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Mission statement
I'm not a big fan of these mission
statements because you already know that this column will feature coverage of Philadelphia
High School football games and possibly some occasional rants. So right now I'm just going
to tell you how it's going to work here, in case you didn't already know. You might expect
writers on this site to provide objective insight on games they see. If you're looking for
that here you've come to the wrong place. I am going to be biased whenever possible, and
completely unreserved. The basis for my unfairness will come from anything as simple as
how much I like a team's uniform, female supporters, or food at the concession stands. The
sole purpose of this space will be to have fun. If you're wondering about the picture
above, I was going to do a mystery theme, a la The Pulse, but Ted already gave a pretty
big hint when he notified readers that I'd be doing a report. Go ahead and email me if you
feel the need. You can advertise here for $40, which may seem steep compared to the usual
$25, but consider how many more people will see it.
NOV. 19
RANDOM THOUGHTS
Catholic Red Championship
There's no denying that St. Joseph's Prep has an outstanding football
program. But anyone that thinks that the Prep will definitely win a third straight
Championship is mistaken. The fact is, The Prep will almost definitely win a third
straight Championship. The odds aren't good, but there is still a very small chance that
Cardinal O'Hara can win this game. I don't want to take away from any of my colleagues'
postings, so instead of giving an analysis or prediction I will try to help the underdog
by offering some expert advice. In order to be crowned the 2003 Catholic League Champions,
The O'Hara Football Lions must do all of the following:
*Exploit the Hawklet's only weakness. Score early and often, when the Hawklets are
most vulnerable. If you get an early lead, don't get too comfortable. Stay on your guard
and try not to let the Prep back in the game.
*Be inspired. Rent: Rudy; Varsity Blues; The Program; Brian's Song; Waterboy; Air
Bud Golden Receiver; Little Giants; Ace Ventura Pet Detective; The Longest Yard; Fighting
Back; The Replacements; All the Right Moves; Wildcats; and Old School, just because it's
funny and never gets old. Only after all these movies have been viewed can victory be
attained, so grab some popcorn and get crackin'. The only football movie left at the
Springfield Blockbuster should be Any Given Sunday.
*Pray. Divine intervention is one of the Lions' only hopes. Say Hail Marys, Our
Fathers, and Glory Be's whenever possible. Don't forget the Morning Offering, Grace before
meals, the Angelus, Act of Contrition, The Magnificat, Prayer to the Holy Spirit, Prayer
to your Guardian Angel, and Hail Holy Queen. I'll have to brush up on my Church Doctrine,
but I'm pretty sure that Rosaries are worth double bonus points.
*Hope some Prep Players get Hurt. Although this is not the best example of
sportsmanship, it is a possibility, and there is no crime in hoping. But if hoping isn't
enough, I know a guy who knows a guy.(smile)
*Get Some Good Luck. Carry around a rabbit's foot, four-leaf clover, and other such
talismans. Also avoid black cats, opening umbrellas indoors, and walking under ladders.
*Curse the Prep. I'm not sure how to put a hex on a team, but they seem to work
pretty well against the Red Sox and Cubs. Try finding an O'Hara student that either
transferred or was kicked out of St. Joes, or a player that was not allowed to attend a
Prep game with a pet.
* Inhibit Interstate Immigration. By guarding against Garden Staters, you can
prevent some of the more important players and coaches on the Prep roster from getting
involved.
*Just Win.
Good Luck to both teams. I, as usual, will be pulling for the underdog. O'Hara, I can't do
the work on the field myself, although I probably still have a few years of eligibility
left. All I can do is offer you these words of wisdom and trust that you'll heed my
advice.
I thought I'd do my part to give back to the community and help the League out by making
an appearance at PW Saturday night. There might even be an opportunity to meet and greet
your favorite TedSilary.com writer. I figure this will send ticket sales through the roof,
and PW will be flooded with more girls than a John Mayer concert.
Shut the Huck up!
This Huck-Puck nonsense is getting ridiculous. What's with all the hatin' on
my man Puck, and the exaltation of the awe-inspiring Prophet Huck? I've got no problem
with Mr. Palmer; he's a great guy. But Huck acts as if he beats Puck easily every week,
which is quite far from the truth. Puck the neophyte, and Huck the seasoned veteran
soothsayer, almost always tie. Huck's wins only come on a technicality. That's like two
figure skaters getting the same score, but they decide whom wins based on who has a
prettier dress. That's hardly grounds for such arrogance and mockery. Names like
"Wins Every Week" and "Loses Every Week" are pretty extreme. Huck has
shown trepidation by not posting his reports until seeing Nutman's picks and choosing the
same games to guarantee a tie in the "W" column. You don't see Cecily Tynan waiting
for Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz to give his forecast and then come on a
half hour later and give a modified version of the same report. Even if she did it
wouldn't really matter. She's not there for the weather anyway, so that little minx can do
whatever she wants. Cecily Tynan- Huck ain't. Just keep in mind that one game can
drastically change the prediction champion.
Fowl Play
After reading through several thoughts on the Prep-La Salle Thanksgiving
day game, I have come to a conclusion. Playing a team three times in one football season
is excessive, but the timing of this decision was in bad taste. Why not just play this
last game and agree to drop the game in the off-season? I think the problem with the
cancellation is not that it is breaking a tradition or rivalry, because these teams are
already guaranteed to play each other at least once a year. Traditionally, Thanksgiving
Day games are played between neighborhood rivals that would not otherwise get a chance to
play each other. This made Prep vs. La Salle a perfect match during the North-South days,
but teams in the same division almost never play each other on Turkey Day. The Prep and La
Salle ADs probably should have thought of this before the 1999 season, but I doubt that
the Thanksgiving Day game was the main area of concern during the division formatting.
With Thanksgiving just a week away, it is too late for any last minute changes and
protesting at this point is useless. Instead, I think that La Salle should now concentrate
on finding a new opponent for next year; and if I may make a suggestion, there's a team
across town in Black and Gold that would welcome the challenge.
NOV. 15
CATHOLIC BLUE
McDevitt 36, North 28 (McDevitt roars back from 28-0)
It was halftime in McDevitt's final game of the season vs. North Catholic,
and Tom Bock was speechless. With a 28-0 deficit, the Lancers were being
embarrassed, no, humiliated by North Catholic, a team they probably should have been
beating. Bock, McDevitt's D-line coach and pep talk specialist, was too angry to say a
word, much less fire his players up. Instead, Head Coach Pat Manzi calmly laid out
the second half agenda. He told his team that they would take the kickoff and march
downfield and score. Then, stop the North offense and score again. He told his team that
they would force turnovers and score again and again until they took the lead. Easier said
than done, right?
