John Lenhart- Played for Head coach Finkle and Coach Sarachek and graduated in 1993
Fondest memories: I played wide receiver and wore #80. Scoring 2 touchdowns in my final home game as a senior. We beat Manhattan Center H.S. 28-16. Catching 2 touchdown passes in my first varsity start at Flushing Memorial Field when we beat Bryant H.S. 54-0.
Traditions: Our chant of "YOU Can't BEAT THE RED!!!!!! after every practice and before each game.
Daniel Murillo - Played for Head coach Kaso from 1994 - 1996 and graduated in 1996
Fondest memories: Its sounds arrogant, but we felt elite. I guess thats how you feel when you are use to winning. My fondest memory and my worst memory are both the same. Pro Right, Red, Option Right, Option is a play I had to run in a game that we were winning when our QB got injured. (I played WR). I made the pitch for the option and it was picked off by a defense end who ran it back for a TD, giving us our first loss of the season. I say its a good memory because that loss united us as a team, and showed that we could bounce back and make it all the way to the division championship. Playing for football for Flushing and Coach Kaso gave me the basics I needed to move on and play football at Hofstra University. I ''am so grateful for my years at Flushing.
Traditions: The Lucky Grass (right outside the locker room) Keep off of it, or you will be sorry. Hit Squad, Hit Hard is how we ended practice.
Bienvenido Hernandez- Played for Head Coach Sarachek and graduated in 1994
Fondest memories: My favorite memory came during my senior season in 1993. Flushing was in a 3 way tie with Truman HS and Stevenson HS. There were about 2 or 3 weeks left in the season and we had a game against Stuyvesant HS at home. The weather was terrible with lots of rain. Although we were a favorite to win we were down by 20 points at half-time, (20-0). We were shocked at the score and upset with how we played the first half. One of our Tri-Captains gave us a speech (it was more like a verbal assault LOL!!) that woke us up as a unit.
We came out P*SSED AS ALL HELL and we wanted some payback. To make a long story short, Eric came up with a crucial 3rd and long screen FB screen catch and run that eventually would lead us down to field for a touchdown.
With under 3 minutes to go in the game Stuyvesant began a drive that ended with an interception by yours truely, and sealing a Flushing victory, 21-20.
What makes this a special moment for me was not the fact that I intercepted the ball to seal the victory or Eric's 3rd and long catch and run. But the way we came together as a team under tremendous pressure to battle back and play as a unit.
We would eventually go to the championship game that season and suffer a loss to Fort Hamilton HS, but Flushing finally began to get the respect of the PSAL world.
Traditions: I can proudly say that I was part of the "HIT SQUAD" legacy. We called our defense the "HIT SQUAD" and every time we broke the huddle I would say "HIT SQUAD" and the team would respond "HIT HARD". This went on until Flushing lost its football program and I would like to see if the new era of Flushing Football will honor this tradition.
Life After Flushing: I went on to play College football at both CW Post and Bryant College. I am currently living in East Elmhurst.
David Desamour- Played for Head coach Finkle and Coach Sarachek and Coach Kaso from '91 -'94 and graduated in 1995.
Fondest memories: For some it was just football practice and Games, but for me it was a way of life. Football was my church, my team mates were my brothers and the coaches were the pastors. Under the congregation of Memorial Field, we did a lot of praying. We mentored one another, we were one... inseparable. We were known and respected. To me Football was a way of life.
My fondest memories as a Flushing high school Red Devils football player did not take place on the football field. One night we as a team went to Sizzlers to prep for the game of our lives. It was us vs. Stevenson High school. They stood in our way to the playoffs. That night was magical!!! We ate, laughed, and then took our faith to a different level; we spoke about the VICTORY to come. Needless to say, we won and advance to the B League championship game. We were a team on the field and most importantly we were a team of the field.
Traditions: Respect for those who took time out of their personal life to teach and coach us on the game of life.
Life After Flushing: I went on to play four years of football at Bryant college.
