The summer season was brought to an end at the Fort Hamilton Tigers’s first home game on September 24th, 2022. The Tigers defeated the Franklin D. Roosevelt Cougars with a final score of 36 to 28.
The Tigers maintained a narrow lead over the Cougars until the fourth quarter. Mark Kiss, junior quarterback, threw three touchdowns to junior Emmanuel Dimitrakios, sophomore August Porter, and freshman Amani Cespedes. Charles Kitsakos, senior running back, who played his first game of the season after recovering from an injury, scored two touchdowns, widening the Tigers’s lead in the fourth quarter and guaranteeing their victory.
“The kids competed at a higher level and were focused on winning the game. This was one of the first times they came together and worked things out offensively and defensively,” remarked Tremayne Nanton, the Tigers’s defensive coordinator and assistant coach.
While the victory boosted the team’s morale, giving them hope for a successful season, players also celebrated the bond created during the game. In fact, for some of the players, the spirit and camaraderie fostered through practices and through working together toward a common goal were the most gratifying part of the experience.
“The brotherhood I have created with my teammates is the best part of playing for the Fort Tigers,” said Mark Kiss.
The game’s luau theme made the event festive and brought together the Fort Hamilton community in celebration. Junior Francesca Susi served as the game’s disc-jockey, getting the players into the right mindset and energizing the audience throughout the game.
“The Luau theme I think personally was our most successful,” noted Susi. “For years students have wanted themed football games and I thought it was finally time to put that into action. This theme really brought students together to support our Tigers and I think the players felt the support that day because they pulled through and won an amazing game.”