Well darn it if the Lancers didn't do just that. In what was probably the greatest
comeback I have ever been fortunate to witness, the Lancers had a complete turnaround to
come back and win 36-28.
In the first half the North Catholic Falcons had their way with the Lancers. QB Joe
Waclawski was putting up record-threatening numbers and the running game took
advantage of McD's submissive defense as if they were a drunk girl on prom night.
North's halftime stats looked something like this: 148 yards and 2 touchdowns through the
air. 90 yards on the ground and two more touchdowns.
This was astronomical compared to McDevitt's 35 rushing yards, and 0-3 passing
which resulted in three interceptions, two of which were made by the leading rusher to
that point, RB/DB Shane McNamara (12-67).
Despite having a 21-0 lead with less than a minute remaining, North Coach Tim
Quinn was not content to let the Lancers run the clock out. North called timeouts
after two McDevitt runs and forced them to throw on third down. This strategy looked great
when McNamara intercepted QB Tom Maha's pass just past the 50. Out of frustration,
a McDevitt player was guilty of unsportsman-like conduct at the end of the play.
Although no time remained on the clock, a 15-yard penalty was assessed and the Falcons
were given a free play from the McDevitt 36. In a paradigm of the dilapidated Lancer's
first half struggles, Waclawski heaved an up-for-grabs Hail Mary into the end-zone that
was tipped in the air and knock down, right into the hands of WR Sammy Ladd to
drive the nail into McDevitt's coffin.
North celebrated at halftime, while McDevitt sat in silence. Then, just
before taking the field, Manzi breathed life into his Lancers. The reincarnated team
passionately awaited the kickoff with fire in their eyes. Senior DB Terence Nelson returned
the kickoff up to the 50. On the first play RB Damian Jordan was given a sweep, the
same play that was so unsuccessful in the first half. But suddenly, Falcons were being
blocked and it was smooth sailing for Jordan. He took the first play of the half a full
50-yards to spark a blaze in the hearts of the Lancers.
On the ensuing kickoff, K Joe Swoyer delivered a great boot inside the
5 and the bomb squad's excellent coverage stopped McNamara right in his tracks. From
there, the belligerent McDevitt defense waged all out war on the Falcons. Soph. DE Joe
Mulhern set the tone immediately as he stuffed Waclawski at the line, the first of
many momentum-shifting plays. North netted -2 yards on the possession and was forced to
punt.
Maha and the Lancers took over at the NC 31, and it wasn't long before Jordan
scored his second touchdown. NC appeared to regain their composure on their next drive,
when they got their first of only two first downs of the half. Immediately following the
first down, Nelson swiped the ball from the arms of McNamara, forcing him to fumble.
Nelson quickly recovered and the Lancers settled at the Falcon 37. The Lancers, as usual,
were very straightforward and threw little surprises at their opponent. On this play
however, the Falcons bit on a simple counter, and piled on an empty handed Jordan while FB
Antonio Jose Paganafanador trotted 37-yards to the house intact. With the lead cut
to 8 points, the usually reliable Swoyer missed the PAT, which might have eventually
forced a 2pt conversion attempt. Mulhern and the Lancer defense quickly took care of that
problem.
Another good kickoff followed, as did another three-and-out. This series included a
sack by Mulhern, and excellent pass coverage. As prepared to punt from the back of the end
zone, Mulhern busted through the line and blocked the kick, causing a safety that cut
McD's disadvantage to 6.
Jordan, the beneficiary of excellent blocking, especially by C Rob Marino,
LT Jim Romano, RT Dan Reily, and TE Alec Serowatka, ran for a third
touchdown on a 21-yard power, a play that was repeatedly stuffed by LB Dominic Fardella
and DT Jon Baumann. This time however, the Lancer offensive line was able to
overpower North. The McDevitt sidelines and stands erupted after the run, and even though
I try to stay impartial, I couldn't help jumping up and down and rejoicing with former
teammates. Swoyer nailed the extra point to capture a one-point lead. When all was said
and done, the Lancers had scored 29 points in just one quarter.
A great pass rush and good secondary coverage prevented Waclawski from adding to
his great passing numbers, but the Falcons did not lay down and die. Despite a total
second half letdown, it was not quitting that caused NC's downfall, but a furious and
motivated McDevitt team that would not go without a fight.
McDevitt started the fourth quarter with another impressive drive, all made up of
running plays. Maha, who had all three of his first half passes picked off, did not
attempt to pass the entire second half. His passing proved to be needless, due to the
great success in the running game. The Falcon defense was very impressive as they resisted
another touchdown on a goal line stand, and limited Jordan to 1 yard a carry inside the
10. Jordan was eventually able to narrowly break the plane, although many North fans
disagreed.
A Paganafanador fumble gave North Catholic one more chance to recapture the lead. They
reached as far as midfield before a Waclawski toss was snatched by jr. S Steve Merlini,
who ran 41 yards and preserved a Royal Lancer victory.
Seniors LB Mark Tipson, DE Sterling Williams and DL Keith
Scheurle also had solid games, but I was most impressed by the underclassmen, who
stepped up and made sure their senior teammates' last game was a memorable one.
After McDevitt's third touchdown I ran over to Coach Bock, who is credited
with a similar comeback win over Dougherty in '02. "What the hell did you tell
them?" I inquired. "Not a word. It was all Coach Manzi." he replied.
"But, Sean… its spelled B-O-C-K"
NOV. 14
CATHOLIC RED SEMIFINAL
SJ Prep 41, La Salle 14
Takin' care of business. On gameday. Takin' Care of Business. Every play, They've been
takin care of business, They're sublime! Takin' care of business, they don't need
overtime.
That classic Bachman Turner Overdrive song, often heard being performed by Prep's
magnificent band, has got to be the theme song for the Hawk team this year. Amid all the
hype, rankings and controversy that besieged the team, they have stayed focused and taken
care of business. Without worrying about individual accomplishments, team records, or who
they will play on Thanksgiving, Saint Joseph's Prep has taken this season a game at time,
and has won with little difficulty.
