NOV. 24
THANKSGIVING RIVALRY
Murrell Dobbins 20, Ben Franklin 12
  Since we’ve read about these two teams extensively this season, we’re going to try something a little different with this game.  Instead of the usual story, I humbly offer a game summary in dedication to the players who played their last game. We cannot let a season end however, without the obvious……………
  Payin the Bill’s Play of the Game: Dobbins rolled to a first quarter lead behind a stunning counter play from sr. RB Daquan “Day-Day” Brown and an easy run by sr. RB Jameel Davis on a drive that started at the Franklin 13-yard line. After a 59-yard kickoff return by sr. Trayvon Faison to start the third quarter, Davis finished a seven play drive to increase the Mustang lead.  A spirited comeback by the Electrons was engineered by sr. QB Anwar “Huddy” Mathis.  He made three of his best throws all season, two to sr. WR Jonathan Parker and another to sr. SE Chris Sullivan, that gave the Electrons a chance late.  As they had done so many times this season though, the Mustangs quietly ended any thoughts of further scoring when jr. DB Mike Jones fielded a two-hop onside kick attempt like a shortstop—season’s over, bill’s paid.
Scoring (by quarter)
Murrell Dobbins           14        0          6          6--20  
Ben Franklin              0          0          6          6--12

First Quarter
MD- Brown 41 run 9:27 (Kitt run)
MD- Davis 5 run 8:21 (run failed)

Second Quarter

NONE

Third Quarter
MD- Davis 1 run 6:41 (run failed)
BF- Parker 30 pass from Mathis 1:40 (run failed)

Fourth Quarter
BF- Mathis 1 run 0:49 (kick failed)

Statistical Summary

Team Statistics
                                    Dobbins           Franklin
First Downs                  8                      7         
Rushes-Yards               37-146             24-18  
Passing Yards               4                      147
Tot Offense                  150                  165
Comp-Att-Int.              1-6-0               7-24-1
Punts-Avg.                   2-26.0              3-16.3
Return Yards                92                    38
Fumbles-Lost               5-3                   2-0
Penalties-yards 5-45                 7-37
3rd Down Conv-Att.     1-3                   2-8
4th Down Conv-Att.     2-3                   1-3
 

Individual Statistics

RUSHING—Murrell Dobbins, Davis 17-47, Brown 11-88, Hart 7-0, Kitt 2-8, Faulks 2-3 Ben Franklin  Johnson 7-30, Mathis 6-(-30), Robinson 5-36, Edwards 3(-5), Crippin 2-2, Center Snap 1-(-15)
PASSING—Murrell Dobbins, Hart 0-4-0-0-0, Faison 1-1-4-0-0, Brown 0-1-0-0-0 Ben Franklin, Mathis 7-17-147-1-0, Edwards 0-7-0-0-1
RECEIVING—Murrell Dobbins, Brown 1-4 Ben Franklin, Sullivan 3-56, Parker 2-50, Robinson 2-41

Dobbins Defensive Statistics:

Franklin Defensive Statistics:

NOV. 12
INTER-AC CHAMPIONSHIP
Malvern 23, Chestnut Hill 0
  Same formula, same result.  Even though great defense, solid ground control offense and limiting costly turnovers appears to be out of fashion these days, the Malvern Friars used this formula to put this game away late in the first quarter, recapture the Inter-Ac title for the 30th time in school history and, oh yeah, groom a new quarterback.  The play of jr. QB Billy Ford (filling in for injured sr. QB Tommy Rumer), was more than  the valiant yet undermanned Chestnut Hill squad had hoped for considering the lack of experience in the most important game of the season.  Malvern’s defensive game plan was simple---stop everything.  To that end, they did.  The Blue Devils opened by testing the middle and were introduced to the sound linebacking core of sr. Joe Nilan, and sr. Paul Finley.  When they tried the edge on third-and-four, jr. DE Daniel Riordan was there for a five-yard loss and an easy three-and-out.  Following a short punt, a phase of the game that both teams need work on, the Friars unveiled the speed sr. RB Shawn Wilson and jr. RB Eric Purnell. With just three plays, they moved the team from the Blue Devil 43 to the 18 where a holding call wiped out a 14-yard run but, only seemed to delay the inevitable.  Chestnut Hill, in decent field position after another short punt, then tried deception with a flurry of option plays. No dice.  The combination of sr. DE Conner Mahoney, sr. LB Sam Schmucker and Riordan held for a minus three yard net series.  From the Chestnut Hill 40 this time, Ford just missed on an open seam route to pay dirt but, the Friars regrouped.  Behind crushing blocks by sr. LG David Srinivasan, sr. C Joe Smith and sr. RG Mahoney, they opened the middle of the defense for six yards on second down.  Sr. LT Michael Mooney held his seal block on a Purnell buck sweep for 12 yards and, when faced with a fourth-and-four, Ford’s hard count gave them five the easy way.  From there, Nilan for three and Wilson, courtesy of a second seal block from sr. RT John Bradford, finished the eight play drive with an eight yard touchdown run.  Sr. K Dennis Gabert popped the first of two conversion kicks and, 7-0 Friars.  The next few seconds of play however, essentially decided the game.  Since few things had worked for the Blue Devils to that point, they decided to pass on first down.  Their first pass of the game was a nervous one that went over the intended receiver and into the hands of Finley.  Now, when a young quarterback, who has thrown just five passes in his career, recognizes the passing lane and slings a near perfect corner fade on the first play of a series are you thinking game over?  Well, that’s what happened.  Ford to sr. WR William Ammermann from 25 yards out, 14-0 Friars and you could see the disappointment along the Chestnut Hill bench.  Desperation set in for the Blue Devils and the managed to convert a fourth down from their own 28 when jr. QB Michael Hayes connected with frosh. Paul Dooley for 17 yards.  After that, a tackle for no gain from Mahoney and Schmucker, three-yard gain, incomplete pass and a punt.  The Friars revealed that they were in fact human and came up short on their next series.  Despite a nice 27-yard gain by sr. WR Cedric Madden and another first down aided by penalty that advanced Chestnut Hill to the 18, Malvern responded as sr. SS Reiley Syrek’s blitz on fourth down (six-yard loss) ended any hope to cut the lead before halftime.  The Friars, on the other hand, had other plans to begin the third quarter.  Purnell’s 50-yard kickoff return to start the quarter and his 24-yard run around the left side on the second play of the drive led to the point in our story that defenses probably don’t like to read.
  Payin the Bill’s Plays of the Game:  From the Blue Devil 24, an offside penalty moved the Friars five yards closer.  A Wilson run to the 13 and “horse collar” penalty and now we’re at the seven.  Another four tough yards by Purnell to the three and, in a definitive statement, the stout Malvern offensive line moved the entire Blue Devil defense into the end zone as jr. QB Billy Ford crossed the goal line with his feet still moving—game over, bill’s paid.
  Field Notes: Malvern closed the scoring in championship form with a six-minute, 11-play, 37-yard drive that featured a fake punt (27-yard run by jr. FB Conner Bohs) capped with a 32-yard field goal by Gabert. 

 Malvern Defensive Statistics:

 Chestnut Hill Defensive Statistics:

NOV. 10
NON-LEAGUE
Central 14, Ben Franklin 12
  Went to a late season tussle, and a playoff game broke out.  Central, still a little jittery after the Frankford impact, faced a Franklin team that decided to play their best defense of the season. Every time you thought the upset was near though, Central sr. WR/LB Rich “Tre” Drayton or soph. DB Wesley De La Rosa was there to turn another feisty Electron away.   Well, they did get the Lancers attention early.  A 14-yard run by jr. RB Crusito Cruz and 35-yard wide receiver screen to frosh TE Daysean Paulson on the first two plays of the game, put Franklin 15 yards from the goal line.   Sr. LB Joe Kasztelan’s tackle for loss and sr. LB Joseph Shepherd’s sack stalled the promising drive only to watch another start.  Electron sr. DT Demetrius Town shot through for a sack (11-yard loss) on Central’s first play and pounced on a “jittery” exchange from center on the second for the fumble recovery.  From the Lancer nine, jr. QB Mike Edwards lofted a pass over the eight man front and into the hands of an open sr. WR Chris Sullivan for the game’s first touchdown.  Town stepped up again on Central’s next series with his second sack and added a tackle for loss to regain possession but, the Electron offense eventually punted after coming up a couple of yards short for a first down.  Behind the solid running of jr. RB Jesse Gillis, the Lancers advanced from their own 20 to midfield but, faced with a fourth-and-three, they were turned back by a soph. Isaiah Jordan tackle for loss.  A well-executed quarterback counter by Edwards gained 19 yards only to have a holding call on the next play prove to be too much to overcome.  The stiff Electron defense batted away pass attempts and helped continue the string of bad exchanges which forced another turnover on downs.  Just three plays into Franklin’s next offensive drive, De La Rosa was in perfect position to snag his first interception on an overthrown ball.  Faced with yet another fourth down conversion inside the Electron 40, sr. QB Ryan Dydak connected on Drayton’s great drag route and he bolted for 21 yards.  Four plays later, the Franklin defense seemingly carried Dydak into end zone and Drayton added the all-important conversion run to give Central an 8-6 lead with 0:16 to go before halftime.    The shifty running of sr. RB Marcus Johnson had the Franklin go ahead drive in gear to start the third quarter.  At the Lancer 40 though, a misdirected pitch bounced around the backfield where Drayton was there to recover that fumble and his own fumble that occurred during the run back. Beset with penalties and losses on offense, Central was forced to punt and Franklin, in an odd way, regained the lead.  The Central defensive scheme in this game allowed single man coverage on the outside and the newly inserted Anwar “Huddy” Mathis came back to an underthrown ball for a 50-yard gain.  Another pass to Marcus Johnson moved Franklin to the 15-yard line but, the Lancer defensive line later tipped a pass that went right into the hands of Drayton.  During the runback however, he fumbled again and, this time, Electron sr. LB Jeff Brown recovered.  Taking advantage of the single coverage on the outside, Edwards lofted a pass to an open sr. WR Jonathan Parker for a 26-yard touchdown and 12-8 Franklin lead.  Central began the fourth quarter on the comeback trail as soph. RB Walt Pegues ran back the ensuing kickoff 41 yards.  When Chris Sullivan forced and recovered a fumble later in the drive, all seemed well for the upset minded Electrons.  One problem though.  Offsetting penalties disallowed the fumble and gave Central another chance to which they capitalized.  Drayton responded with a 13-yard reception and a stunning eight yard catch near the pylon to put the Lancers in the lead.  That left one person to seal the deal.
  Payin the Bill’s Plays of the Game:  With six minutes to go in the game, the Electrons managed to get two more possessions.  At least one pass during each drive was overthrown into the middle of the field where the teeth of the Central secondary, most notably soph DB Wesley De La Rosa, was patiently waiting each time.   Two passes, two interceptions.  Turnover ratio Central plus three—game over, bill’s paid. 

 Central Defensive Statistics:

 Franklin Defensive Statistics:

