Reek Picnic, Football 2010

DEC. 6
THANKSGIVING RIVALRY
Judge 34, Lincoln 0

November 25, 1989 . . . a lot of things were different then. George Bush (The really old one) was president, Phil Jackson was just beginning his reign as the Chicago Bulls Uber-Coach (thanks to MJ), there were no I-pods, smart boards, touch screens or Xbox 360 and one other difference: the Lincoln Railsplitters BEAT hated Father Judge. In 1989 none of the current Railsplitters were alive, I wasn’t even alive, and for some of us our parents were just graduating High School. In that game Lincoln beat Judge, 7-0, in a game that would be remembered forever in the minds of 'Splitter fans. Like that fateful day in '89 this year's Thanksgiving game was played in driving snow and frigid temperatures. Many fans -- maybe even some from Judge -- thought it was an omen. Maybe it meant Lincoln would pull off another upset, beating the Crusaders for the first time since that cold day in the shadows of Abraham Lincoln High School. But things wouldn’t go as smoothly as hoped for splitter fans.
    Lincoln's offense seemed pretty, well, blah for most of this game. Judge DB Tim Mills and Co. blanketed the 'Splitters' receivers, holding QB Miguel Sanchez to his poorest numbers off the year (a minuscule 3-14 13 yds and an INT). The ground game, led by the up-and-coming star, Marquise "Mardy" McFarland, had shown some signs of life. McFarland did have 10 for 55 yds, an average of 5.5 yards per carry, but it seemed like every time McFarland would muster a big play it was erased by a penalty or a costly turnover.
    Defensively, Lincoln couldn’t stop the run. Judge's interior linemen seemed to just outwork, outhustle and overpower the 'Splitters D-linemen, who were either on their backs, knees, faces or pushed back nearly into the secondary. RB Raul Quinones bulldozed defenders on his way to a 103 yards and a TD but he didn’t do it alone. RBs Jones Twenefor (7) and Nick Myers (20) combined for 84 yards off 22 carries.
   On a positive note, awards were given out after the game along with the presentation of the Rivalry trophy. DT/OL Mike Page was awarded the sportsmanship award for his commitment on and off the field to the Railsplitters and his excellent play all year. McFarland received the Philadelphia Vietnam vet award for Lincoln's MVP of the Turkey Bowl.
   This game was a full-spectrum failure on all fronts -- offense, defense and special teams. There were even some coaching calls that were a little questionable. Kick returners acted like they were scared to touch the ball, which led to two costly turnovers, the offense couldn’t get off the ground and the defense was terrible but this game should teach valuable lessons to the players and coaches that will be returning next year. Next year's team will be better it's only a matter of how much this team wants to be better. This year's team was extremely undersized and were smaller than just about every team they played this year and it showed on the field, they were just run over upfront and the only way to fix that is if each and every player who wants this team to succeed to hit the weight room. But I haven’t seen a player in there yet, other than senior Bill Mullen. The coaches have to get in on it, too. If you get 4 days of practice a week one or two of those days need to be used in the weight room. Everybody’s not going to make the commitment, there will be guys who will think that they are too good for the weight room or that’ll say they don’t have time for it but to be the best you have to work like the best. Next year's team will be better than 5-7 but only commitment and strong will can determine if this teams going to be 6-6 or 12-0.