The Prep cruised to victory again last night, with the usual disciplined attack
spearheaded by running backs Dan Jones and John Shaw, who each surpassed
1,000 rushing yards for the season.
La Salle made this game interesting early when they jumped to a 7-0 lead on a 32-yard TD
pass from athletic QB Mike Lynch (8-25 passing) to Chris Garzone (3-101).
Unperturbed, Jones answered right back with a 76 yard dart to the Explorer 2, which set up
FB Brian Tracz's (8-38) 1-yd push to put SJ Prep on the board. On the Prep's next
drive, Shaw took 6 carries for 64 yards, including a 20-yard go-ahead TD. Shaw, who stands only
5'7", used his swift feet and abrupt direction-changing ability to accumulate 109
yards and two touchdowns. His second score was a three yarder in the 2nd that put the prep
on top 21-7.
La Salle is one of the more exciting teams to watch, with a vibrant offense and an
especially fecund passing game. The Explorers used their passing game almost exclusively,
as Lynch was directly involved in 14 of the Explorers 18 plays in the first half. Little
did they know that relying on a passing game against the Prep is asking for trouble.
Because continuously putting the ball in the air when S Greg Ambrogi on the field
is like taunting a caged wild animal, or sticking your fingers in a fan; eventually you
WILL get hurt. Lynch found that out the hard way, on his 9th and final passing attempt of
the half. Ambrogi made a great catch over his head for an interception, and shaked and
baked for a 50-yard TD return. Prior to that pick, La Salle only handed the ball off one
time.
Jones, a shifty tailback who goes from 0 to 60 in the blink of an eye, racked up 251 yards
on 18 carries. His astounding playoff rushing performance (in a non-title game) is second
only to Jerry Magallenes of Judge, who notched 272 yards in a 1981 playoff game vs.
Wood. Jones' first of two touchdowns came late in the first half, when he eluded defenders
and bounced outside for a 38-yard run. His second came on a 3rd quarter sweep that went 24
yards. Explorer DB Brian Hogan, a quiet but effective performer, was
impressively able to track Jones down or knock him out of bounds on several plays where
Jones turned the corner and left all other La Salle defenders in his dust.
Just as they had done at the start of the game, La Salle struck first in the 2nd half but
could not accomplish much more. Their second and final touchdown came when Lynch, despite
having an array of defenders in the vicinity, took in himself from nine yards out, and was
met with some screaming helmet to helmet welcomes as he crossed the goal line.
Defensively, Tracz put a quick end to La Salle's attempt to establishing a running game,
and Ambrogi limited the Explorer's passing game as much as is possible, as each of them
totaled 8 tackles. But the defensive hero of the game had to be La Salle sr. LB Kevin
Donohoe, who shared the player of the game honors with Danny Jones. The Explorer
captain had a game-high 11 tackles, applied constant pressure to Prep QB Mark Noonan,
and embodied the "Refuse to Lose" attitude.
When the Prep's victory was evident, The Prep rowdy
unleashed a Krazy Korner Kaliber chant with "Happy Thanksgiving" comment
directed toward La Salle, who cancelled their annual Thanksgiving game.
The Prep will now face either Cardinal O'Hara or Roman Catholic, in their fourth
consecutive trip to the Red division Championship. And if you think a perfect regular
season and a semifinal victory is the extent of the Prep's abilities, "You Ain't
Seen Nothin Yet."
RANDOM THOUGHTS
*In addition to a great football game, those in attendance were also treated to an equally
entertaining music performance. La Salle's traditional school band went head to head with
Prep's primarily rock (guitar, bass, drums) band. While La Salle had an its awesome
percussion section, Prep won this battle with their great song selections. The only song I
could hear the Explorers play was Michael Jackson's "Thriller" which
really made me want to dance. The Prep graced fans with hits such as "Tequila",
"Seven Nation Army", "September", "Evil Ways" and of course
"Takin' Care of Business".
*NOTE TO WHOEVER MAKES THE HOTDOGS AT NE FIELD: I'm sorry, but time and time again I buy
your hot dogs, each time having faith that they will improve. But I am forced to give up.
Hot dogs are supposed to be a maroon/pinkish color, not a light brown/off white. It does
not taste good.
*That's right, I am also a music and food critic now too.
*NBC 10's Vai Sikahema and Reno Mahe of the Eagles were on the Prep
sidelines. Both are avid Knock on Woods fans.
*The Prep has more coaches on its sidelines than most Blue division teams.
*ATTENTION ALL PLAYERS: If I've made a joke at your team's expense (and I almost certainly
have) don't take it seriously. I make fun of teams every chance I get, but that doesn't
mean I dislike any of them. Believe me, although I do enjoy the occasional controversy and
trash talk, I am not trying to make enemies with every player in the league. If you take
offense to anything I said, just use it as motivation and then forget about it.
*Advertising space is now available at the top of this page. It says $40 but I'm willing
to compromise, so give me a price and I'll let you know.
NOV. 6
PUBLIC LEAUGE
Washington 50, Olney 0
When it rains, it pours. And boy did it pour on the visiting Olney
Trojans. Olney knew that Washington would be raining points on them, but this was a
downright torrent of touchdowns. Before the Eagles' second offensive snap, the scoreboard
already read 14-0 in their favor. GW took control at the Olney 45 after Charles Hughes picked
off a Sean Sawyer pass and wasted no time with the scoring deluge. On their first
play from scrimmage, QB Rich McFillin (who is from a large Irish family and already
in my good graces) completed his only attempt to a wide-open Raymond Roy for a
55-yard touchdown. Four plays later, Marcus Banks (2-5) scampered 46 yards for his
first of two TD punt returns, thanks to a punishing block from Ricardo Rivera.
Anthony Herder (6-15) had an interesting day to say the least in the punting realm.
His first of many mishaps came when he was forced to punt on the Trojans third consecutive
three and out. The ball went right off the side of his foot and out of bounds. The ball
was placed at the original line of scrimmage, indicating a whopping 0-yard punt. What
followed was possibly the Eagles least productive drive, still resulting in a touchdown.
From their own 20, they needed 6- count them, 6 whole plays before James Curran took
in a 4 yard run. That score was followed by… you guessed it, three and out by Olney
and a punt that resulted in…. right again, a TD return from Banks.