NOV. 5
PUBLIC AAA SEMIFINALS
Dobbins Tech 28, Simon Gratz Charter 12
  They’re baaaack.  Every November I seem to be writing about the Dobbins Mustangs.  Why?  Because they find great athletes, get them organized and put them in a position to succeed.   In fact, their sound fundamental football left little doubt as to the outcome of this game almost from the beginning.  As for the Bulldogs, while there are great athletes and a good offensive scheme in place, they simply lacked the consistency to put up enough points necessary to win a division title this season.  Case in point was the game’s opening drive.  Gratz’s first two opening kickoffs fluttered out of bounds which gave Dobbins great field position at midfield.  From there, they went entirely on the ground behind the power of sr. RB Jameel Davis and jr. FB Antwain Kitt.  After running 13 plays and almost seven minutes off the clock, they were faced with a fourth-and-goal six inches from a touchdown.  Although surprise soph. QB Delane Hart appeared to slip in, he was ruled down before crossing the goal line and Gratz gained possession on downs.  The Bulldogs managed to advance to the 10 but, on fourth-and-inches, they decided against punting and were met with crushing tackles by Kitt and jr. DL Kareem Jefferson for a two yard loss.  Despite a first down sack by promising Gratz jr. DE Fulani Freeman, sr. RG Kyle Napper-Green responded with two nice holes for Davis and he bulled through the second one for touchdown from a yard out.  The Mustang defense, which has been stellar for most of the season, held Gratz to a three-and-out and the offense went back to work. Davis started the next drive with a 13-yard run and then they went aerial with a pair of Hart passes to Daquan “Day-Day” Brown for 25 yards to the Bulldog 30 yard line.  Three option keepers by Hart resulted in 20 total yards and the last one being from eight yards out to give Dobbins a 14-0 lead with the Davis conversion run.  With 6:28 left in the second quarter, Gratz showed signs of staying in the game.  Sr. athlete Khalil Scott snatched the ball from center and executed a nice quarterback draw for 48 yards.  Despite being in business at the seven yard line though, the only yardage they gained was from penalties as sr. DB Steven Bizzell, jr. DB Mike Jones and, finally, jr. DT Zahmir Mitchell all recorded tackles for losses to turn back the Bulldog drive.  A sack by jr. DT Aaron Sawyer gave Gratz another chance before halftime and a sweet seam route and catch by Freeman, who actually skated on the frosty turf for a few yards before being brought down, gave the Bulldogs a first-and-goal.  They then narrowed the gap to 14-6 with a sr. RB Khilil Farrell three yard touchdown run.  Gratz seemed poised to make a game of this as they began the third quarter with a nice series of counter plays aided by a fake punt that fooled everyone in the yard.   With a first-and-10 at the Mustang 20 though, a high snap sailed over the head of the quarterback and, before you could say “Day-Day”, Brown was there to pick up the loose ball and bolted 65 yards with the fumble to give Dobbins a 22-6 lead with Davis’ second conversion run.  The remainder of the third quarter was a combination of Bulldog mistakes and the Mustang defense.  On the ensuing possession, a mishandled snap resulted in an 11-yard loss, Dobbins sr. DT Clarence Murphy helped end another with a tackle for loss and the tandum of Jones and jr. LB Sharquill Farmer turned back a fourth-and-11 four yards short midway through the fourth quarter.  That was all Dobbins needed to put this game away and advance to the PL AAA finals for the fourth straight season. 
  Payin the Bill’s Plays of the Game:  For most of the game, Gratz had done a pretty good job of keying on Daquan “Day-Day” Brown but, with only 26 yards to go following the missed fourth-and-11, few teams in the league could’ve stopped what was coming.  Brown lined up wide and the Mustangs called a stunning counter to Brown and he made some “ankle breaking” cuts for 21-yards.  From the three, the man whose time had arrived to carry the Mustang offense, sr. RB Jameel Davis grabbed the handoff on a well-executed smash play, picked up a crucial block from Farmer and glided in the end zone.  28-6 Mustangs—game over, bill’s paid.
  Field Notes:  Gratz showed some heart and closed the scoring with a nice skinny post from sr. SE Curt Hunt and even better pass from soph. QB Tyssan Brown for a touchdown. 

