Curtis running back Quadare Gomez wasn’t suited up for this first-round playoff game. But when another running back went down, Curtis suddenly found itself in trouble against Eagle Academy II (Brooklyn).

Coach Peter Gambardella gave Gomez the nod. The junior sprinted to the locker room and came back in full pads.

“I was banged up last week and wasn’t supposed to play,” Gomez said. “But as the game went on things weren’t looking promising. I looked at Gambo and he nodded at me, and I told the manager to get me some pants please and ran to the locker room. I just couldn’t sit on the sidelines in a big moment like that.”

That was the spark Curtis needed. Gomez delivered the game-tying two-point conversion and the winning touchdown in overtime to lift host No. 3 Curtis past No. 6 Eagle Acad

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