The Trojans then put together their only respectable drive of the game. Ryheem Wilson rammed
for 4 yards to pick up Olney's first 1st down of the game. Wilson (7-9) did a nice job
fighting for yards throughout, but for the most part the Eagle defenders were all over him
like Public League managers on yours truly. Alas, the first down was in vain as the boys
from Troy faced a 4th and 10 and got in punt formation. If you expected a normal punt from
this special teams circus, you haven't been paying attention. Herder dropped the snap, but
picked it up and ran for 19 yards before Banks smacked him out of bounds with a vicious
blow that taught him a lesson about running down his sideline. That's right, Olney's most
successful play of the game was a mistake. This momentum was later squandered when QB Calvin
Lewis fumbled a snap, which the Eagles recovered. For good measure, Charles Hughes ran
14 yards for a fifth touchdown, and put the mercy rule into effect for the
second half.
The Eagles scored their fourth and fifth touchdowns on a 3 and 4 yard runs by Adam Del
Valle and James Nelson (3-52), respectively. As usual Platini Michel (7-8)
and Marvin Scales (7-11) starred for their Trojans on offense as well as defense,
but to no avail.
I thought it was odd that GW had three kickers practicing their craft, kicking side to
side across the field, and all wearing mouth guards mind you. Even stranger was the fact
that none of these kickers play regularly. "Kickers!" I thought to myself. Two
of these kickers, Eric Lucier and Michael Kline, were given charity minutes
in the 2nd half and made the most of it by nailing their PATs. These kickers made sure
their efforts did not go unnoticed. My apologies to Kline, I neglected to credit him for
the second PAT, thinking that he was only doing the kick offs. He did a great job on those
and even made the play of the day. On the final kickoff of the game, Scales broke
for what would have been a touchdown return, but he took Kline head-on, assuming he could
run him over. Kline wrapped up and hung on for dear life as he fell backwards and brought
him down. By doing so, he forever dismissed the common misconception that kickers are
soft.
Washington starters Jerry Butler, Cole Lee-Crawford, Alvin
Percival and JASON PATTON all rested their minor injuries and kept me company
on the sidelines until I sought refuge in the booth. Patton kept yelling "Ted said to
interview Jason Patton" and begged for some ink. That enough exposure for ya?
RANDOM THOUGHTS
Note to Huck: I must say you did a nice job picking the score
of this game by choosing a 49-0 victory, only you picked Frankford to win, who did not
compete in this game. I, however, would have known that Washington would go for a 2-point
conversion, making the score 50-0. While I would have perfected the score, I also would
have picked the wrong team because I always go for upsets, no matter how improbable. The
solution to that would be to have someone else (Puck) pick the victor while I pick
the score, thus creating the most eccentric duo in sports history.
I didn't want to be a part of this madness, but you called me out with your
little "I'm no Tiger" name. I don't know what that means but I'm guessing it's
not good. I know you'll regret this, but just remember you brought this on yourself. (ha
ha)
OCT. 31
CATHOLIC BLUE
Kennedy-Kenrick 9, Dougherty 6
Kennedy-Kenrick is like that thin blonde-haired girl you see walking in
front of you at the mall, or sitting a few pews ahead at church. Immediately you realize
she has potential. She could be hot, smokin' even! But after a while you get a good look
at her. She turns around to reveal a less than ideal chest, and a face that's, well….
a major disappointment.
After getting off to a fast 3-0 start, Kenrick has lost all of its last four games. Once
thought to be contenders in the Blue division, the Wolverines are now fighting for a shot
at the last playoff spot. After being upset by the lowly Lancers, the Wolverines
desperately needed to win this game against Cardinal Dougherty. The Cardinals are
considered to be the worst team, so the win should come easy, right? Wrong. The
degenerating K-K clan faced a feisty Cardinal club that was looking to earn their first
league victory.
It was fitting that this game was played on Halloween, because the
quality of play was horrific. The game featured almost no tricks, and could hardly be
considered a treat. On the first drive of the game Kenrick was stuffed on 4th and 1 from
the Cardinal 36, and Dougherty celebrated like they had won the game. The Wolverines
struck first at the start of the 2nd with a 27-yard field goal by soph. K Kevin
Lawrence. This scoring drive was highlighted by 17-yard catch by WR Tom
Sztubinski (3-57) and a 15-yard reception by Mike Dayton. The Cardinals
answered right back by putting together an 80-drive that resulted in a 24-yard TD run by
franchise RB Dominic Rock (17-81). Rock was solid on the drive, as he took 8
carries on the 12-play possession for 54 yards. I can't understand the strategy, but for
some reason the Cardinals went for a 2-point conversion. The attempt failed when QB Kyle
Sample (3-8, 22) was knocked out of bounds at the 1. Jason Rigg returned the
ensuing kick-off 30 yards to the 45, where his Wolverines were in great position to start
another scoring drive. FB Tyler Johnson (11-50) then became the driving force
behind the next campaign, as he took three consecutive carries for 33 yards. From there,
QB Rick McMinn (5-9, 76) found Sztubinski for a 24-yard go-ahead TD. Before the
game, I noticed that LB Mike Lyons had gotten into the Halloween spirit by painting
his face like Dracula. This vampire did not suck. He did a respectable job
returning kicks and made some key late-game stops. The KK O-Line must have been scarred by
his intimidating disguise, because on the PAT attempt following the TD pass, Lyons broke
easily through the line and blocked Lawrence's kick to keep the Cards to within a field
goal. The back-to-back-to-back scoring drives gave the illusion of a high scoring game,
but that came to a halt on the following kick-off. Lawrence delivered a bouncing line
drive kick that rebounded off the side of RB Julius Carter (4-26), who was on the
front line of the receiving team. The ball was then recovered by KK’s Chris
Couchara and the scoring in this contest had come to an end. In the second half, 3 of
Dougherty’s 4 possessions ended in interceptions: two by Sztubinski, and one by Chris
Matazzo. After Sztubinski’s pick stopped the Cardinals final drive, the
Wolverines used an interesting series of plays to milk out the clock, RB Brian Gillin (22-86)
who was the quarterback last year, moved under center. He took his first snap and ran 11
yards down the sidelines until he was met with a monster helmet to helmet hit from DB Bashir
Haynes. The hit was so powerful that it knocked Gillin far out of bounds and was
earsplitting even in the press box. Unruffled by the hit, he returned to the QB position,
where the next 5 plays called were quarterback draws or keepers. After 6 consecutive
rushes by Gillin, came the trick play of the game. McMinn moved back under center and
Gillin shifted to running back. The play: rush by Gillin. His 8th straight run went for 13
yards before Lyons made a touchdown saving tackle. He was tackled for a 6 yard loss (again
by Lyons) on KK’s 9th play of the drive. The Wolverines used another surprising call
on the last play of the game, a QB draw- by McMinn.