 Dobbins Defensive Statistics:

 Gratz Defensive Statistics:

NOV. 5
PUBLIC AAA SEMIFINALS
Boys Latin 30, West Philadelphia 0
  The rematch goes to the underdog.  In just their third year of existence, the Warriors of Boys Latin claimed their first ever playoff victory without the benefit (or need?) of a single “big play”.  A fledgling charter school?  Hardly.   Contrary to the regular season game between these two, Warrior head coach Mike Rufo and his staff created a more intimating defense to give the offense more chances to exploit the weaknesses and the players responded with the patience and resolve that simply wouldn’t accept defeat.  In their first meeting the Warriors spent more time attacking the edges and that played right into the hands of the talented Speedboy’s flex 5-2 defense.  This time, the Warriors opened the game with a series of dive runs right up the middle.  Impressive and tough as nails jr. RB Ben Coulibaly favored holes created by jr. C Melbert Robinson and rushed for 17 momentum building yards on four carries.  On a fourth-and-five, jr. QB Erik Lark bought enough time to find jr. Chris Hudson sitting in the open zone of the Cover-2 shell in the defensive backfield for an 11-yard gain.   Coulibaly fumbled two plays later but, stepped up with a resounding interception on West Philly’s first play of the game.  From their own 41, Boys Latin went back to attacking the open zone coverage as Lark hit frosh. WR Edington Wright on a perfect slant for 14 yards, a 28-yard catch-and-run and 13-yard screen to steady jr. WR Tahir Perlote which set up a first and goal at the three yard line.  Three plays later, Lark flicked the ball over the single coverage and into the chest of Perlote on the sweet corner fade they had worked all season to perfect for a 6-0 lead.  For most of the game Boys Latin used their variety of onside kicks perhaps as their best defense against ‘big plays” but, they do seem to create enough mayhem with possible fumbles to set an uneasy tone.  Their defense though made things more uneasy by closing down their outside edges on the first two plays followed by a great chase down sack by soph. DL/LB Mark Bowser.   The Speedboy secondary for at least one of Lark’s next two passes was in position to make a play but, they settled for the three-and-out to end the first quarter.  West Philly showed signs of a life with well-executed clear out routes that resulted in a 20-yard pass play from jr. QB Ricardo Streams to sr. WR William Monaghan.  Tough running from sr. RB Desmond Sams and, defensive stud soph. DT Brian Davis (6 tackles in 1Q), moved them to the Warrior 15 but, on third-and-11, frosh DL Joe Lovett broke through for a second Warrior sack (eight yard loss) and Bowser’s fourth down pressure turned possession on downs.  A slight variation in the Boys Latin running game allowed Sr. OL Brian Solomon to open holes for five straight Coulibaly carries for 26 yards.  Lark followed with a somewhat desperation pass but, frosh. WR Mike Hammock had time in the wide open zone to make the catch and get a head start towards a 35-yard gain to the Speedboy 15 yard line.  Next play, what do you run?  Corner fade Lark to Perlote?  14-0 Boys Latin with the Lark to Hudson conversion pass.  West Philly’s next drive was not what they were looking for in response.   Latin sr. DL James Powell tore off his block to stop the first down run for no gain and frosh. DL Ibrahim Diakite  forced another punt with the third crucial sack of the game.  The Speedboys answered with a combo sack (Brooks/Thomas) to end the first half.   Half of the third quarter was spent cycling through turnovers.  Each team traded fumbles, the combination of Solomon and Hudson forced a West Philly punt, soph. DB Stephan Pressley answered with an interception but, sr. LB Samuel Drummond and jr DB William Tucker  snuffed out a Speedboy fake punt to even the turnover ratio.  Coulibaly alertly picked up a mishandled snap on third-and-three and bolted through tired Speedboys for 17 yards.  By the time the third quarter ended, Lark had picked up fourth down yardage at the Speedboy 15 but, the team would gain only five more to bring up an interesting fourth-and-five.  What?  Bring out the field goal unit?  Perhaps no other play seemed to break the will of the Speedboys more than sr. Oumar Diawara’s 27-yard pretty end-over-end field goal.  Now, the time had come to pin those Warrior ears back and bring the hammer.  The Boys Latin defensive line gave Coulibaly a second interception of the game and set up an easy one-yard Lark sneak for a 24-0 lead midway through the fourth quarter.  However, they had one more statement to make about this unpredictable upset.
  Payin the Bill’s Plays of the Game: Just two plays after the ensuing 24-0 kickoff, and with just a four man “pressure” front similar to that used by West Philly in their 5-2 scheme, enough havoc was created to send Streams on the run.  Before he even had a chance to throw, one of the four, frosh. DL Ibrahim Diakite batted the ball loose where soph. DL/LB Mark Bowser ran the remaining 24 yards with the fumble return for touchdown —game over, bill’s paid. 

