CR South defeated CR North in the annual Rock Cup game Saturday. To view photos of all the action, please visit the Photo Gallery.
Stats used in the wraps are provided courtesy of Calkins Media. For complete high school football coverage, visit the web site www.PhillyBurbs.com<http://www.PhillyBurbs.com>.
By Mary Jane Souder
NEWTOWN – With 3:38 showing on the scoreboard clock at Walt Snyder Stadium, Council Rock South’s defense – after forcing Council Rock North to turn it over on downs - ran off the field to a rousing ovation.
Senior Sam Presley – a member of that defensive unit - exhorted the Golden Hawks’ rabid fans to increase the volume, and they were happy to oblige, chanting in unison ‘I believe that we will win, I believe that we will win.’
With the Hawks leading 40-29, that final defensive stand by the Hawks all but sealed the Indians’ fate in Saturday’s rivalry game, and after a two-year drought, the coveted Rock Cup once again belongs to the Golden Hawks.
“It’s the best feeling in the world,” Vince Alimenti said. “It’s my last high school game ever, and this is the best way to possibly end – beating North.
“All the boys played phenomenal today. This tops everything. This is the best feeling there is. Last year we lost, the year before that we lost. The last time we beat North was my freshman year. It’s incredible. It’s the best feeling there is.”
“I gotta tell you – it feels amazing,” Michael Crowley added. “I wouldn’t have done my high school career any other way.
“I can’t even explain it. I couldn’t even tell you how I feel right now.”
This was a game for the ages.
It didn’t matter that the weather conditions bordered on intolerable – the first half was played in a downpour, and although the second half was an improvement, it was still wet and cold. No one seemed to mind, least of all the Golden Hawk players and their larger than expected student section.
The Golden Hawks actually seemed to thrive. They showed their mettle after fumbling the ball on their own 20 and watching the Indians – thanks to a Brandon McIlwain eight-yard run – turn it into a touchdown by coming back to score one of their own to knot the score 7-7.
Another South fumble led to another McIlwain score, this one from three yards out, but still, the Golden Hawks refused to fold, responding this time with a Brendan Patterson 48-yard touchdown run. A failed extra point allowed the Indians to maintain a 14-13 lead.
But not for long.
A fumble by North on the ensuing kickoff gave the Hawks the ball inside the Indians’ 25, and when Patterson took it in from two yards out, the Hawks led 19-14. Another McIlwain touchdown and ensuing two-point conversion put the Indians back on top 22-19, but then came a play that might well have turned the tide.
A sack by Mike Stock caused a fumble. When Patterson scored his third TD of the half from nine yards out, South led 26-22 heading into halftime.
It was still 26-22 heading into the final quarter when Alimenti broke through the Indians’ defense for a 62-yard TD run that propelled the Hawks to a 32-22 lead. The Indians didn’t go down quietly, and when Chris Welde ran back the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for the score, it was a 32-29 game with close to 10 minutes on the game clock.
The Golden Hawks, however, would not be denied, converting several big third down plays and a fourth down play that set up first-and-goal. Alimenti punched it in and also took it in for the two-point conversion to put the Indians on top 40-29 with 5:07 to play.
“The key was the offensive line blocking,” Alimenti said. “They did all the right blocks, and that’s how we got our offense moving.
“Defensively, everyone played well. We just needed to focus on containing McIlwain, and that’s exactly what we did.”
Alimenti’s TD set the stage for one final defensive stand, and the emotional win was in the books.
“Even though I play offense, I’ve got to give it to the defense,” senior Connor Brunetti said. “They made a lot of good stops.
“We just had to put the ball in the end zone, and they gave us all the chances to do that. I haven’t had a better line and haven’t played with any better linemen than I have this year.”
The Golden Hawks’ defense limited McIlwain to 82 yards on 23 carries.
“To be honest, it’s all heart,” Crowley said. “It’s not that we completely dominated, but at certain spots when we needed a stop, we came through with it.
“I give all the credit to each and every guy out there. We didn’t quit. Everyone talks about McIlwain – I give him all the respect in the world, but we played our game, and we controlled it when we needed to.
“We came up big in the second half. We only gave up one score in the second half. It was a tight ball game until the start of the fourth quarter, and we came out on top because we just didn’t quit. We played relentless, and everybody came through when we needed it.”
According to coach Vince Bedesem, the foundation for Saturday’s strong showing was laid even before the season began.
“We started work on Saturday, we got four lifts in during the week, and they just did a tremendous job all week long,” the Hawks’ coach said. “It was the hardest week we’ve ever put in probably in my stay here.
“We’ve had a lot of good seasons and a lot of good work weeks, but that was probably one of the hardest work weeks we’ve ever put in. It’s a testament to the kids. We have 10 seniors, and it’s just been such an outstanding work effort on their behalf.”
Alimenti, who surpassed the 1600-yard rushing plateau, ran for 246 yards and three touchdowns.
“It’s unbelievable,” Bedesem said. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – the way he played this year epitomized how hard he worked from the time we were done with this game last year – we’re going to work on Monday, getting in that weight room.
“Vince just put that on his shoulders and said, ‘I’m not going to miss workouts, I’m not going to do this, and I’m not going to do that.’ He just did an outstanding job. We tell our kids the game is won Monday through Thursday.”
Brunetti was still clutching the Rock Cup long after the final whistle sounded.
“It’s awesome,” the senior captain said. “I couldn’t expect anything less. This is what we wanted. This is what I’ve been playing for the past four years.
“There’s nothing better. This is what we come out to play for every year – the Rock Cup, and we got it this year. Now I got it, and I’m happy about it. My season is over, and this is the last thing I wanted. We went out winning. That’s what I love about it.”
EXTRA POINTS: With the win, the Golden Hawks (6-4, 5-2 SOL) captured sole possession of second place in the Continental Conference standings. They finished just one spot (17th) out of the 16-team district tournament field. The Indians closed out the year with a 4-3 league mark (6-4 overall). Despite the loss, they are projected to be the 11th seed and will face sixth-seeded Upper Dublin.
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 30, SPRINGFIELD 13
The Spartans took a 13-7 lead into halftime, but the Colonials owned the second half, outscoring the Spartans 23-0 to earn the big win. The Colonials once again tore it up on the ground, accumulating more than 300 yards.
Nafeese Nasir ran for 150 yards and two touchdowns, and Jake Winterbottom had 140 and two TDs.
The Colonials closed out league play with a 6-1 record (7-3 overall) but will miss out on the district playoffs. The Spartans were 3-5 in league play (4-6 overall) and will advance to districts.
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