RANDOM THOUGHTS
*Absent Announcer- With no rosters available and the PA announcer never showing up,
the other reporter in attendance and I were a little panicked. A few plays into the game,
out of nowhere I hear, “Wock wit a free yad wun to da ferty-one” muttered over
the PA. Puck to the rescue!! Like he had done it a thousand times before, Puck went
right into the broadcast booth and took over the announcing job- with no rosters mind you.
He had both teams rosters' memorized. He actually did a very good job, almost no dumb
comments (over the loudspeaker at least) and next to no mistakes. At one point a fan
turned around and yelled, “Who is that up there, Howard Cosell?”
*Furious Fans- I am THRILLED with the overwhelming response I received from
passionate Wood fans in reaction to my 10/17 Random Thoughts. Although my comments were
wrong, I'm happy to see that they served their purpose and triggered some fervor in
readers. These put aside any doubts I had about Archbishop Wood's dedication to their
Football program, as they would not allow my opinions to go unchallenged. I know I would
have done the same if someone talked about McDevitt in a disrespectful way. So, I guess I
better send myself an email.
*Keeping Stats- I know this may come as a shock to many, my comments about Wood
were not the first time I've been wrong. For all of you stat men out there, I thought I'd
provide you with some figures that are as appalling as they are inaccessible. Below is a
breakdown that includes a list of the many times in my 10 months at TedSilary.com that
I've admitted wrongdoing.
1 - time(s) I had to apologize for accepting a bribe that prevented a deserving player
from receiving player of the game honors.
1 - time(s) I had to apologize for not remembering anything that happened in a game I
reported on.
1 - time(s) I had to apologize for describing my single insignificant at-bat in great
detail.
2 - times being wrong about the outcome games.
2 - apologies to players for printing their names and blaming them for a play that they
did not make.
3 - apologies for lame jokes.
6 - apologies for something I've said.
8- apologies for lateness.
10 - times I've admitted being wrong on this site.
10 - times I've been wrong about anything - ever! (smile)
OCT. 24
PUBLIC LEAGUE
Frankford 40, Olney 0
The forecast called for high gusts of wind, but those in attendance at Olney
high school also witnessed Thunder and Lightning. Remember the Ricky Watters & Charlie
Garner combo that was so effective for the Eagles in '95? Well these game -changing
elements were reincarnated in the forms of Jeremy Benson and Arnold Mullins and
helped Frankford storm to victory. The Thunder took shape as Benson, a 5'11" 225lb.
FB who howled for 125 on 12 quaking carries. Benson erupts easily through the line of
scrimmage and picks up momentum from there. Even when he is wrapped up, he pumps his legs
hard and usually finds a way to breakout. I can't picture this kid being tackled for a
loss. The lightning was courtesy of the 5'9" 150lb HB, Arnold Mullins. Mullins flared
to 51 yards on five carries, including a 31-yard TD flash. Sr. Receiver Michael
Washington was responsible for two of the Pioneers' TDs. His first came on a 42
reception from QB Lamont Brown, and the second came on a rare rushing attempt,
which he took 57 yards across the field.
The Pioneers' dominance was of no surprise, and the score could have actually been much
worse. The offense coasted and their defense allowed just 20 yards of total offense from
the Trojans! Sr. Isaiah "Zeke" Thompson was the archetype
for a High School Middle Linebacker. He exhibited perfect reaction, size, brute strength
and a real nose for the football. He ended several plays before they even began. On the
line, DE Ervin Hook had little trouble getting into the backfield and made several
tackles for losses. Although there was no passing game, DBs Brandon Norris and Andre
Mungin both looked very good. Norris was quick on special teams, and on offense turned
his only carry into a 35-yard TD. Mungin picked off QB Calvin Lewis twice, and
returned the second pick 58 yards for a Touchdown of his own.
Olney tried three different players at the quarterback position, none of which were helped
by their offensive line. These Trojans offered no protection (smile) as QBs Sean Sawyer,
Michael Evans, and Calvin Lewis combined for -36 yards on the ground and none in
the air. Lewis was the only one to attempt a pass. None of his four passes was completed,
and half of them were intercepted. The one player on Olney that stood out was RB/DB Platini
Michel. He totaled 31 yards and managed to find holes when none existed. The
elusive runner also did a fine job on the other side of the ball and prevented would-be
touchdowns on more than one occasion.
A funny play came in the third quarter, shortly after Benson and a Frankford
cheerleader exchanged some playful bantering (flirting?). After being teased for not
having reached the end-zone, Benson assured the cheerleader that he could, and would score
a TD. Sure enough, he took a 1st down handoff from his own 35 and zoomed 50 yards across
the field, certain to score. Just 15 yards away from the promised land, Michel came out of
nowhere and tackled Benson from behind, forcing him to fumble.
I was told to watch out for freshman Purcell "Tuna" Little,
a 6'1" 360 lb Trojan tackle. This tuna was no chicken when it came to facing the much
tougher Pioneer D-line and although his efforts were unsuccessful, he does show some
promise.
Finally, this win for Frankford would not have been possible if not for the
outstanding job by its managers, Shannon Garrett and Tarryn Pieterson. They
did a great job attending to their managerial duties, and are also loyal Knock on Woods
readers, which is good enough reason to get a mention.
RANDOM THOUGHTS
*Olney has the coolest uniforms of any team in the city. From the pants to the
helmets, they are exact replicas of the Tennessee Titans'. Only Olney is the Trojan and
not the Titans.
*THIS WEEK ONLY, buy an ad on this page for the reduced price of $26!!!!!
OCT. 17
INTER-AC LEAGUE
Gtn. Academy 30, Haverford 6
While Haverford grieved over star receiver John Decker's absence due to
injury, Germantown Academy did its own kind of grieving. Sean Grieve-ing that is.