NOV. 3
A DEEP BREATH AND A LONG SEASON
At some point this season I lost hope in this team -- it wasn't hard and frankly it still isn't hard -- but I realized that a lot of the things I said about this team are true and there are reasons to believe that next year's team could knock not only Judge, but also Frankford and Northeast off of their pedestals. Like last year, the seniors that will be leaving this team are phenomenal, guys like Michael Page and William Mullen (who have been featured in the Northeast times http://www.philly.com/community/pa/philadelphia/netimes/Sports_Lincoln_scores_Gold_Division_triumph.html), underrated standout Safety/Receiver Kevin Stover and underused TE Christian Magilton, but unlike last year the talent pool for this team is in its juniors and sophomores.
    QB Miguel Sanchez has had his problems and has taken his bumps this year. A lot of the people reading this article will look at me like I am insane, but Sanchez has the skill sets to be a great Pub QB. He's still young and has a big body that's hard to take down with one person. He breaks a lot of tackles and if he can get his mechanics right he'll be able to throw NFL-esque TDs. Like I said his problems are technical. He doesn't set his feet to throw, he doesn't follow through when under pressure and he doesn't look at all his reads or read pre-snap blitzes and coverages, things that QB Joey McCausland did so well. The coaches have to find away to get him out of his bad tendencies -- maybe get in contact with guys like McCausland, who could down break down Miguel's tape and tell him what he does wrong. His problems are obvious but it seems to me like no one wants to address them head on, and this isn't just about the coaches. Miguel has to realize he isn't playing as well as he could be and that he has some things to fix. Hell, I can help but people have to take the time to try. If Miguel and these coaches could fix his mechanical problems, he'll play better. If he plays better the coaches will open up the playbook more for him and if the coaches open up the playbook for him, well, we could be talking about the best non-recruiting football team in the Pub.
    Another reason to be optimistic, the 'Splitters front 7. LB Michael Johnson is a Black hole back there (literally) who seems to be around every loose ball and makes just about every tackle. He has a knack for forcing fumbles and returning them for big yardage. He has had 6 FR so far this year and all of them have gone for big yardage, including a TD against Future. Jr. DT Johnathan Barrette, who forced a fumble on his first ever snap against Frankford, is one of those "freak of nature" guys (he sits at 6'5" and somewhere around 270) who, with the right work, could become one of the best players in the city and might be the next Sharriff Floyd. DE Rodney Hawkins has the potential to be a beast off the edge in the mold of former Olney Standout DE Antoine Allen. Sophomore Kaelin Burke is another guy whose potential is sky high. He is an excellent two way player and is a great blitzer off the edge at LB.
    The Splitters DBs have been outstanding this year, accumulating 10 picks so far, and shutdown corner Sincere Merced (6 ints), along with Senior Safety Stover (4 ints), is the main reason for their success. He has blanketed receivers all year and teams rarely throw to his side. Somehow he still comes up with picks despite his small stature (5'5" 145) and he can also hit like a brick. The guy opposite of him isn't too bad either. Marquise McFarland has played well and he is another guy who racks up the tackles out there. He has also been a sparkplug for an energy-less team this year just ask about his punt return TD versus Frankford.
    The offense will progress and they showed strides in their last game against Future. The team has three games left on their slate, all against beat-able teams including 2-7 Mastbaum and an Judge team that is more bark than bite. The team definitely has to get things together and maybe this was a lost season from the beginning but maybe if the team could pull out these last couple of wins and break even on the season they could use it as a stepping stone to next year a year were the big dogs might need to look out.

OCT. 8
PUBLIC AAAA GOLD
Northeast 43, Lincoln 18

Well, more of the same. It's tough to understand, but I think the team turned a corner against the Vikings. Though the score indicates a blowout this game could've been won by the 'Splitters. A lot of plays that should have gone the 'Splitters way didn't and that kept them from coming back in this game.

As usual the 'Splitters struggled offensively. Soph. QB Miguel Sanchez' play was spotty. Throwing an interception on his first pass of the game that led to a Vikings touchdown on the very next play, he only completed five passes. That's one of the reasons the Offense has been stale. The defense struggled as well without emerging star safety Kevin Stover (disciplinary reasons, missed first quarter) and the baffling decision not to start DT Billy Mullen. Former Frankford Chargers standout Ryan Burns started at safety and he noticeably struggled, missing tackles in the secondary that led to big plays.
Moving the ball seemed impossible in the first half with Lincoln only picking up two first downs ,one of which was picked up by WR/QB/LS Edwin Waters on a 2nd and 1 by way of a 13-yard reception. May i say the knee looked fine as he climbed the ladder to make the grab. (Quick note: Waters also scored Lincoln's only TD versus G-Dub. "Mac, give him the ball.")

