Some of you might be old enough to have heard about that classic in 1966, when Al Bundy scored four touchdowns and led Polk High to victory.
That was billed as an epic performance, one worthy of legend and that story being told countless times even decades later.
And not even that fictional tale in a 1990s sitcom comes close to what Drew Kozak did on Thursday. In real life.
“I couldn’t believe it, and I still haven’t fully processed it yet,” the Our Lady of Lourdes football star said, about an hour after dropping the jaws of spectators and raising the eyebrows of others who later got word. “It almost feels surreal.”
It might’ve looked that way, too, to the folks who watched.
The senior scored nine touchdowns ― yes, you read that correctly — and totaled 467 yards from the scrimmage, leading the Warriors in a 66-48 win over visiting Wallkill.
A week ago: Kozak dazzles as Lourdes dominates Washingtonville to end losing streak
Things done changed: Adebola, Fay lead Ketcham in shutout for best start since 2013
Fire up the incredulous, “Boy, ain’t no way…” memes.
The nine touchdowns ― again, no need to doubletake ― broke a Section 9 record and tied for second in New York high school football history. The 56 points he accounted for are third most. And the yardage, of course, was a career high for the running back.
“I can't put into words a good description of this,” Lourdes coach Sean Keenan said. “We were part of some amazing high-scoring games at Millbrook, including Nick Finger scoring 58 points (in 2008). But nine touchdowns? This is crazy.”
Kozak carried 27 times for 281 yards and six touchdowns and had five receptions for 186 yards and three more touchdowns, the longest of which was a 73-yard catch from quarterback Noey Ledesma. He rang up six touchdowns in the first half, staking Lourdes to a 42-28 lead.
Saranac Lake’s Tom Wallace once scored 11 touchdowns in a game in 1926. Kozak tied former Long Island superstar Jason Gwaltney, who scored nine for North Babylon in a 2004 game, and Indian River's Rowan Marshall, who did in 2021.
As word got around about his outing, Kozak said his cellphone became inundated Thursday night with congratulatory text messages, voicemails, and social media notifications. He might have an even harder time responding to everyone than he did reaching the end zone.
“I was overcome with emotions,” Kozak said of his reaction while addressing teammates in the locker room. “I started tearing up a little. I was thanking my teammates, thanking God. It was a moment of appreciation and gratitude.”
Of course, a performance like this isn’t possible without a collective effort. Kozak was effusive in complimenting his offensive line “for opening huge lanes and giving the quarterbacks a lot of time to throw.”
Matt Briggs, Haiden Nessel, Dallas Selig, Mike Ramey and Mike Domenico anchored the line. And, in Keenan’s old-school Double Wing offense, tight ends Zach Farber and Colin Lawrence, and fullbacks Connor Wilson and Lorenzo Castro also are big contributors to the blocking.
“He’s such a good, humble kid that as we’re all praising him after the game, he’s thanking everyone,” Keenan said of Kozak. “Maybe he’ll allow himself a moment of excitement and feel proud at home. But he didn’t show that in front of the team.”
He already was having an impressive season and he had what, at the time, were considered “big games” the previous two weeks. The four touchdowns he scored on Oct. 4 set a career high. Briefly.
“I didn’t feel any different and I’m putting in the same effort,” Kozak said, “but this was a product of everything going well on offense.”
Kozak is a first-year starter, having waited his turn in the backfield behind Matthew Krauza and Joe Tempestelli, both of whom starred. But Kozak is proving to be an even more explosive playmaker.
He combines game-breaking speed with excellent vision and the route-running skills to create separation downfield and be an effective receiver. Those talents have made him a true dual-threat weapon.
Ledesma completed 6 of 8 passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns and Jack Savona threw a 49-yard touchdown for Lourdes (2-4). Freshman Lucas Pascale ran for 77 yards.
“We had a lot of confidence in ourselves even when we were winless,” said Kozak, whose team has won two straight. “We thought we were better than our record showed, and now we're starting to prove it.”
The Warriors, against a difficult schedule lost their first four games and are attempting to rebound against their league opponents. They’ll visit defending section champion Cornwall next Friday.
“Winning our first two league games was great for the kids, especially getting a win like this while playing on a short week,” Keenan said. “We’re trying to catch lightning in a bottle.”
A defense might say the same of attempting to corral Kozak.
Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Football: Drew Kozak's record-setting nine touchdowns lifts Lourdes over Wallkill
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