Week 7 - North clinches playoff spot with 34-7 win.

Remember last week when I mentioned the little bell going off to signify the wake up call? Well, one thing that I didn’t say here, but I said privately, was that I wouldn’t want to be the next team that the Falcons faced after the Carroll game. The Carroll game was a huge benefit for the team, as they now know they shouldn’t take any team for granted. This week’s performance proved that.

It was pretty much a one half game for the varsity Falcons. Most of the second half was played with reserve players. It’s actually nice to know that the team has so many reserves these days.

On the first drive of the day, North started at their own 25 and moved out to the 50 on 4 straight running plays. Facing a 3 and 7, the Falcons tried unsuccessfully to complete a pass, failing both times (the second one, on 4th and 7, was catchable). By the way, these two incomplete passes would be the only North passes that wouldn’t connect all afternoon. So, the ball was turned over on downs. Not to worry. On the first play from scrimmage, Neumann-Goretti decided to throw a deep ball towards the visitor’s sideline. Stepping up and picking the pass off was Stephan Singleton, who returned it to North 35, where the Falcons offense would start to kick into gear. After 8 plays, 65 yards and 4:35, the Falcons were on the board. Big plays on this scoring drive were 2 passes by Dennis Logue to Julian Huggins (33 yards and 8 yards). I do have to say that being on the sidelines, I was able to see that Julian has some real good hands and he really can fight for a couple of extra yards. The drive was capped off with an 8 yard touchdown run by Daniel Clark. Drew Pierson added the PAT to put the Falcons up 7-0 with 4:23 remaining in the first quarter.

If was after this first score that you really couldn’t blink, as the Falcons struck quickly. After kicking off to the Saints, the defense allowed the ball to be moved from the 15 out to the Neumann-Goretti 39, earning the Saints their initial first down of the game. But, it was on a third and five play, where the Saints attempted their second pass of the game. Unfortunately for the Saints, this one ended the same as their first, only it was Daniel Clark who picked this one off and returned it to the Saints’ 34. On the first play of this drive, Tre Stone-Davis ran a real nice pattern. It looked like a corner route, and Logue floated one up which Tre caught in stride and rambled into the endzone for the Falcons’ second touchdown of the quarter. Again, Pierson added the PAT, giving the Falcons a lead of 14-0, with 1:36 remaining in the quarter.

The ensuing kickoff bounced a few times and then over the head of the Saints’ return guys, causing a scrum in the middle of the field. When the dust settled, Mark Allen came out of the pile with the ball for the Falcons, at the Saint’s 38. Six plays later, and Eugene Byrd took it into the endzone for the 3rd Falcon score in 4 minutes and 25 seconds. The PAT attempt was just wide, giving the Falcons a led of 20-0 with 11:58 remaining in the half.

After kicking off to the Saints, the Falcon defense sent a message that they were just getting started. After a 2 yard loss on their first play of the drive, David Williams put a vicious hit on a Saint ballcarrier and the ball popped out, with Joe Mascino falling on it at the Neumann-Goretti 19, giving the Falcons yet another golden opportunity. First down, Byrd rushes for 3 yards. Second down, Byrd busts one for 16 yards and a touchdown. Freddy DiMascia provided the PAT, giving the Falcons a comfortable 27-0 lead with 10:09 remaining in the half. For those of you who are counting, that’s 4 touchdowns (27 points) in 6 minutes and 14 seconds.

After going up 27-0, the Falcons kicked off to the Saints. They began their drive at their own 28, and they moved the ball 25 yards (1 first down) to the North 47, where their drive stalled and they punted the ball back to the Falcons, who would begin their next drive at their own 15, with 6 minutes remaining in the half. Here are the 6 plays of this drive. 1) Byrd 4 yard run, 2) Logue to Scott for 21 yards, 3) Logue to Sherman for 5 yards, 4) Byrd 2 yard run, 5) Logue to Scott for 36 yards, 6) Byrd for 12 yards and a touchdown. DiMascia added the PAT to give the Falcons a 34-0 lead with 3:15 remaining in the half. The Saints began their last drive of the half at their own 30, and they successfully moved the ball 49 yards 6 plays, but their 7th play was an incomplete pass as time expired to end the half with the Falcons ahead 34-0.

The second half was not very entertaining, but it did give the Falcon reserve players an opportunity to play in a varsity game. The Saints did manage to score an insignificant touchdown at the end of the third quarter, but that was about it as the final score was 34-7.

Standout performances for the day on Offense were Dennis Logue, who in a limited role, threw 6 for 8 for 137 yards and 1 TD (none picked off). Eugene Byrd, who rushed for 95 yards and 2 touchdowns on 15 carries. Mike Scott (2 catches for 57 yards), Julian Huggins (2 catches for 41 yards), Tre Stone-Davis (1 catch for 34 yards, 1 touchdown). And, last but not least, the offensive linemen who opened holes and provided time for Logue to find his receivers.

Defensive standouts were leading tacklers David Williams (8 tackles, 5 solo, 1 TFL) and Chris Kerns (5 tackles, 1 solo, 2 TFL). Also, Daniel Clark, Robert Butler and Shawn Wilson, who each recorded 4 tackles and 2 TFL’s (Clark and Butler shared a sack). Interceptions were recorded by Clark and Stephan Singleton.

Also, I should point out that a great job was done by the ball handler, who was injured LB, Eric Moore. Eric didn’t want to just stand on the sidelines and watch, so handling the balls on the sidelines for the refs was his way of contributing (I told Eric I would mention him here, but I’m sure I’ll be mentioning him for his defensive contributions next week, when he’s healthy).

Did You Notice…..
…..before the game, the official film guy for the Falcons was in the top row of the bleachers on the North side of the field? Coach corrected it by asking him to move to the roof of the press box and to kick the N-G film guy off.

....Also before the game, while the Falcons were practicing field goals and extra points, a large Falcon player was positioned in front of the Al Angelo memorial, which sits behind the cross bars in the North end of the stadium. Coach Szydlik is a class guy and he didn't want to take a chance that any balls would damage that memorial in any way.

…..The gate at the South end of the stadium was wide open just prior to the game? Well, after a few people wandered in, that was corrected, leaving a few people watching the game from outside. They would be the people who are too cheap to pay the $5 like everyone else. Maybe Frankford should hang a tarp over that section of the fence so people can’t see the games for free.

….how well our regular National Anthem singer, Taylor Rand, belted out the Star Spangled Banner? That girl has quite the singing voice, and could make a living some day off of it.

…..how many people showed up for the game. We hope they were there to support the team and not just for the free alumni shirt.

….The Neumann-Goretti head coach, who played for the Falcons about a dozen years ago, stopped by the alumni table and got himself a NC Football Alumni shirt. His former NC assistants did not.

…..Both a North Coach and a Neumann-Goretti coach both had their pictures taken with the Al Angelo memorial. The North coach played for Coach Angelo in the 1970’s, and the Neumann guy didn’t, but did go to games as a young boy when coach Angelo was the head coach at Frankford.

Faces in the crowd....
There were so many faces in the crowd that I’m sure I’d be here all night mentioning everyone, so I’ll just point out a few.

….Regular Superfans, Ed White and Tim Murphy were both in attendance. Accompanying Murph was his lovely daughter, Erin, who has been to a few games but has yet to be mentioned in the Falcon Nest. Could that be because dad never actually introduced her to me? I’m sure if my daughter, also named Erin, were at a game, I’d introduce her to Murph.

….Representing the great class of 1982 was Pat McNally and Ken “Art” Rooney, who are, coincidentally, my fellow classmates. Pat also represents the class of 1982, along with yours truly, on the Northeast Catholic Alumni Board of Governors.

…..NC Basketball Head Coach, Mike McCarron, was out on the beautiful day with his newest baby. You can usually count on coach McCarron to make it to a few games each season. Good to see you coach and good luck this year.

…..Tom Schweizer (not sure of the spelling here) was in the crowd. Tom’s son is a former player and big Tom usually makes it to many games throughout the year. Real good seeing him at this game.

….Finally, the many former players who attended the game to support the current Falcon team. It was great seeing many of these guys and we hope to see them at the two critical games against Conwell-Egan and Archbishop Wood.

Milestones
- The Falcons have now won 6 straight games this season, something that has not happened since the 1950 season. Even though both the 1952 and 1956 teams won the league title, neither of those teams were able to win 6 straight games in the same season.

- The team has clinched a playoff spot for the 3rd year in a row (4th in Coach Syzdlik's 5 years). This is something that no other coach has been able to accomplish since regular playoffs began in 1970.

- Dennis Logue went into this week's game with 3,500 career passing yards, which puts him 9th on the career passing yardage in the Catholic League history. Dennis currently has 3,637, needing 132 to move past Roman's Andre Sloan-El, and 8th on this list. It's conceivable that Logue could finish his career in the top 5 all time passers in the Catholic League, as well as the city.