilton out of the playoff picture. 

The Peglegs exceeded expectations, showcasing the impact of strong leadership and exceptional coaching. The second year of Simerau’s “ground and pound” strategy made the JV Peglegs unstoppable, with an average of almost 120 yards rushing per game against an average of 50 yards of passing in the 2024 season between sophomore running backs Eitan Kanayev and Wyatt Weiss. In 2022, before Simerau’s arrival, the JV Peglegs averaged only 60 yards passing and 50 yards rushing. The ratios completely reversed, and overall production increased by 60 all-purpose yards, or 55 percent, from 2022. For the second year in a row, JV defensive coach Sean Coffin organized a remarkably unrelenting defensive front with multiple shutouts.

Ultimately, the glue of the Peglegs is their special teams. JV special teams coach Samuel Fuchs coordinated the Peglegs’s multiple blocked punts along with extra-point kicks, which were the only attempts at extra-point kicks in the JV football league this year and contributed to meaningful and consistent points. 

The leadership this year included both second and first-year Peglegs. Sophomore captain and running back Eitan Kanayev said, “As one of the only returning sophomores, I had to step up as a leader for my sophomore peers and the incoming freshmen.” Kanayev finished with 450 rushing yards and eight touchdowns and also contributed on defense with seven sacks. 

Sophomore captain and center and middle linebacker Christopher Dubovici was also a key player on the field at all times. Senior middle linebacker and captain for the Varsity Peglegs Eli Lifton said, “[Dubovici] embodies what the Peglegs are all about; he’s gritty, tough, and truly is the heart of the defense.” Dubovici finished with a team-leading 21 tackles, one interception, and on the offensive side of the ball at center with seven pancake blocks. His chemistry with freshman captain, quarterback, and safety Fynn Chadwick is a key reason for the Peglegs’s success this season. Chadwick, who played wide receiver at Baruch Middle School—where he caught nine touchdowns in the city championship—was told early that he would have to transition to playing quarterback.  Chadwick persisted through these circumstances and quickly adapted to the new role, demonstrating his versatility and athleticism. He began leading the team with his elusive runs and precise throws—170 yards on the ground with 400 yards passing and six touchdowns in only three games—as well as being a force on defense with an interception, sack, tackle for loss, and seven tackles. 

For a second year in a row, the All-Access program has been extremely impactful, allowing many students who wouldn’t have otherwise had an opportunity to play football. On the offensive and defensive line, freshman and right tackle Bildad Edouard has been showing out, protecting the quarterback and stopping the run games on both ends. Edouard said, “I’m thankful for this opportunity and this team that's become my family.” 

Sophomore and right guard Junior Ramirez said, “Being on the JV Peglegs is about more than just preparing for the future—it’s about appreciating the journey, building resilience, and finding pride in every step toward our goals for this year and the future.” 

Sophomore, wide receiver, and cornerback LeSean Odum has been one of the leading receivers for the team, catching some big touchdowns. Odum excitedly stated, “This team has been flying around the field and has been so much fun to play with on Friday night.” The JV Peglegs’s excitement and family are what makes them so successful; they have fun on the field and always have each other’s backs, like a true family. 

The JV Peglegs’s success this season is not just a testament to individual talents but to the program’s ability to foster growth and unity. Since many players have already stepped into leadership roles as only sophomores, the future of Stuyvesant football looks bright. The coaching staff’s focus on fundamentals and player development has created a pipeline of athletes ready to make an impact at the varsity level. Simerau highlighted the importance of creating a supportive environment and said, “Our goal is to teach these young athletes not just how to play football but how to work as a team; overcome adversity; and build character. The wins are great, but the real victories are in how these kids grow both on and off the field.”

Looking to the future, the JV Peglegs hope to move up to varsity, lead Stuyvesant to a playoff berth for the first time in five years, and work as hard as possible to get a banner for winning the 3A championship. For now, we will just have to wait and see what the future holds for these young men.