Boys Latin Defensive Statistics:

 West Philadelphia Defensive Statistics:

OCT. 28
NON-LEAGUE
Dobbins 52, Olney 12
  Hardly a case of running up the score.  The Dobbins coaches, still steamed about playing a non league game prior to the much anticipated playoffs, were too busy trying convince the players that, for inconsistent teams, the difference between winning and losing comes down to fate.    In the end, they learned that when everyone looks to make plays, the team wins—sometimes big.   All signs were good for Dobbins in the first few minutes as jr. DB Kevin Norris intercepted the ball on the first play of the game and sr. RB Daquan “Day-Day” Brown ran for 24 and then 39 yards for the first touchdown.  After the Brown score though, they went to throttle down mode.  On Olney’s first play of their ensuing series, RB Donta Holdclaw cradled a shaky pitch, gained the corner on the left side and bolted 62 yards to even the score at six apiece.   While the defense led by jr. DL Kareem Jefferson kept the Trojans struggling for first downs, the offense relied too heavily on Brown.  Once Olney keyed on him, easy fourth and short situations became too difficult to convert.  With 5:37 to go in the second quarter however, the Mustangs showed how much they can accomplish when they come together as one.  From the Olney 46, the combination of Brown (4 carries 30 yards) and sr. FB Jameel Davis (2 carries 17 yards) ran circles around the Olney defense.  Once inside the 10 though, the same pattern as previous drive appeared to occur.  A 5-yard false start and three yard loss left the Mustangs with a fourth-and-seven at the 12 yard line.  This time though, soph. QB Delane Hart rolled left and fired a strike to Norris to give Dobbins a 14-6 with jr. RB Antwain Kitt’s conversion run.  Norris stepped up again to intercept Olney’s third down pass before halftime.  After being “addressed” by head coach John Sullivan, the Mustang special teams began the third quarter with a nice crease for Brown and he completed a 76 yard kickoff return to increase the lead to 20-6.  The Dobbins defense seized the momentum and held the Trojans to just three plays before a sr. LB Rafiq Williams interception.  Davis’ 17-yard run and Brown’s third touchdown of the game from six yards out made quick work of their next possession but, one of the weirdest plays you’ll ever see was about to seal the deal.
  Payin the Bill’s Plays of the Game: Following his six yard touchdown run, Brown, who also does the kicking, launched a stunning end-over-end kickoff over the head of the Olney returner.  Despite pleas from the sidelines and even yours truly, the Olney player on the spot treated the free ball as a punt and watched the ball settle on his own five yard line.  Meanwhile, Dobbins jr. RB/DB Mike Jones hauled ass downfield and, after the ball was batted into the end zone, Jones was there to fall on it to give the Mustangs a 32-6 lead midway through the third quarter —game over, bill’s paid.
  Field Notes: The Trojans used the only mistake the Mustangs made the rest of the game (fumbled punt return) to send RB Erike Taggart on a nice counter play that turned into a 43-yard touchdown run.  Dobbins sr. Trayvon Faison caught the ensuing kickoff in stride and slipped through the coverage for a 60-yard return for touchdown.  Midway through the fourth quarter, Davis picked up yet another crushing block from sr. T Clarence Murphy and ran for 76 of his career high 123 yards for the game and a touchdown.  Jr. WR Sharquill Farmer closed all scoring with a 23-yard touchdown on a well-executed counter play.

Dobbins Defensive Statistics: