Frank J. Macchiarola football's Nyheem Cooper totals 237 receiving yards, two TDs in PSAL 3A semifinal win

The seniors at Frank J. Macchiarola carried a bitter taste from 2022 and 2023, when their seasons ended against A. Phillip Randolph. In their final season together, the Sharks refused to let history repeat itself.

Both teams entered unbeaten in league play, and the highly anticipated matchup delivered fireworks.  Nyheem Cooper provided many of the biggest moments.

Cooper had eight receptions for 237 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 6 Frank J. Macchiar ola past No. 1 A. Phillip Randolph, 44-34, in the PSAL 3A semifinals at George Washington in Manhattan on Saturday.

“This meant something to me, and this was personal,” Cooper said. “We’ve been waiting for this game for so long, and we came out here and dominated. Everyone was doubting us, and we loved that.”

Cooper, primarily in the backfield this season, had 208 receiving yards in the first half alone. And it was thanks to offensive coordinator Diondre McFadden getting creative.

“We had a different plan for him today,” McFadden said. “We wanted to get him in space, put him in the slot, let him get handoffs — we came out with something different than what we’ve done all year.”

FJM opened the scoring on its second drive. Cooper caught a screen pass from Michael Misla, ran through a facemask tackle, and made defenders miss in space for a 54-yard touchdown to take a 6-0 lead.

Randolph’s next drive resulted in a red-zone fumble recovered by Wade Evans, giving the Sharks early momentum.

The other half of their two-QB system, Jayden Browne, then connected with Cooper for gains of 29 and 35 yards to set up Jaycob Reid’s 7-yard rushing touchdown and a 12-0 advantage at the start of the second quarter.

“I knew since the beginning of the year it was gonna be us and APR,” Reid said. “We had them on the clock, and we were locked in. We won, lost, cried together. This is family, and we needed this.”

The air show continued for the Sharks. Browne found a diving Cooper for a 41-yard touchdown, pushing the lead to 18-0.

APR answered when Emanuel Opoku sprinted for a 51-yard touchdown, but Misla found Michael Howard for a 5-yard score to help the Sharks take an 18-point lead into halftime.

Randolph’s Isaac Suazo sparked a rally with a 55-yard pick-6, then later hauled in a 70-yard touchdown reception, trimming the deficit to 32-21 heading into the fourth.

At the start of the fourth quarter, the Sharks’ defense stepped up. Evans, Aaron Marrero, Amare Britt and the entire front seven controlled the trenches and forced a fumble deep in APR territory.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Britt said. “Those losses in my freshman and sophomore year hurt, but we stuck together and dominated in the trenches.”

On the next play, Ahmed Cisse scored on a 14-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 38-21. Three plays later, Opoku connected with Ahmed Toure for a 62-yard touchdown, pulling Randolph within 10 with eight minutes remaining.

FJM responded again with a lengthy drive. Cisse broke loose for a 15-yard touchdown run with three minutes left, giving the Sharks a 44-28 advantage.

Randolph’s Christian Torres returned the ensuing kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown, cutting the lead to 44-34. Rhoc Kwawununu recovered the onside kick to keep APR’s hopes alive.

“I’m proud of them — they overcame odds this season,” APR coach Eric Perlowitz said. “We stuck to the game plan but didn’t execute when we needed to, and they did.”

The comeback ended moments later when Anthony Milan intercepted Opoku’s pass downfield, allowing the Sharks to close it out in victory formation.

Frank J. Macchiarola will now look to win its first PSAL football title since 2004. The Sharks will face James Madison for the 3A crown at Eagle Academy II (Brooklyn) next Saturday.

“It’s layers to this,” FJM coach Ubeaka McKinney said. “It starts with my JV coach Michael Boucicaut — he hasn’t lost in years. And I have the two best coordinators in the city in Diondre McFadden and Jarrell Stewart.”