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Tristan Akong is certainly thankful for his chance to play in the Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge. The St. Francis Prep running back wasn’t on the original New York City roster. When Sheepshead Bay’s Ayo Isijola could not play in the game, Akong was the top alternate and got a ringing endorsement from Holy Cross head coach and NYC assistant Tom Pugh.

 

“I just said when you are looking for a kid for this game, he’s got to have something,” Pugh said. “He’s got to be a great football player to play on this level. Tristan has world-class speed. From here to there he has that straight-ahead burst, which you need in this game because if you dance here, on the other side they got a lot of bullets in the gun. You’re just going to go down.”

 

When Akong got the call from Pugh to ask him to play he said he was astonished to be considered with some of the best players in the city and extremely grateful for the opportunity. 

 

“The day he called me I thanked him for everything,” said Akong, who also mentioned that he thanks the team’s coaches every day.

 

His addition to the team was a no brainer.

 

“I was real excited because Coach Pugh, he knew Tristan is one of the best guys in Catholic league football,” Holy Cross defensive back Terrence Coon said. “Coach Pugh got him in.”

 

Head coach Lou Vesce of Port Richmond is impressed with Akong’s speed and as a person. Vesce said he will only add to a deep running back group of Naykwan Johnson of Curtis and Seamus Kelly of Xavier when the city team plays Long Island on June 23 at Hoftra University’s Shuart Stadium.

 

So how fast is Akong? He has one of the top 15 times in the state in the 200 meters with a mark of 21.84. He qualified for nationals during the outdoor season and both indoor and outdoor state. Akong is one of the best sprinters in the CHSAA. 

 

He will be heading to the University of Albany next fall on a track scholarship and was asked to walk on to the school’s football team. Being able to continue to run track and play football was important to him. Schools which were interested in him like Sacred Heart, C.W. Post and Muhlenberg College, either did not have track or wouldn’t let him compete.

 

“I turned down schools that wouldn’t allow me to do track and football,” Akong said.

 

He feels like he has nothing special to prove in the game even after a down senior season, numbers-wise, compared to his junior campaign. Last year he rushed for 377 yards and just one touchdown on 102 carries. As junior, he lead the CHSFL ‘AA’ division in rushing with 1,137 yards on 158 attempts with 10 touchdowns and was receiving looks from Rutgers, Maryland and Lafayette. Akong attributed some of the down year to a young offensive line. Also the Terriers played a tougher schedule then they did when he was a junior.

 

“Everyone has something to prove,” Akong said. “I’m just with everyone here trying to prove that they have the talent to play D-I football. There is no pressure at all.”