UTICA — The sign was easy to see just off the turf at D'Alessandro Stadium.

The paraphrased lyrics from a hit Jay-Z song hand-written on a large piece of fabric hanging from an unused soccer goal were easily recognizable as well: “99 problems, but your team ain’t 1.” 

That was essentially spot-on for the Thomas R. Proctor football team Friday during its Class AA contest against a shorthanded Henninger squad. 

The Raiders’ multi-faceted run game totaled more than 400 yards and the defense limited Henninger in a dominant and lopsided 50-8 victory in Proctor’s Homecoming and Senior Night game. With the game out of reach, the clock stopped sparingly for a majority of the second half. 

“We just wanted to go out and execute our stuff, stay healthy and be respective of them because they played hard,” said Proctor coach Steve Strife, whose team earned honorable mention in the most recent state poll. "They were just shorthanded." 

It was the first time Proctor played a Friday football game since at least 2014 and there appeared to be no issues inside the stadium. Strife and the players said they appreciated the opportunity. 

“It was amazing,” said senior Leo Checo, a key contributor on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball for the Raiders (3-2 Class AA, 4-2 overall). “The atmosphere of a night game, I’ve never really felt it before. … It just felt great. I couldn’t ask for a better Senior Night.” 

The win helps keep Proctor in the middle of the Class AA standings as playoffs loom.

Seniors played a key role in helping Proctor bounce back following a tough loss at Baldwinsville last week when first-half mistakes played a factor.

On Friday, senior Kenijaymes "Magic" Johnson totaled 101 yards and two scores on seven carries, classmate Domante Cook added 96 yards on seven carries and second-half touchdown and standout quarterback Todd Abraham added two rushing touchdowns and 79 yards on three carries. Abraham completed the game’s lone pass for negative yards. 

Juniors Jerquell Henderson (two carries for 57 yards) and Genaro Clemente (three carries for 57) each added rushing scores. 

“The run game has been great. It all starts up front with the linemen,” said Johnson, who is in his first season at Proctor after transferring form nearby Notre Dame. “It is a nice bounce-back win for us.” 

The lopsided affair allowed Proctor to get the ball into the hands of some other players. A total of nine players ran the ball and the team totaled 429 rushing yards. 

Perhaps the only concern for Proctor was some “weird energy” before the game. 

“I didn’t know what was going to happen,” Strife said with a laugh. “I said to coaches, ‘these guys may have used their energy’ or this could be a nervous-type energy and they get it out of the way and they’re able to concentrate.”

It was the latter as Proctor recovered an on-side kick to open the game and then scored three plays later.

Proctor led 22-0 in the first quarter before Henninger had positive yardage with help from Sean Hunt Jr. (155 yards), who had a late touchdown for Henninger (1-5). 

The Proctor defense – which has improved since a 62-60 victory over Whitesboro on Sept. 17, according to Strife – had two fumble recoveries and at least five sacks Friday.

“We’re making less mistakes and playing as a unit,” Checo said. “We make it work.” 

Proctor is set to close the season against Cicero-North Syracuse (6-1) at home Saturday, Oct. 22.