* 7-Under * 8-Under * 9-Under * 10-Under * 11-Under * 13-Under *
October 15, 2011 @ Montour High School
8-UNDER JV GAME (exhibition game)
Montour 14 - BROOKLINE 6
Scoring Summary:
Branndon Pezzelle 40 run (conversion failed)
NOTES: Brookline's Little Knights finished their season with
a 14-6 loss to the Little Spartans of Montour. The Spartans
struck first with a touchdown and conversion to take an 8-0
lead. The Knights came roaring back with a forty yard scoring
run by Branndon Pezzelle. A failed conversion attempt left
Brookline down by two points at halftime, 8-6.
Midway through the second half Montour scored again to increase
their lead to 14-6. Brookline responded with another drive deep
into Montour territory. As the clock ticked down, the Knights
inched closer to the endzone. The green tide flowed to the four
yard line, but could advance no further as the clock expired.
The seven-year olds posted a 3-5 record in exhibition play.
WEEK #8 - October 15, 2011 @ Montour High School
8-UNDER
Montour 6 - BROOKLINE 0
Fumble Recovery: Antwain Carter
NOTES: Coach Bruce's eight-year olds lost a heartbreaker to the
Montour Spartans, 6-0. Brookline's offense moved the ball well,
penetrating the Montour redzone four times. Unfortunately, each
drive was stopped short of the goal. The Knights defense also
played well, holding back the Spartan attack, until the final
two minutes of the game.
The first half was played to a 0-0 tie. Brookline managed one
sustained drive, but the timeclock expired with the ball at the
Montour ten yard line. A third quarter Knight drive ended with
a turnover at the Montour fifteen. Another advance in the final
quarter was also fumbled away, this time at the Spartan ten.
Montour's offense, which was held in check for thirty minutes,
awoke from it's slumber. The Spartans moved quickly downfield.
Their last minute flurry was rewarded with the game's only
score. A twenty-five yard touchdown run with thirty seconds
remaining on the clock put them ahead 6-0.
The Knights were down, but not out. There was still time left
on the clock and surrender is not in the Knights creed.
The Spartans kicked off and Brookline took over on their own
forty yard line. The Knights ran a reverse. Brandon McGough
took the handoff and sped fifty-five yards towards the endzone.
He was dragged down from behind on the Montour five yard line.
Four seconds remained; time for one final play.
Antwain Carter advanced the ball three more yards before being
tackled at the two yard line. Time expired. Game over.
The eight-year olds finished their regular season with a 5-3
record and have earned a playoff berth. Next week the team has
a bye, and then it's on to the post-season.
WEEK #8 - October 15, 2011 @ Montour High School
9-UNDER
BROOKLINE 22 - Montour 0
Scoring Summary:
Marques Watson 7 run (Nick Roell run)
Marques Watson 5 run (Dominic Leonard run)
Marques Watson 27 run (conversion failed)
Fumble Recovery: Nick DelMastro, Dominic Leonard
Interception: Jordan Bonilla
NOTES: The Brookline Nines came to Montour for the Battle of
the Unbeatens. The Knights didn't just beat the Spartans, they
crushed them like a steamroller. Brookline's 22-0 victory gave
the Knights claim to the top position in the final regular
season standings with an unblemished 8-0 record.
The Knights once again put on a solid offensive performance and
the defense did what it does best, smother the opposition in a
swarm of green and black. Long runs by Nick Roell and Marques
Watson set up Brookline's two first half touchdowns and helped
propel the Knights a 16-0 halftime lead.
Brookline's ball control game continued into the second half.
Power running by Watson and Dominic Leonard earned the Knights
another touchdown midway through the third quarter. A fumble
recovery by Leonard on the ensuing kickoff sparked a fourth
long drive. Although no points were had, the clock ticked
inexorably towards the final buzzer.
The reserves were brought in to finish off the fourth quarter,
and they performed well. The defense held the Spartans to one
four-play possession and running back Dante Douglas ripped off
a long run in the last minute of play. Quarterback Jordan
Bonilla took a knee to work off the final seconds and the
celebration began. The Brookline Knights are #1.