Lincoln's D did all the scoring in the second half after being tormented by bad field position in the first half. Stover and Star DB Marquis "Mardy" McFarland stripped the ball out of the hands of Vikings RB Shimeek Carter and LB Micheal Johnson (who seems to do this every game) recovered the ball and returned it 46 yards to the Northeast 3, leading to a successful QB sneak by Sanchez for a TD. The versatile Billy Mullen added the PAT. The D again stepped up just three plays later, picking off a Vikes' pass after it was tipped at the line by standout Richard Schaffer. DE/LB Lester Fluellen, who has also been having more and more of an impact on the field, returned the ball 33 yards for a TD.

Northeast drove back down the field and added a field goal but the scoring by Lincoln wasn't over. This time the 'Splitters' O turned up. On 3rd and 11, what do you call? How 'bout a quick handoff to another emerging star in RB/DE Richard Schaffer, who picked up the eleven yards and about 49 more, taking it down to about the Vikes' 20. Star RB Josh McClam finished the drive off with a 20-yard run up the gut that was sealed off by senior leader O-lineman Mike Page, Billy Mullen and Junior Center Steven Torres. It looked as if the 'Splitters would put up more points after playmaker Stover intercepted another Vike pass (their third of the game), but the turnover bug bit once again McClam fumbled the rock to kill momentum and probably any chance that the 'Splitters had of winning. The D played strong, forcing three should-have-been-fumbles-for-TDs that were all called back because the refs called the runner down. On one play, the runner was even still running forward when he lost the ball.

I feel good. I know we lost. but for the first time this season the 'Splitters showed they cared. Like maybe I was heard. Now the focus moves to the coaches. This game you found some diamonds in the rough. Now you guys have to put them on the field. Richard Schaffer (Who finished the game with 7 tackles 1 Forced Fumble, 66 rushing yards, and 6 rec. yards) definitely needs to see the field more. He adds a certain spark of toughness to a team that has been playing extremely soft. Kevin Stover has emerged to be one of the best players on this team and he has to see as much time on the field as possible. My suggestion: Put in some packages with two tight ends. He and Christian "Magic Man" Magilton can be unstoppable with their heights and weights (6'3 180, 6'2 200 respectively). Edwin Waters has to see the field. He can stretch the field with his speed and agility and can jump out of the building. He is a big-play threat with hands. Combined with the big play ability of Sincere Merced (who also had a pick), and Magilton can give defenses fits. Finally put Billy at DT. The middle is being shredded by running backs when hes not in the game.

The disciplining of Stover definitely hurt the team, but the 'Splitters should consider halftime of the Northeast game as the start of a new season one in which they're undefeated. Come out and show the tenacity that they showed in the second half and get QB Sanchez in a rhythm and we might have a great team here. Let's keep our heads high and play with some anger out there. Let's make Frankford have to go through a pitbull fight to get a win in this one. Beat Frankford!

R.I.P. Fabian Bank Roll Cliques finest my whole left side.

Defensive Stats

Richard Schaffer 7 tackles 1 FF

Damien Chin-Rose 1 tackle

Josh McClam 3 tackles

Sincere Merced 1 tackle 1 int

John Lewis 1 FR

"Mardy" 11 tackles FF

Lester Fluellen 10 Tackles int

Mike Page 8 tackles

Kevin Stover 10 tackles (didn't play first quarter)