(I apologize. That was likely the gayest joke ever printed here, but for lack of a better
one, I'm going to keep it.) GA's star quarterback did not disappoint as he triggered a
rout in this quarterback showcase. He totaled 76 yards and a touchdown on 7-9 passing, and
collected 36 yards and another touchdown on 7 keepers. His counterpart, Wisconsin-bound Brian
Savage was equally, if not more impressive. He threw for 159 yards and a touchdown,
and matched Grieve in the rushing department with 36 of his own. Yet, while the Patriots
had a field day, the Fords could not establish any kind of game plan. Gtn. Academy's Tyler
Yerk (18-119 rush, 2-24 rec) headed a strong running corps allowed his team to move
the ball at will. After a big defensive stop at the start of the 2nd quarter, the Pats
took over at their own 5-yardline and put together a fruitful 14-play, 95-yard drive that
resulted in a 2 yard touchdown run by Grieve. That put GA up 7-0 and they never looked
back. APB Jr. Tyler Stampone, who scored the second touchdown on a 6-yard
reception, had a solid all around game. Besides the TD catch, he made the only pick off of
Savage, and made the most of his charity minutes at quarterback. Although he did not
complete a pass, he showed a lot of sand running the ball for first downs. Many spectators
expect to see an aerial assault in this Inter-ac battle, but it was the Patriot infantry
that proved to be the difference. The Fords answer to this running game was the Mike
Alstott-like Sean Halloran (12-62), an efficient North-South runner, without out
much big-play capability. GA's Peter Vernon (who played St. Alphonsus basketball
and therefore can do no wrong), made a big 20-yard catch to start the second half, and
followed it up with another flashy play: A 30-yard pass to WR Greg Sih. After this
play it was evident that the Patriots would be able to do pretty much anything they
wanted. WR/DB Justin Holiday, who was not very involved in the offense scheme but
delivered some bone-crushing hits on defense, was very instrumental in setting up his
team's third score. Holiday returned a punt 62 yards, and GA set up shop at the Ford 22.
Four plays later, Grieve pranced 8 yards into the end-zone. Things continued to go badly
for Haverford. They started the next series first and ten from their own 20, but were
pushed back to the 1 by bad plays and penalties. With their backs against the
wall, the Fords stepped back and took a safety. A Tyler Yerk 15-yard TD run secured
victory and ended any chance of a miraculous comeback. Although Haverford was willing to
concede two points, they were still not ready to throw in the towel on the game. Even
though they were down by 30, Savage and the other starters stayed in the game and
continued to fight. While a never-say-die attitude is admirable, keeping star players in a
hopeless game and risking injury is not so commendable. They did manage to get on
the board with a 4-yard TD loft from Savage to Dan Coleman (9-96). They followed
with a 2-point conversion attempt, which like everything else that afternoon, was
unsuccessful. Still unwilling to admit defeat, Haverford tried an onsides kick on the
ensuing kickoff, which to no one's surprise, was recovered by GA. With the win, The
Patriots improve to 2-0 in the division and the Fords fall to 0-1.
RANDOM THOUGHTS
*Sorry for the delay in this report.
*Hello? Is there anybody out there? With Random Thoughts gone, it's difficult to
tell how engrossed readers are with the site. Sure the hit counter changes rapidly, but
how do we know it's not just one guy sitting at home and pressing the refresh button all
day? Even the emails are down from last year. I haven't received any hate mail yet this
year. NOT ONE! Something is wrong with this picture. Where are the disputes in the league?
What are the latest hot topics and big issues? If you have a strong feeling about
something, don't hesitate to speak your mind. Let me know what you think. Gone is the
passion and enthusiasm that graced this site in 2001-2002. Players showed as much
intensity on the site as they did on the field. Look back in the past seasons section and
check out Sparky's corner, The Pulse, etc. It's tough to read that stuff without laughing
out loud or having your blood boil with emotion. Now is not the time to be laid back,
that's what baseball season is for. I never thought I'd miss hearing kids complain about
how they don't get any respect and how another school is overrated, but I'm starting to.
Send your questions, comments, and complaints to KnockonWoods2@aol.com. And we'll put some
controversy back into the TedSilary.com that we all know and love.
*STILL no one has purchased the ads on this page!!! It's good that people are buying ads
on the Team Pages, but THIS is the place to have your message read. Not only is it a great
location for an ad, but their sale will also cover the annual fee that Ted has to pay for
the site (I think).
*It occurred to me that unhappy readers may have devised a devious ploy to hold me to my
promise not to submit anymore reports if the ads were not sold. By not purchasing ads,
they thought they could avoid my informative, witty and entertaining postings. But instead
of simply not reading, they thought they could stop me from reporting. If this is the
case, I have a response. I will send articles every day until the ads are sold. No one
will be able to endure this torture and someone will have to buy one. The only flaw in
this plan is that this will annoy Ted himself more than anyone else, and he might purchase
the space just to stop my daily submissions, and that would defeat the whole purpose. So
for Ted's sake, my sake and your own, BUY A FREAKIN AD!
*Commotion in the Columns. Amauro's one-word explanation of the Neumann-Dougherty
game was possibly the most succinct and explicit description of any game I've ever read.
"The game was in a word, abortion." Wow, that can't be good.
*PUCK has a column?!?!?! What the… Where did… How can this…Why is…
All I can say is at least there aren't words in there yet. I can only begin to imagine
what that would be like.
*The Catholic League Blues: McDevitt, McDevitt, McDevitt. Oh how the mighty have
fallen! What has happened to my beloved Lancers? Unlike Huck and Puck, I knew that they
would be slaughtered by West and for the first time in …(maybe Ted can help me out
here?) the Lancers will not make the playoffs. What makes this even more pathetic is the
joke of the division they are playing in. Almost unnoticeably, Wood has crept into first
place. I have no problem admitting a Wood team is good. The '01 squad was a good team, but
this is not. They have no passing game at all, and their running game is still nothing to
write home about. How can a first place team average only 15 passing yards a game and have
NO touchdown passes, six games into the season? Week in and week out, no one knows which
blue division games will be close and which will be blowouts. I can assure you one thing,
and although it pains me to admit it, Archbishop Carroll will win their 4th straight Blue
Division Championship.
OCT. 17
CATHOLIC RED
La Salle 18, Ryan 14
What originally appeared to be the Joe Zeglinski
show changed dramatically when La Salle QB Mike Lynch stole the scene.
After a pair of TD runs from Ryan's Zeglinski, The Lynch-led Explorers took center stage.
Along with a dynamic supporting performance from Brian Hogan, La Salle
staged an inspiring comeback to overcome an early 14-point deficit. The onset of this
presentation featured early dominance by Ryan, thanks in part to Zeglinski (20-81 rush,
1-31 rec.) The sophomore RB compiled 70 first half yards to help give his Raiders a
comfortable lead. Ryan's first drive, which was set up by a Dave Levan
interception, included a 77 yard march downfield, with the bulk of the plays going to
Ziggy. It concluded with a four yard Touchdown pass from Tim Roken (7-17,
85) to Rick Ferraiolo (4-36), who was also a bright spot on defense.
Their second score came on a one yard run by Zeglinski. Cue the comeback. With good field
position at the 48, La Salle need just two completions to Hogan to reach the end zone just
before the half. Hogan had a career night and finished with 8 catches for 126 yards and a
key interception! La Salle sr. handyman Max Maullineaux, who missed the
ensuing extra point attempt, was not himself tonight. He finished with just 5 carries for
14 yards and did not attempt any more field goals. While the Explorer offense continued to
fire on all cylinders, the defense stepped up and dropped the curtain on Zeglinski and FB Ron
James (8-40). Sr. LB Miles Miller did a great job clogging
holes, while sr. DE Frank Jorfi applied constant pressure to Roken. CBs Chris
Garzone, Hogan and OLB Eddie DiDonato stuck to the Ryan
receivers like glue. With the opposing offense subdued, Lynch went back to work with an
ensemble cast of Matt Malloy (2-25 rec, 6-16 rush), John Trainer (2-23),
Garzone (2-13) and Hogan. Under the direction of Joe Colistra, La Salle
used several different plays and interesting formations, which really opened the field up
for Lynch. He had plenty of room to run on several occasions and even tucked the ball and
ran for a 20-yard touchdown. The go-ahead TD came on a 6-yard toss to Garzone, and Ryan
was denied any chance to get back in. On Ryan's last drive Roken had one highlight, a
31-yard completion to Zeglinski, but could he not connect on his next four attempts. This
put the ball back into the hands of La Salle and signaled the denouement of this exciting
drama.
OCT. 10
PUBLIC LEAGUE
Franklin 12, Edison 6
On this particular Friday, it didn't matter
that neither team had won a game to this point. It didn't matter that the teams had
combined to allow 190 points while forcing only 6. For the first time this season,
Franklin and Edison weren't just playing for pride; they were playing to win. Neither team
tried anything flashy, but super-coach Larry Oliver and Edison were first
to invent a way onto the scoreboard. Their first touchdown of the season came when Lloyd
Junius, who had been struggling up to that point, found Mathew Padro
open in the Red Zone. Padro took it in from 16 yards out and the celebration was on.
Edison experimented with six different runners; most notably Anton Bennett,
who took four carries for ten-plus yards en route to 3-83. Also making contributions were Troy
Scott-Foster (11-43) and Donte Williams (8-33). The Owls enjoyed
a 6-0 lead until late in the 2nd quarter, when Franklin's Demetrius Atwell
(9-67) concocted a route to the end zone using his patented sidestep and scurry. His 29-TD
run was just one of many remarkable spurts by Atwell, whose moves are comparable to those
of a certain "Boonah". Defense dominated the second half, as
neither team's offense was able to produce any more points. Franklin's Darrell
Fincher and Michael McKinnon were forces on defense and
controlled the Edison passing attack. McKinnon made two decisive interceptions, and
Fincher swarmed to the ball on nearly every play. Derrick Ellis did an
exceptional defensive job for the Owls, who completely shut down QB David Calloway.
Calloway was just 1-4 for 16 yards in the passing department, although he did run four
times for 25. With five ticks remaining in the third, Electrons LB Clarence
Hendley picked up a Bennett fumble and returned it 65 yards to give Franklin a
12-6 lead and lit up the scoreboard for the last time. Edison refused to go quietly and
mounted three big drives on their final possessions to get within scoring range. The first
ended when DE Curtis Allen fell on a Donte Williams fumble just inside
the 10 yard-line. After a key defensive stop, the Owls found themselves back at the 11,
only to be picked off by McKinnon for his second pick of the day. Penalties and a botched
punt snap prevented Franklin from running out the clock, or at least moving the ball out
of dangerous territory. Instead, Edison was given a final shot with great field position
at the 15. An incompletion and a big sack from DE Darryl Smith set up the
games final play from the 20. With no time left on the clock, Junius found a streaking Carlos
Maldonado. He got as close as the ten before being pulled down by
Fincher, and it was lights out for Edison.
And now for your favorite part…
RANDOM THOUGHTS
* I'm sure all these lame themed jokes about Edison, Franklin, etc. have been
used for years, but its ok for me to use them because I'm new.
*I like how Huck is the only one to have his name on the scrollbar. How bout "Sean
Woods's report is posted, baby!!! Yeah!!! Awesome!!!!"? Maybe when I go 20-2? Also
notice how I'm not on a first (or last) name basis yet.
*It's good to see that somebody finally listened and bought an ad, and a large one at
that, on the Team Pages. If no one offers to buy one of my ads by next week, I'll have to
stop submitting reports.
* Please Patronize our Sponsors!
*There was something special about seeing Edison Head Coach Larry Oliver interact with his
players. Oliver, the team's only coach, does everything for the team including tape up
pads and carry the water. A coach doing the freshmen's work is a very rare sight.
*After spending four years in the Catholic League, I saw real cheerleading for the first
time. It was entertaining indeed.
*It was a relief to get to cover a game by myself, and not have to be shown up by
professional writers reporting on the same game.
*How bout Roman scoring 20 points on the Prep's impervious defense?! Keep in mind that no
team- including Bethlehem Catholic, Brooklyn Poly Prep and Holy Cross- had scored more
than 8 points against the Prep.
OCT. 3
CATHOLIC LEAGUE
O'Hara 14, La Salle 7
If you were like me and thought La Salle did not have what it takes to
compete with the other Red Division teams, you were wrong. O'Hara had size, a franchise
running back and an unshakable defense, but the Lions were tamed tonight by the La Salle
Explorers. Although O'Hara scored on its first possession thanks to a 34-yard TD burst
from Sr. RB Anthony Heygood, La Salle seemed very much in control of this contest.
