WEEK #1 - August 24, 2013

	8-UNDER, 9-UNDER, 10-UNDER, 11-UNDER - BYE NO GAME

 

	WEEK #1 - August 24, 2013                   @ Park Avenue Field

	13-UNDER

	BROOKLINE 26 - Moon 22

	Scoring Summary:

	Curtis Bradley 85 run (conversion failed)
	Raekwon Caldwell 36 interception return (Quran Powe run)
	Quran Powe 62 run (conversion failed)
	Raekwon Caldwell 85 fumble return (conversion failed)

	Fumble Recovery: Raekwon Caldwell
	Interception: Raekwon Caldwell

	NOTES: The Brookline Knights 13-year olds opened their season
	with a 26-22 victory over the Moon Tigers at Park Avenue Field
	in Bethel Park. In a nail-biter of a contest that went right
	down to the wire, Brookline held back a furious late-game
	rally by Moon to secure their first win of the 2013 campaign.

	Moon got off to a quick start with a fifty-five yard touchdown
	run only thirty seconds into the game to stake themselves to a
	6-0 lead. Brookline answered with four minutes to go in the
	first quarter. Curtis Bradley's eighty-five yard flight along
	the right sideline tied the score at six-apiece. The Tigers
	bounced right back with a seventy yard scoring pass and a good
	conversion to retake the lead, 14-6.

	At the seven-minute mark of the second quarter, Raekwon
	Caldwell intercepted a Tiger toss and returned it thirty-six
	yards to bring the Knights within two. A crunching block by
	Quran Powe paved the way for Caldwell's scoring dash. A good
	conversion run by Powe evened the score at 14-14. Moon mounted
	a final first half drive, reaching the Knights twenty yard line
	before being pushed back. A Mar Oaks sack with fourteen seconds
	remaining ended that threat. The first half ended in a tie.

	The third quarter was fought near midfield. Neither team was
	able to mount an effective drive. Then, at 9:38 of the final
	period, Powe broke free, hit the afterburner, and was off on
	a sixty-two yard touchdown run. Moon's offense countered with a
	march to the Brookline red zone. That crisis ended with another
	fine defensive play by Caldwell. Raekwon stripped the ball from
	a Tiger runner and returned it eighty-five yards to increase
	the Knights advantage to 26-14 with 4:20 left to play.

	The final minutes of the game were not for the feint at heart.
	Moon took the ensuing kickoff and struck back with a sixty yard
	touchdown pass. They aced the conversion to bring themselves
	within four points. Brookline then fumbled on their kickoff
	return, giving the ball back to the Tiger offense at the Knight
	thirty-nine. There was still 3:46 remaining on the clock.

	Brookline's defense pushed the Tigers back, but Moon would not
	go down easily. On 4th and 18, a thirty-seven yard reception
	looked like it might be the game winner. A touchdown saving
	tackle by Justice Jones kept the ball in play at the Brookline
	ten with 1:58 remaining. It was crunch time, and to the delight
	of the Brookline fans, the Knights defense was up to the task.

	Fine tackles by Dominick Emma and Khalil Weathers, along with
	a motion penalty, moved the Tigers back to the fourteen yard
	line. Moon managed to get off one more play before the clock
	expired. After a wild scramble, the final Tiger was bagged and
	tagged at the ten. The Knights walked off with 26-22 victory.

	Aside from the impromptu cardiac stress test administered to
	the Brookline faithful, this first game was also notable for
	the return of Coach Brian Nicholas to the Knights sideline. A
	veteran of fifteen seasons from 1993-2007, Coach Brian has
	come out of retirement for one last hurrah. It was nice to see
	him back leading his Brookline Knights into battle.

	One game does not make a season, but it was reassuring to see
	how the Knights played against a tough Moon Tiger team. There
	are some kinks to work out, and the pass defense is in need of
	improvement, but all things considered, Brookline's elder
	Knights played a good game and got tough when they needed to.

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