Micheal Johnson recovered fumble 8 tackles

Giovanni "Gio" Johnson 2 tackles

OCT. 1
PUBLIC AAAA SILVER
Lincoln 14, Edison 6
There's nothing like picking up your first win no matter if it's week 1 or week 5 and the Splitters did just that against Edison last Friday. The game was a snoozer with a score of 14-6 but a win is a win and this team needed it. A couple of guys surprised me in this game including Safety Kevin Stover, who finished the game with 13 tackles. RB Joshua McClam returned as a force after a bad game against Washington; he only averaged 2.25. McClam scored on the opening drive after rushing for 55 yards on just 4 carries (he would finish with 149 (Ted, I think your statistician screwed up, 100??) and a TD . Stover and RB/DB Marquis "Mardy" McFarland were tackling machines out there, picking up 13 and 10 tackles respectively. Michael Johnson again had a strong showing picking up 8 tackles with two for a loss and a sack. How bout my man Bill Mullen playing both ways just a few weeks after a severe elbow injury? He finished the game with 5 tackles and 1 sack, him and fellow Senior leader Micheal Page were in the backfield on every play, page finished with 8 a tackle for a loss a sack and a safety.
    Though the Splitters won, this team is still very very shaky and a 1 and 11 record isn't far-fetched if this team doesn't pull things together. First thing this team needs to realize is that talent doesn't win games if it did this team would probably be undefeated right now. You have to execute, you have to be where you're supposed to be. Guys with true talent use it to cover up for minor mistakes but this team makes mistakes that you can't mask -- missed assignments, terrible throws, terrible blocks. All of it it accumulates and it may be cliche but if 11 guys all make one mistake that's 11 mistakes that are all avoidable. Players want to blame the coaches but the problem is the maturity level on this team isn't where it should be. Football is a game, agreed, but it is a game of discipline, though mistakes I named are guys not paying attention, guys not putting in the work that you have to to be the best. Nobody puts out that extra effort. Guys walk through drills talk while the coach is talking, and that's a thing that only costs you on game day. This team should be better. Maybe they didn't stand a chance against Washington, but they should have gave them a better run for their money. As fans that's all we ask for, that's all the coaches ask for and that's what you should ask from yourself as a player . . . "Did I put my team in a position to win this game?"
    Football is mental. You have to believe you can win. You have to have that adrenaline, that passion for the game. It can't be heck with what the coaches say. You have to consider what the coach is saying, try it, then if it doesn't work you make it work. You can't play games were the sidelines are silent and expect to win. There were times last year when the players on the field were louder than the crowd itself. It makes me angry sometimes that this team isn't as good as it should be. Guys like Rodney Hawkins should be beasts in this league. You cant miss chances at the big play. Where's the passion? Where's the pride? You have to feel bad after missing plays and, no, that wasn't to him but the team in general. This should be a team at the top of the league and I know I've said this will be a process because of the youth on this team and some of the immature guys on the team will hate me for this article, but maybe if it came from someone other than the coaches they would understand.
    Devotion and hard work is what makes a good football team, not outrageous talent, and this team needs to realize that. Guys will and have quit this team saying things like the coaches are stupid and this team "sucks" (because I can't use the real word) but they have to understand winning takes time. Next year if everyone stays this team could be outstanding but for now this team has to pace themselves and believe in themselves. Critique yourself. Look at what you as an individual have done wrong up until now and fix it don't worry about what the next man has done but what you can do to help the man to the left and right of you better how can you help the team! Where has your game been lacking? Don't play the blame game. Play your game. Be the best that you can be and if 22 players do that you'll have a winning team. There are guys that have been exemplary. Guys like burns, QB Miguel Sanchez, O-lineman Miguel Torres, Bill Mullen and Jair Edwards and others in the way that they show team effort. But that's only the beginning and the Lincoln coaching staff might be one of the best in the city. So pay attention. Sure they've made some calls that made me go ?????? But they are good and hell you should think they are taking it easy on y'all because a lot of the guys on this team would be cut if other guys were the head coach (guys like Cammarota). And one more thing: Keep your heads up and beat Northeast! Go Splitters!
P.S. Big ups to Mark Adami and the Lincoln Girls Volleyball team, who are undefeated. Keep up the good work and check out coming soon the Lincoln Log, Lincoln's own newspaper publication. And R.I.P Fabian Johnson. I guess the good really do die young. Man, they did you dirty. I hope heaven's prepared. I'll see you when I get there...
DEFENSIVE STATS
15 Kevin Stover 13 tackles
25 Marquise "Mardy" McFarland 10 tckls 1 fl
55 Mike Page 8 tckls 1 fl 1 sck 1 safety
30 Micheal Johnson 8 tckls 2 fl 1 sck
54 William Mullen 6 tckls and a sck
47 Rich Schaffer 3 1 fl 1 sck
10 Sincere Merced 3 tckls
60 Jair Edwards 2 tckls
28 Jaquel Staten 1 tckl
24 Darnell Davis 1 tckl
70 Damien Chin-Rose 1 tckl
44 Brian Lomax 1 tckl