Next week, the Knights have a bye, and then it's playoff time.
Take a moment to enjoy the achievement of being the first place
team. It is a grand accomplishment and one to be proud of. But,
it is just the first step towards the ultimate goal of a Super
Bowl championship. The next step will take place two weeks from
now in the opening round of the post-season. Three more wins
and it will be time for some real celebrating.
<See more
photos from the 9-Under Montour game>
WEEK #8 - October 15, 2011 @ Montour High School
10-UNDER
Montour 28 - BROOKLINE 6
Scoring Summary:
Nathan Ault 70 pass from Anthony Carrington (conversion failed)
Fumble Recovery: Anthony Carrington
NOTES: Brookline's ten-year old Knights dropped their eighth
straight, 28-6, to the Montour Spartans. The 2011 season ends
without a win, and an 0-8 record to show for the effort. But,
looks can be deceiving, and these Knights have a fair share of
positives to take away from this grueling campaign.
As for the Montour game, it began much the same as the others.
The Spartans jumped off to an early lead and retained both
possession and momentum throughout the first half. Three long
drives gave Montour a comfortable 22-0 advantage at halftime.
The Spartan lead increased to 28-0 at the eight minute mark of
the third quarter. Just when things looked their bleakest, the
Knights pulled themselves together and put on a fourth quarter
show that brought the team to life and gave the fans a reason
to celebrate. It's been this way all season long.
A halfback option pass from Anthony Carrington to quarterback
Nathan Ault resulted in a seventy yard touchdown. The crowd
cheered as Ault raced down the sideline. Brookline was on the
board. A good defensive stop led to a final flurry of offense
before time expired.
A long and frustrating season is over. Eight games. No wins.
It may not look good on the surface, but there's more here than
meets the eye. Wins and losses are only part of the game. This
team started the season with sixteen players. After eight games
only fourteen remained. That's called having the odds stacked
against you. There was no rest for the weary. They had to play,
and play, and play. They took their licks, again and again.
Despite these unforgiving conditions, one thing was for sure.
On any given Saturday, these fourteen kids showed up, geared up
and got fired up to play some football. They kept trying. They
showed character and maturity beyond their ten years, and these
are the qualities that mean the most in life. These fourteen
youngsters in green and black have a lot to be proud of:
Shabazz Anderson, Logen Solomon, Nathan Ault, Zachary Wheeler,
L.J. Orbovich, Edward May, Gaige Grzelka, Seth Derrick, Anthony
Carrington, Chelsea Kline, Donald Turner, Cole McMullan, Jacob
Burns and Tyler Diven. These are our ten year-old Knights!
Congratulations also go out to the talented cheerleaders and
their Junior Coaches Taylor Mizgorski and Courtney Szozorek.
Game after game the girls kept the sideline alive with their
assortment of cheers, and their halftime routines were nice.
<See more
photos from the 10-Under Montour game>
WEEK #8 - October 15, 2011 @ Montour High School
11-UNDER
Montour 20 - BROOKLINE 18 (OT)
Scoring Summary:
Quran Powe 18 run (conversion failed)
Darryl Daniels 34 run (conversion failed)
Quran Powe 8 run (conversion failed)
Fumble Recovery: Branden Wysong, Darryl Daniels, Quran Powe
NOTES: Coach Joe and his Brookline Knights came to Montour High
School with two goals in mind, to avenge last year's playoff
defeat and to cap off an undefeated season. They came so close,
but left empty-handed. The 20-18 overtime loss to the Spartans
brought the Power Posse back down to earth and showed that
there is still some improvement necessary before they enter
the post-season tournament.
This was a classic gridiron struggle. Both teams battled it out
with their big guns blazing. Brookline got the first possession
and marched sixty-eight yards in eight plays for an early 6-0
lead. Runs of twenty-seven and eighteen yards by Quran Powe
powered the assault. The defense then shut the Spartans down
and forced a punt. The kick took a Spartan roll and positioned
the Knights deep in their own territory.