Maurice Lundy- Played for Head coach Finkle and Coach Sarachek and Coach Kaso from '91 -'94 and graduated in 1995.
Fondest memories:There were many moments on and off the field that were memorable. We had a real bond and that is what carried us through the winning and losing. Our lives never ended there at the practice field. We were more than teammates we were brothers on and off the field. I can say that there were two memorable memories in my career as a Red Devil in 93. First was against Stuyvesant High School at home. WE went in the locker room down by 21 at halftime. There was concern, tears, and every other emotion in the locker room. Our season was on the brink of failure cause one more loss would place us in third place and no playoff hopes at all. So what did we do? Led by Eric Fulton at Full back, we came back and held on to win 22-21 causing a three way tie in the division. So what would make it another fond memory? We had playoff to decide how the playoffs would be determined. So who would we play? We got a chance at redemption. We played our opponents who served us our only loss of the season Stevenson High school. They came to the Devil''s Lair hyped Left scorned and crying(LOL). We was well on our way to the playoffs and eventually to the championship. Needless to say we would lose to Fort Hamilton High School. That was the last time Flushing made it to a championship game. Which Year will break that drought????????????????????????? IT IS UP TO YOUR BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS AND MOST OF ALL YOUR LOVE FOR YA TEAMMATES OR RATHER BROTHERS ON AND OFF THE FIELD TO BREAK THE DROUGHT GOOD LUCK FELLAS.
Traditions: Two Traditions every year. We would all get together before spring camp and start working out TOGETHER running our own drills and running laps. Also before the first game of the season we would all meet up and have dinner at a restaurant the night before the first game of the season.
Calim Wright- Played for Head Coach Kaso from '96 - '98.
Fondest memories:I think my good friend Danny and teammate said it best, that 1996 team was and still the best team I have ever played for. We were too cold too fly too good, we may have been the best team FHS has ever put together and I mean that. That team had so many good football players. We were a team, Teammates, friends. As football players we were the best. And they did not let us prove it guy's, yall know what I mean man. So to you new kids on the block yall have a lot of work to do, but yall can do it so make it happen. And If yall ever want an Alumni game yall get it and I bet we would beat yall lol.
Traditions: Oh yea the "Hell squad" when a player did something wrong they had to go on Hell squad at the end of practice to be dealt with by the Captains.
Life After Flushing: I went on to play College football at both SUNY Canton and the University of Buffalo. I am currently living in Encino, California and Laurelton, New York.
Marcus Creer- Played for Head Coach Finkle in 1993.
Fondest memories: Man, where do I begin? Football as a Red Devil was a huge part of my life. We worked hard and played hard as any family would. We always had eachothers backs on and off the field. One of my best Red Devils Memories was while I was playing Line Backer my senior year. It was our last game of the season and my last game as a Red Devil. We were playing Bryant and they had scored on us the first play of the game. After a fierce defensive huddle and some harsh words from me to my teammates we came out of that huddle like Lions being freed from a cage. I had 5 sacks that game. I still get goosebumps thinking about it. I was ultimately awarded the All-City MVP award for our division. Man I miss those days!
Traditions: One of are traditions was going out after a win. We would either go get a bite to eat or meet up at the Federation for some laughs. Things were simple those days.
Fredrick Hamilton- Played for Head Coach Kaso from 1994- 1997.
Fondest memories: I'll never forget playing for the Hit Squad. To this day I've never bonded wih a group of guys like I did with that squad. Working out at the Y afterschool, everyone trying to get a copy of the game tape, working out on the bench in the locker room. I never felt as good as I did when I was in the locker room before a game looking at my teammates faces. Thats the closest to invincible I've ever felt. I remember my first game in 1994 against Stevenson H.S an I was a skinny kid playing for the first time in a game and I had a sack and a couple of tackles. I remember the older cats like Big Reese(WHAT UP LUNDY I SEE YOU BABY!!!!) would talk about the old days when they went to the championship and I wanted to be part of that. After that game guys on the team opened up to me more because they saw I could play. I wanted to prove myself so bad and when the seniors and guys like Greg Jeffries and Big Dave started to talk to me it made me want to do even better.My fondest memory was realizing that my teammates accepted me and they believed in me. That was big.I didn't want to let them down. I got so many memories and so much more I could go on all day but I'm going to stop or I'll be here all night. I love the Hit Squad forever. And every man I ever played with was my brother and still is. And I'd still go to war with any of those men at the drop of a hat. On OR OFF the field.
Traditions: Yeah cuzo. The only one I know. Hit Squad. HIT HARD!!!!!!!!!!!! Believe it.
Life After Flushing: I went on to play college football at East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania. I am presently living in St. Paul Minnesota.
Andre Pabon- Played for Head Coach Kaso from 1993- 1996.
Fondest memories: I can remember playing JV the year the Varsity team went to the Championship in '93 and all I could think about was getting a shot the next year to start. I can remember, starting in '94, the 1st game against Stevenson we were down by 6 with 2 minutes left and I had a chance to win the game with a touchdown pass to our RB Ashly Thomas, he was wide open and I missed him by a mile, I was so hurt, but the team never let me get down on myself. I can remember the older guys would come to our games to make sure we held up tradition. I loved the day I was voted captain with Danny Hernandez, Marc Mitchell and Stoney. We had so much swagger in those days, guys hated playing us because they knew with me playing QB we could score at will and on the other side the hit squad would smash the opposing offense I would like to shout out the Hernandez brothers (Danny & Ben), Lundy, Dave Desamor, Danny Murillo, Marc Mitchell, Fitzroy, Dion Samuels, Terrence Harwell, Stoney, Leo, Coach Kaso and everyone I missed. PS Cowboy (Danny Murrillo) don't feel bad about that play against Stuyvesant, it was my fault, I should never have come out the game, but you're right, it brought us closer together as a team.
Traditions: I loved the Lucky Grass outside of the fieldhouse. Don't step on it!
I also loved it when it was someone's birthday and we would make them run the gauntlett.
Life After Flushing: I went on to play college football at CW Post. I am presently living in Brooklyn, NY.
Adger Shumate- Played for Head coach Finkle and graduated in 1991
Fondest memories: My whole time as a red devil. I remember I came in as a freshman and my first JV year we went 0-6 then my second year I played Varsity and JV. We had a unit who hung out together and practice hard togehter we were 2-4 jv and 1-7 varsity. Then we started going to football camp in the summer and practicing on our own. We wanted to get better as a unit. So my next year I made co-captain and we went 4-4 varsity. My last year showed me how hard work and team work can go a long way. My senior year we did some amazing things that year, we ran over the league, Maurice won the state scoring title and we won the B divsion chanponship. To me that is what says Red Devil Football.
Traditions: Nothing said Traditon like the Turkey Bowl. Flushing vs Holy Cross at thanksgiving.
Maury Teachey- Played for Head coach Finkle and graduated in 1991
Fondest memories: I won the state scoring title, we won the b championship, we had a great team adger schumate, ricky jones, freddy jones, tyrone johnson and lorenzo devia. We were family, we played hard, never gave up, no matter what. We hung in there and won a championship go red devils
Traditions: Who dat say they gonna beat them devils.
Life After Flushing: I went on to play college football at Albany State. I am presently living in North Carolina.
Rickie Jones- Played for Head coach Finkle and graduated in 1991
Fondest memories: We were losing at halftime to Boy's & Girls High in the championship game and Coach Finkle blasted us out,because we had been undefeated the whole season and were losing to a team we had beaten already! Needless to say we went back out and Gardy our inside linbacker stripped the football out of there runningbacks hands and ran it back to the 40yard line Coach called a triplescreen play. I blocked for Adjer and he made the touchdown which helped us win the championship.We went 10-0 that year
Traditions: you cant beat the red!
Life After Flushing: I went on to play college football at Hudson Valley and Virginia Union. I am presently living in North Carolina. My email address is bigbozek72@yahoo.com