SEPT. 17
PUBLIC GOLD
Germantown 8, Lincoln 6

I've been saying it since last spring, Lincoln is a young team, and with youth comes inexperience and coaches with more gray hair than they like . . . speaking of that, former Lincoln Head Coach Gene Kelly and last year's star RB Ernesto Garcia were in attendance . First off I would like to say that i was surprised by this team, yes they lost a heart breaker to the Germantown Bears but they played better than I expected. There running game looked a little dry without Junior RB Joshua McClam (personal), only amassing 37 yards rushing.

Early on their inexperience showed. The Splitters went 3 and out on their first drive after Sophomore QB Miguel Sanchez, in just his 3rd career start, underthrew an open receiver and nearly had the ball intercepted. The Splitters Defense, which looked strong the entire game, stifled the Bears O on the next possession but a muffed punt by Lincoln speedster Sincere Merced led to Lincoln's first turnover of the game. Lincoln's defense dug in once again, forcing a 4th down G-town punt which was blocked but G-town retained the ball because of a roughing the kicker. LB Micheal Johnson, who had a stellar game (15 tackles, 1 sack 3 FF 3 FR), forced his first turnover of the game just six plays later, stripping Germantown QB Jerrell Saunders on 4th down and recovering the fumble.

Germantown had the ball for most of the first half because the splitters couldn't move the ball and turned it over to much. Just a few plays after the Saunders fumble, Lincoln RB Marquise "Mardy" McFarland coughed up the ball. Germantown drove down the field all the way to the Lincoln 21 after a 4th and 14 fake punt were nobody on the Lincoln return team looked as if they knew were the ball was but again Johnson stopped G-town's progress snatching the ball out of the hands of RB Tavio Thomas a few plays later . Johnson chugged 60 yards down the field but was stripped by FB-RB Will Parks, DE Rodney Hawkins then stripped the ball away from Parks and then Johnson again recovered the fumble but after all that effort the Splitters turned the ball over again as McFarland again put the ball on the ground on the following play.

Lincoln's D broke down late in the 2nd allowing Germantown's offense to pick up two straight first downs and drive down the field relying on the legs of backs Parks and Thomas. The Bears again looked as though they would be stopped by Lincolns D after Saunders threw his 7th straight incompletion followed by a false start penalty which led to a 4 and 13 on the Splitters 26 yard line with only 46 seconds in the first half but Germantown's coaches decided to bench Saunders for QB Hanif Dockery, who threw a TD on the ensuing play, they also added an 2 pt conversion.

Germantown controlled the ball for the entire 3rd quarter grinding it out with their running game. Lincoln's offense heated up in the 4th quarter as QB Miguel Sanchez hit wingback Sincere Merced for his second reception of the game; this one was for 43 yards and Merced was taken down on the Bears' 20. TE Christian Magilton, who hadn't caught a pass all day, got his first reception with five minutes left in the game picking up a first down on fourth down on a Sanchez pass for 12 yards. Sanchez again looked for his Big (6'2 200 lbs) tight end on a long, 13-yard, 4th-and-goal play, but Magilton was stopped short after picking up six. Lincoln would score on their next drive on a QB sneak after an 18 yard reception by Merced.

The Bears would punt on their next drive, giving the Splitters some hope with just 1:51 left on the scoreboard. On the first play of the drive, Sanchez, under pressure, would scramble and pick up five yards and then hit the diminutive Merced (5'5", 145), who finished with 4 receptions and 101 yards and a pass deflection, for a 38-yard bomb to get them to the Bears 19 with 57 seconds left. Lincoln's youth again showed its ugly head as the Splitters gave up a second down sack with the clock running. Sanchez would find RB Kelly Johnson, who was tackled out of bounds for no gain stopping the clock leading to a crucial 4th and 19. Sanchez would again find Magilton for his 3rd catch, all on fourth downs, finished with 41 yards, Magilton would catch the ball short, break a tackle and carry three Germantown players on his back past the first down marker with time running down but the mistake ridden Railsplitters would falter once more fumbling a snap on the ensuing play but would recover the ball. After being stopped on a 3rd down run the 'Splitters would line up for a kick by punter Amir Albarouki, a junior who had NEVER played organized football in his life coming into just his third game as a splitter but who has pro-like power. The snap by QB-LS Edwin Waters came in high but was corralled by holder Merced. You could hear a pin drop, at a game where the crowd's noise shook the pressbox, as Albarouki kicked the ball, it looked like it would go in but the wind blew it wide left and just like that the game was over.

