Week 10: Championships, Bantam All-Stars & Officials, Coaches, Parents Game.

Our tenth season came to an end on Saturday November 19^th, with 3 great games, an All-Star game, and a fun filled route in the annual Officials, Coaches, and Parents game.

9:00 AM: Bantam elimination game.  Black, our # 3 seeded Bantam team squared off against Silver, #4, in an elimination game; the winner to advance to the Championship and the loser eliminated from the playoffs.  This would be the third meeting this season for Black and Silver.  In week 5, Black had earned a tough 4 point victory.  In week 7, the first week of the playoffs, Silver repaid the debt with a 38 – 32 overtime win.

In this game, Black jumped out early, but Silver scored at 3:44 to cut the lead to 13 – 6; before giving up a score just before the half to go into halftime trailing 19 – 6.  Silver cut Black's lead again just 3 minutes into the second half, but Black again came back to score with a little over 4 minutes remaining, to seal the victory and advance to the Championship.  Silver was led by Keion Stanton and All-Stars Mikey Marano, Allen Blackman and Jeff Rios but missed having All-Star and starting quarterback, Michael Boccadifucco, who missed the game due to illness.  Final score Black 26, Silver 14; Black advances, Silver is eliminated.  

10:15 AM: Novice Championship Game.  This game pitted undefeated #1 seed Blue vs. #3 seed Black.  A win for Blue would earn them the championship while a Black win would cause a winner take all rematch.  Blue led by MVP candidate Anthony Coccimiglio has been playing a consistently solid game on both sides of the ball.  Coach Frank Stella has the team performing beautifully; using every player, and every player contributing.  Meanwhile, the Novice Black team has been steadily improving each week and has become a formidable foe.  Coached by first year coach Justin Klug, the Black team was prepared to give Blue all it could handle, and that is exactly how the game played out. 

Black opened the scoring just 39 seconds into the game to take an early 6 – 0 lead.  But Blue answered 7 minutes later and the teams went to the half tied 6 – 6.  Blue then came out of the break and scored and made a conversion so with 18 minutes remaining Blue held the lead 14 – 6.  Black was not done though and answered with a score of their own to cut the lead to 2; 14 – 12.  So with about 8 minutes left it was anybody’s game.  Led by two touchdown catches by game MVP Stephen Stella; Blue now took over. Their balance and experience allowed them to  widen the lead to 8, with less than 6 minutes remaining; and then again to 14,  just after the 2 minute warning.  Black would not go away quietly though, and drove for a TD and conversion at 28 seconds, to ultimately loose 26 – 20. 

The Black can be proud of their season and their performance in this championship game.  This was a totally new team; players and coaches had never participated in our league before.  Yet they continued to play better each week, and as anticipated, gave Blue all they could handle.  Black was led by All-Stars Brandon Boefer, Alexander Messina, Luke Midthassel and Anthony Pollari.  There were major contributions by Mark Albdewi, Jake Cadotte, Justin Cook, Steven DiServi, Luke Johnston, Angelo Menna, Adam Nash and Tom Oblocki.  Thanks to Head Coach Justin Klug and assistants Ken Klug and Kevin Griffin for a great game and a great first season.

Novice Blue completes their second season under head coach Frank Stella with and undefeated 9 – 0 record and a Novice Division Championship.  This is only the second time in 10 seasons that the championship was won by anyone other than Black.  Thanks to the coaching staff, especially Vinny DiCupillo, for having the team ready to play each week, and especially for their excellent use of the entire roster.  The champion Blue team was led by All-Stars Kellan Cohill, Anthony Coccimiglio, Matt Faicco, and George Zain.  Chris Coad, Michael Coccimiglio, Chris DiCupillo, Hady Farhat, Brendon Lynch, Michael Marino, Greg Sarn and Stephen Stella all played prominent role in the undefeated season and in the championship game. 

11:30 AM: Bantam Championship Game. As great as last week’s Novice All-Star game was, this game turned out to be the best game of the year.  It had a lot of the same elements as that earlier game, but while the All-Star game was purely for fun, this game had the importance of being for the Championship.  Bantam Purple, coached by Joe Cavalcante entered the game as the well rested favorite, with an impressive 9 – 0 record; while Black, though less rested (having won the earlier game versus Silver), was determined to break Purple’s impressive streak of victories.