They were responsible for most of the game's highlight-reel plays, but it was a big play
from O'Hara that proved the difference in this bout. After an exchange of turnovers, the
Lions found themselves at their own 9-yardline late in the 4th with the score tied at 7.
"Alright fellas, 2-minute drill, let's do this!" encouraging players could be
heard saying from the sidelines. Not Necessary. As if Heygood hadn't already done enough
for his team, the workhorse took a 1st down handoff and exploded 91 yards down the home
sidelines to cap a 273 yard performance. It looked as though sr. DB Brian Hogan
would be able to catch him past midfield, or at least slow him down enough to give the
other Explorers a chance to catch up, but the much bigger Heygood shook off Hogan and
turned on the jets for the end zone. Hogan made a great effort, but Heygood, who is the
consummate RB with a perfect combination of size and speed, could not be taken down by one
man alone. With 1:20 left, La Salle had an opportunity to tie the game, and was very
confident behind QB Mike Lynch and the rest of the offense that had been ferocious
all game. Lynch kept his team in the game by completing 20 of 34 passes for an impressive
152 yards, including a 9 yard end zone strike to Max Mullineaux (8-26
rushing, 6-56 receiving), to lock the score at 7 apiece. The junior quarterback was
equally impressive on the team's final drive, but his inexperience got the best of him. A
pair of 11-yard completions to John Trainer helped the Explorers march down
the field, but two misfires and an ill-advised keeper put the team in some jeopardy.
His final play was a bomb that fell short of pay dirt, and into the arms of
O'Hara safety Mike Gowen to draw this one to a close. I hate to focus so much on
the losing team, but you really can't say enough about the efforts of the La Salle
offense. Mullineaux was a triple threat with his ability to score on the ground, in the
air and off his foot, and the Lynch to Trainer hookup will certainly be one to watch. Had
it not been for O'Hara's tenacious defense, the Explorers could have put more on the
board. The Lion D forced four big turnovers and was excellent on punt coverage, which made
my job a lot easier. On offense they used 41 carries to collect 313 rushing yards, and
seldom resorted to the passing game. QB Matt Campbell went just 4 for 11 with 54
passing yards.
It was a great night for football and an amazing atmosphere at Springfield,
with a huge crowd in attendance. The student section was packed and hung a new custom-made
sign to identify themselves as "THE PIT". Other than a few noisemakers, the pit
was pretty quiet for a fan section of its size and nothing like the Krazy Korner. When my
back was to them, it was easy to forget they were there. I was having nightmares about
returning to Springfield. The last time I was there, my Lancers were trounced by the
Explorers 35-0, in the worst loss in our coach's history, which has since been matched. I
was also disappointed to see that for the first time in hundreds, if not thousands, of
years, there would be no McDevitt-La Salle game. Truly devastating.
RANDOM THOUGHTS
* I see that no one has listened to my request to buy ads to support the site. For those
of you who don't know, Ted used Huck's 9/18 weekend forecast to bet on
games, and no longer has enough money to feed his kids, let alone pay for the site, so
help a brother out. Also, the ads on THIS page will go entirely to support the site, not
me. But if you want to throw some money my way, you're more than welcome to.
* La Salle has the coolest ad-books, complete with player profiles and kick-ass
caricatures. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't jealous.
*Congratulations to the Bishop McDevitt Lancers, who achieved their first victory with a
convincing 47-14 win over Dougherty.
* As always, I will remain a strong advocate for Random Thoughts, so if you have any just
email them to me and I'll see if I can incorporate them into my next article.
* It's nice to see that the pride of the Phillies, Mark "Frog" Carfagno,
was able to take time out of his busy schedule of appearing in commercials, and hamming it
up at the Vet farewell ceremony, to cover a game for TedSilary.com.
SEPT. 26
NON-LEAGUE
Northeast 28, King 6
Martin Luther King appeared very insecure in front of the large sea
of white looking on. With a great crowd of students, all in their white free size tee
uniforms, on hand, the Cougars showed signs of rust and timidity. Every forward step was
negated by a backwards one. The King rushing attack, led by Jared Williams (12
carries, -6 yards) and Tirrell Dekeyser (11 carries, 37 yards), was erratic to say
the least. Despite 45 and 22-yard gains, MLK totaled just 37 yards on 31 runs. They even
managed to achieve significant losses in the passing game. In the 2nd quarter, QB Jeff
Campbell rolled out to his right in search of a receiver and found one in an
unsuspecting Lafayette Cooper, primarily a defensive player. Upon making the catch
in the flat, Cooper looked over each shoulder and took off- in the wrong direction!
Northeast players brought him down 11 yards behind the line of scrimmage, but probably
should have let him go. Campbell remained calm through the turbulence and stuck out on the
field. He looked poised and confident as he stood tall in the pocket, and although his
numbers don't show it, he demonstrated a lot of athleticism. His finest moment came with
28 seconds left in the 1st half, when he hit Danny Smith in perfect stride for a 18
yard completion and King's only score.
The NE Vikings also stuck to their running game, and
were far more successful. Benjamin Franklin was electric and lightening-quick
(sorry, I couldn't resist) as he struck for 78 yards on twelve carries. He scored one
touchdown for the Vikings, who he believed should be named the Turkeys (alright no more
Ben Franklin jokes). FB Warren Bartlett showed beast-like qualities, roaring for 64
yards and two TD's in 10 rushes. On offense and defense he continually rammed straight
forward and knocked down everyone in his path with complete fearlessness. Northeast was
solid all around, even on special teams. The play of the day came when NE's Dwayne Gay
returned a punt 37 yards and took it to the house almost untouched.
I'd like to remind everyone to support TedSilary.com by purchasing adds on the Team Pages. Even if you have nothing to sell, you can still support the site. Most schools have ad books, so you know that it's not just advertisements. Your mommies can also use the space to wish you good luck. You could have a lot of fun with it, too. Pay $25 and post an embarrassing photo of one of your teammates, proclaim to the world how you are the greatest RB in the league, or even buy an ad on another teams site and write your rivals a little note. Next time one of your friends passes out- I mean falls asleep, get a bottle of shaving cream and markers or something and go to work. Then take a picture and pay just $25 to have his family, classmates, teachers and fans see that picture every time they go to check stats. You can't put a price tag on that!
pic of the week from sean woods . . .