Brookline's offense stalled. The fourth down punt was blocked.
Montour recovered the ball at the six yard line. Two plays
later they punched it into the endzone to tie the score at
six-apiece. Brookline countered with another long drive. Darryl
Daniels put the Knights back in the lead, 12-6, with a fake
reverse that left him a clear path to the endzone.
On the following kickoff, Dominic Emma put a big hit on the
returner, forcing a fumble. Montour recovered the ball, but
their offense went nowhere. A third Brookline drive stalled
with forty-one seconds remaining. The final play of the half
was noteworthy. Will Rupert upended a Spartan runner in the
backfield and slammed him to the turf. The Brookline Knights
entered the halftime break brimming with confidence.
Montour was confident, too. They took the second half kickoff
and forced a path all the way to the Brookline one yard line,
where they stalled on fourth down. The Knights took over. An
interception gave the ball right back to the Spartans, who
promptly converted their good fortune into six points to
deadlock the score once more at 12-12.
The Knight offense launched one final drive. It lasted most
of the fourth quarter. A twenty yard pass from Brent Ivory to
Khalil Weathers put Brookline on the Montour seven yard line.
An untimely penalty pushed the ball back to the twenty. A
fourth down pass to the endzone fell incomplete and the clock
ticked off the final seconds.
Brookline got first possession in overtime. A Powe touchdown
gave the Knights an 18-12 lead. A failed conversion pass left
little margin for error. Montour took over and needed only one
play to even the score at 18-18. A good Spartan conversion run
sealed the victory. The final score: Montour 20 - Brookline 18.
This was a really good game featuring two evenly-matched teams.
Brookline seemed to hold an overall edge, but Montour's running
game was strong and they took full advantage of every Knight
mistake. Both the Knights and the Spartans finished the regular
season with identical 7-1 records.
In two weeks the playoffs begin. West Allegheny, Montour and
Brookline are the post-season favorites. This loss is just a
temporary setback. The Knights played a strong game and could
have easily walked away as victors. Untimely penalties and
mental mistakes were their undoing. These are correctable
conditions. It's time to get focused.
It would be great to play Montour again in the playoffs. That
would be an awesome re-match, and an interesting twist of fate.
Whoever they play, the Brookline Knights will be ready.
WEEK #8 - October 15, 2011 @ Montour High School
13-UNDER
Thomas-Jefferson 30 - BROOKLINE 24
Scoring Summary:
Antonio Green pass from Taylor Thornton (conversion failed)
Dylan DiRenna run (conversion failed)
Taylor Thornton run (conversion failed)
Taylor Thornton run (conversion failed)
Interception: Bryan Benson
NOTES: Brookline's elder Knights lost their fourth consecutive
decision, 30-24, to the Thomas-Jefferson Jaguars. These Knights
have been somewhat of an enigma, and this game was another in a
series of puzzling experiences.
The Knights offense ran wild in the first half, scoring three
times to build an 18-0 lead. Strong defense, including a Bryan
Benson interception, kept the Jaguar offense caged. It looked
as though the Mighty Knights had returned and TJ was again a
hopeless victim. For twenty minutes they had, and they were.
The Knights felt that fearsome power at halftime. The team was
in control, and the days of fire and brimstone had returned.
Unfortunately for the Knights, control is an illusion and games
last forty minutes. These are indisputable truths, and yet they
are so easily taken for granted.
The second half was a bitter pill. The Jaguars forcibly clawed
their way back, scoring four touchdowns to the Knights one, and
tallying thirty points to the Knights six. The game was lost.
Therein lies the enigma. This is a good team with real talent.
Sometimes they show it. Sometimes they don't.
Despite a difficult defeat, Coach Shawn was encouraged by the
team's highest point total of the season and their stellar play
in the first half. Valuable lessons were learned today.
2011 Knights News - Previous Week's Game Summaries
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