As if scripted, Purple won the coin toss and promptly drove the field for an early 8 – 0 lead, and then scored again just 4 minutes latter.  It looked as if the route was on.   But Black would not go away quietly and got back into the game with a score half way through the period.  Purple answered with a touchdown at 6:50 and a       Purple answered at 7:26, and Black answered back at 5:08.  So Purple had the ball, and a 32 – 25 lead, with 5 minutes to play.  Black’s defense held, and the Black offensive took over; it was now or never time.  Quarterback Matthew Bramante took control, and mixing runs by Greg Juliano with pin point passes to All-Star receivers Ryan Boyle and George Mendez, drove his team down the field for a score with only 1:37 remaining.  The conversion would tie the game, but Black failed to convert, so despite a great drive under pressure, Black still trailed.  Purple took over, but when they could not make a first down, decided to turn the ball back over to Black with 45 seconds and 1 time out.  Bramante didn’t need the timeout and promptly shocked the crown when Ryan Boyle scored, giving Black its first lead of the day 37 – 32, with only 31 seconds on the clock.  However, this was all the time that Purple quarterback Julius Arcaro needed.  He sent speedy, sure handed receiver Joe Nugent on a stop and go pattern down the left side line.  When the Black defensive back bit on the hard stop move, Arcaro lofted a perfect pass that hit Nugent square in the hands on the dead run.  Nugent made the catch and raced into the end zone for the incredible 38 – 37 victory.  In the last 1:37 there had been 3 scores, 2 by Black; and so Purple emerged as our 10^th anniversary Bantam Division Champion.

Black gave their all in this contest and showed that they were more than worthy competitors.  Congratulations go out to the entire Black team; All-Stars Boyle, Bramante, Juliano and Mendez along with Brandon Abrenica, Ryan Coad, Jake Higginson, Nicolas Maddaloni, Michael Martell and Allen Wen.  Congratulations also go out to the entire coaching staff who did an outstanding job. 

In completing their magical 10 – 0 run through the season and playoffs, Bantam Purple consistently showed how a well coached “team” could perform and win. Head coach Joe Cavalcante and assistant Tommy Gulino should be commended and congratulated. This championship was truly an effort by the entire unit.  They were almost impossible to defend because you never knew who would make a big play.  Congratulations go out to All-Stars Julius Arcaro, Andrew Cortese, Ben Gulino, Alex Micciola and Joe Nugent; also to significant players, Thomas Cappa, Joseph Cavalcante, Louie Mariani, Kyle Twohig and Frankie Ungaro. 

12:45 PM: Bantam All-Star Game.  After the thrilling Bantam Championship game, the All-Star game that followed had to be somewhat of a letdown.   However, understanding that the game was simply for our All-Stars to go out and enjoy themselves, the game was a great success.  This game pitted All-Stars from the Purple, Blue and Red against their counterparts on the Burgundy, Black and Silver.  The Purple All-All stars were Julius Arcaro, Andrew Cortese, Ben Gulino, Alex Micciola & Joe Nugent.  Blue sent Joseph Catuogno, Pasquale Coretto, Dean Lombardi & Jack Slattery.  Red’s Stars were Joe Cirruzzo, Nick Consolazio, Nick Ferrer & Max Ferrigno.  Burgundy selected Kyle Codispoti, Shamus Connolly, Jacob Loff & Mike Skarl.  Black’s All-Stars were Ryan Boyle, Matthew Bramante, Greg Juliano & George Mendez.  And Silver’s Stars were Allen Blackman, Michael Boccadifuoco, Michael Marano & Jeff Rios.

The game was very competitive, and the kids all had a good time.  Burgundy-Silver-Black prevailed 18 - 6.

2:00 PM: Parents-Coaches-Officials game.  Our annual last game of the year had our officials going against a rag tag bunch of parents & coaches in an hour long 2 hand touch game.  Several of our Flag players acted as unofficial officials.  The outcome of this game was never in doubt as the officials jumped out to an early lead and never looked back.  The highlight of the game was undoubtedly Director Joe Guarino’s spectacular touchdown catch that set the tone of the game; as well as his hard, clean tackle of Angelo Gnerre.  Final score was Officials: a lot, Parents-Coaches: a little.

Our annual Awards Night/Pizza Party will be held in the St. Ephrem Gym (74th St. & Ft. Hamilton Parkway) on January 13, 2012 at 7:00 PM.  Trophies and jackets will be given to members of our  Championship teams.  All-Stars and an MVP in each division, will also be recognized with trophies, as will all participants. We will also present our third annual Scholarship to a multiple season player who is currently attending a catholic high school. Pizza and soft drinks will be served to all in attendance.

More on this event soon.

THIS WEEKEND

This weekend, November 19^th & 20^th, we will be playing the final games of the season.  This has been the 10th season of St. Ephrem Flag Football, and I’m sure that everyone involved will agree it has been an enjoyable 10 weeks.  Over the last 3, weeks the double elimination playoff format has narrowed the field of teams vying for championships in our two divisions down to three Bantam and two Novice teams. 

In the Novice division, our Blue team enters the championship game as the favorite having completed the regular season 6 – 0 and adding 2 successive wins in the playoffs to run their overall record to 8 – 0. Coach Frank Stella’s Novice Blue is led by Anthony Coccimiglio and Kellan Cohill, who along with the other All-Stars on the team, Matt Faicco & George Zain, have rolled through the season and playoffs.  In the championship game they will be facing the explosive and considerably improved Novice Black team of Coach Justin Klug.  In their first year of play, the Novice Black have made great strides; defeating our # 2 seed Red and our # 4 seed White to advance to the championship round.  Novice Black has a balanced attack that can run and pass the ball, while playing a tough adaptable defense.  All-Stars Brandon Boefer, Alexander Messina, Luke Midthassel & Anthony Pollari promise to give Blue all they can handle.

The Bantam division has been cut to three teams still competing for the championship.  Joe Cavalcante, coach of the undefeated Bantam Purple, enters the final weekend as the favorite having compiled a 6 – 0 regular season record and a 3 – 0 playoff record.  Their complex and well executed offence will be difficult for their foes to stop.  The team that will be going against Purple will be determined by a game played earlier in the day on Saturday.  Bantam Black (#3 seed) will host Bantam Silver (#4) at 9:00 AM. and both teams are capable of winning that game. Bantam Black’s squad is smaller but quick and smart, while Bantam Silver is bigger, and more athletic.  Whichever team wins that 9:00 game is sure to give Purple all they can handle in the 11:30 AM championship.

Since this is a double elimination playoff, we may have to play a second championship game in either or both divisions.  Both Novice Blue and Bantam Purple are undefeated and will win the championship with a win on Saturday.  However, if Novice Black or the winner of the Bantam Black/Silver game should win their championship game, then we will play again on Sunday. 

On Saturday we will also play our Bantam All-Star game.  This game will pit All-Stars from Purple, Red and Blue against All-Stars from Burgundy, Black and Silver.  The game is scheduled for 12:45 PM on Saturday.  We can only hope that the game is as good as the Novice All-Star game held last Saturday.  In that game, the Novice Red & Black team defeated the Novice Blue & White 38 – 36 on a closing second’s score and conversion by the Red/Black team.  In the game Blue/White scored 6 times but could not  make a conversion while the Red/Black team scored only 5 times but made 4 of 5 conversions.  It was a fun game for all. 

Lastly, we have scheduled a parents – coaches – official’s game for Sunday afternoon.  This is always a fun way to mark the end of our season, and with neither the GIANTS or jets playing early on Sunday, I thought that we could still get that game in.  Please notify me if you would like to participate, all are welcome.  I will write again next week after the games have been decided and let everyone know about our awards pizza party in January.  See you on the field.

SPECIAL NOTICE:  There will be a Blood Drive for McKenna Coyle this coming Sunday, November 20, at the Old School Hall, from 830a-230p.  Please donate blood if you can.

NOVICE ALL STAR GAME RECAP

Anthony Pollari threw a touchdown pass threw a long touchdown pass to Chase Gardner (2 touchdowns) with 14 seconds left to tie the game and then converted with Chris Morales for a 2 point conversion (3rd one of the day) to lift the Black/Red Novice all stars over Blue/White 38 - 36 in arguably the most exciting Novice game this year.  Pollari threw 4 touchdowns in total with 2 of them going to Brandon Boefer who shined offensively.   Mark Albdewi contributed to the scoring a rushing touchdown in the shootout.  Steve DiSiervi, Andrew Rogers, and Alexander Messina played outstanding defense especially in the 2nd half.   Anthony Coccimiglio continued his MVP like season accounting for all 5 scores, 3 of them passes to Grace Campbell who caught everything thrown her way.