Lincoln could have won this game. Lincoln should have won this game. Both teams played sloppily and it came down to not only who wanted it more (while G-town's sideline guys were jumping up and down and cheering, Lincoln's tood silent even late in the game), but who made the least mistakes. Lincoln had 2 TO and at least 4 near-turnovers to G-town's 3. Like I said I was surprised. I didn't think Sanchez would play as well as he did, though he did miss some wide open receivers in his reads and I didn't expect Micheal Johnson and Christian Magilton to become the black holes they were in that combining for 27 tackles 2 sacks 3 FF and 3 FR. Lincoln's defense looked as if it could be one of the best in the league if guys come back next year (the team only has 12 Seniors). Guard and defensive tackle William "Father Bill" Mullen got in late in this game and clogged the middle of the D, he is looking to regain his starting job after losing it after injuring his arm in practice before the season and looked healthy. Barring any aggravation of the elbow injury should be in the rotation for next weeks game versus Washington. My MVPs: I have four in Micheal Johnson, Christian Magilton, Miguel Sanchez and Sincere Merced. Honorable mention: DE Rodney Hawkins.

For next week I'm calling an upset. I think that if the Splitters defense can step up just a little bit more and the offense plays up to the level that i think it can with the return of McClam, who had 95 yards off 13 carries versus Dobbins (yes I know), the Splitters can upset Tony Smith, and former Lincoln star Lineman Mike McGlashen at Washington.

SEPT. 14
LINCOLN'S SEASON SO FAR
OK, Railsplitter fans, I see your hand inching toward the panic button, and you may have that right after the sloppy loss to Overbrook last weekend. But but you may wanna hold back a few more games before we going into mass hysteria. I'm an optimist -- everyone knows it -- and it shows in my writing. This team is going through changes: new faces, new coaches, new field; this will take time, maybe a long time. The schedule is tough in front of the 'Splitters, who will travel to play the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year, Germantown, followed by the reigning Pub champs, George Washington, on the road. The team will have to play an Edison team that lacked effort against Olney in a blowout loss. But safety Justin Matos looked as if somebody should call the college scouts. The schedule picks up steam again after the Edison game with back to back game against Pub powerhouses Northeast on the road and Frankford at home followed by Bartram, who has cruised through the first two games with a combined points for/against of 54-6. By the time the Lincoln-Bartram game is played, Bartram will have also played Northeast, Frankford, Washington and Overbrook and if they come out with a better record than the 'Splitters against those same teams, it could pose a morale problem for a young team. The team will then travel to Future before returning home to play a hot Olney led by another guy who should be getting college attention, Jaron "Snoop" Turner, followed by the Thsnksgiving Rivalry game Vs. Judge.

I know you look at that schedule and say this team could easily be a 3-win team this season and i might agree, but High School football is more unpredictable than College football (BIG ups to James Madison) and the team has the talent and upsets can abound on this schedule. Germantown lost its two-sport, all-star QB, Ramadan Abdullah to graduation and the ball-hawking two-wayer, Sincere Merced, could have a field day picking off passes by first year QB Hanif Dockery. Germantown had there roofs blown off in their first two games and their offense looked mediocre. Washington will definitely be a challenge, especially on the road, as will Northeast and Frankford, who are very upset prone but led by a great coach (though he didn't play RB Peace McClain his whole high school career -- I still think he missed out, but oh well) and have one of the city's best "farm systems" in the Frankford Chargers. The Pioneers have started the season out slow with back-to-back losses, though, and could be losing confidence.