Justin McGuire wasn’t very busy in Saturday’s PSAL AAA semifinal against visiting Lincoln, but he was still integral to the 43-15 victory.

The sophomore quarterback only attempted four passes, but his first toss went for a 14-yard touchdown to soph Tyshawn Bent to cap the game’s first series, before McGuire closed out the next possession with a 1-yard sneak for a score and a 15-8 lead.

While Pirates offensive coordinator Tom Hensch acknowledges the offense revolves around running backs Bent and freshman Kory Brown, Hensch noted the importance of McGuire.

“Justin is a great player who is only getting better,” said Hensch of McGuire, who took over as Tottenville’s starting QB midway through last season and helped lead the Pirates to the semifinals, where they were ousted by Lincoln.

McGuire is cognizant that the Pirates are a predominantly running team. “He has very little ego. Right now, he’s happy fitting in,” Hensch said. “He makes sure we line up right, makes sure that we’re doing well with the clock. He has a lot of jobs. He’s a knock-around kid who’s still developing. And while he’s young, he already has a lot of experience.”

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Tottenville head coach Brian Neville is certainly happy he has Tom Hensch as his offensive coordinator.

In his first year as Pirates OC after joining Tottenville last year as offensive line coach, Hensch has helped lead the team to the PSAL AAAA city final against two-time defending champion Erasmus Hall.

Hensch is no stranger to the job of offensive coordinator, having filled that role for St. Joseph by-the-Sea from 2002-14, as his no-nonsense schemes gave the Vikings one of the most devastating rushing attacks in the CHSFL.

“I love running the ball; it’s who we are now,” said Neville, who doubled as head coach and offensive line coach for several seasons before stepping away from the latter after the 2020 campaign “because I wasn’t doing a good job. I was lucky I brought [Hensch] in. He’s done a great job.”

Hensch, who is still O-line coach, took over as the OC before this season following the departure of Tottenville mainstay Joe Mariconda, who left to join the Monsignor Farrell staff.

“We practiced all our run and pass plays beginning in March,” said freshman Kory Brown, who along with sophomore Tyshawn Bent forms an explosive backfield for the Pirates. “It took a little time to learn them.”

That was evident in a season-opening 13-7 setback to Lincoln. While Brown missed that contest with a high ankle sprain, he made his presence felt in the 43-15 semifinal rematch on Nov. 25, scoring two touchdowns.

“We had some growing pains. The first Lincoln loss was on me,” Hensch said. “But we knew the kids would get better once they got the reps.”

Since a 35-21 loss to Erasmus on Oct. 21, the Pirates have won five consecutive games — scoring at least 41 points in each contest.