Birthday Boy Henry Hynoski Scores First Career Touchdown

Giants fullback Henry Hynoski, who occasionally is used as a passing option out of the backfield, began to wonder if he might ever score a touchdown for the Giants.

And who could blame him? Twice this season—in games against Green Bay and Washington– he’s come close, only to fall short of that goal.

Fortunately, Hynoski is a patient man, and today, his patience was rewarded when he caught a one-yard touchdown catch on what was the Giants’ final score of the game to cap the 42-7 win over the Eagles for his team.

The score, which underwent review like all scoring plays do, caused Hynoski to hold his breath if just for a few minutes. “It seemed like it would have been just fitting if it had been overturned,” he said, the relief evident on his face.

“I got stopped on the half-foot line this year, and got overthrown this year so it just would have seen fitting if it had, but I’m glad it didn’t.  It was a relief.”

After getting into the end zone, Hynoski, who turned 24 today, whipped out a celebration  that he said he had been working on for weeks. Playing off of his Hynocerous moniker, Hynoski made the horn of a Rhino by putting his hand to his face mask, and bobbed his head up and down, spearing the air.

He also feigned a charge with his feet, much like a rhino would before charging, the latter part of the celebration being something that he said linebacker Spencer Paysinger, one of Hynoski’s closest friends on the team, suggested.

“I had it in the back of my head since the start of the season,” he said of his celebration. “I came close a couple of times this year, but really didn’t get the opportunity, but I had stored away in case it happened, and it just so happened that it took place on this day.”

In addition to scoring the touchdown on his birthday in front of his parents, who attend every one of his games, Hynoski was also happy to have scored on this particular day for another reason, and that was the 200 or so students, parents, teachers, and administrators from Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn. that were guests of the Giants this week.

“It was special, especially since it came on my birthday and it came with the kids and families  from Sandy Hook Elementary being here,” he said. “It couldn’t have happened on a more special day.”

Hynoski’s grin widened when he spoke about coming out of the tunnel to the Sandy Hook party, who greeted both the Giants and Eagles before forming a Circle of Hope before kickoff to cap off a very emotional tribute to those who lost their lives in the tragedy.

“It was just emotional and giving them high-five and seeing the excitement and joy it brought to their face and we just kind of played the game for them,” he said. “After all they’ve been through, they were out there to see us and that was really touching and very emotional for us and I think it gave us a lot of extra drive and determination to get the ‘W’ for them.”