Be sure to check the web site on Friday night for all the SOL scores. Look also for bonus coverage of Friday night’s Neshaminy/Pennsbury contest.
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Seniors, remember this.’
Seniors, remember this.’That was the message Council Rock North coach Adam Collachi had for the seniors from both Rock North and Rock South who had just enjoyed Wednesday night’s Senior Dinner at the Northampton Valley Country Club.
“Years from now, you’ll feel fondly about these moments,” Collachi told them. “I still remember my last high school football game.
“Of all the games I’ve ever been a part of in college and in coaching, I’ll never forget my last senior year game. It was a rivalry game very much like you guys are going to be part of on Friday night.”
The annual Senior Dinner– sponsored by the Worthington Family/Newtown Athletic Club and John Donohoe/Sterling Limousine – was a special time for the seniors from both sides. “We’ve been hearing about this for four years, and it’s kind of cool to be part of this,” Rock South senior captain Billy Fleming said.
Fleming was joined by teammates and fellow seniors Dennis Chichkin, Matt Emelius, Simon Bord, Iiya Gourin, Mark Damirgian, Tony Checchia, Ari Spiegler, Hunter Shull, Jared Carp, Ryan Zapotoczyn, Jeff McPeak, Colin McCarthy, Rob Moran and Demitri Zoubroulis.
For Rock North, the group was smaller and included John Raymon, Tyler Caldwell, Drew DiSpirto, Benn Parker, Ryan Hennitzy, Keith Terry, Joe Coates, Brandon Cottom, Bobby Rubino, Colin Hanrahan, Vince Piacentino and Joe Dobish.
“I too was a Council Rock kid,” Rock South coach Vince Bedesem told the players. “My coaches are Council Rock guys, and the list goes on and on and on.
“It’s fortunate and unfortunate that we’re a split community now with two highs schools and two great programs. Friday night – there’s a special atmosphere that’s second to none. There is special meaning to that game as a senior, and it will be electric. It will be a game you’ll remember for the rest of your lives.”
There’s a mutual respect amongst the coaches and players from both programs.“Council Rock South has done an excellent job over the years and is now one of the elite programs in the area,” Collachi said. “I strive to one day get our program to the level South has reached over the years.
“I root for you every week except Friday night. After Friday night, we’ll be your biggest fans because you guys have a great opportunity to move on in the playoffs. That’s a credit to you seniors.”
For one night, coaches and players from both sides were in the same room enjoying a good meal and each other’s company.
On Friday night, they will line up on opposite sidelines, and it will be war when the neighboring schools square off in the regular season finale. “This is a huge game every year,” Fleming said. “It’s always close. We’re coming off a tough loss (to Abington), and I don’t think anyone really has to worry about getting up for this game.”
“This is always one of the toughest games of the years,” Shull added. “It doesn’t matter what our record is or what North’s record is. It’s always one of our toughest games, and we’re just going to come out and play the way we’ve been playing all season.
“This is the last regular season game. We’re going to remember this for a while.”
Forget the fact that Rock South is 8-1 while Rock North is 1-8. You can throw the records out the window when these two teams meet.
“Win this game, and it will erase our whole season for us,” said Rock North senior captain Brandon Cottom, who is back in the lineup after being sidelined most of the season with an ankle injury. “South is a good team. You come out with a win – it shows a lot.”
While a win would be redemption for Rock North, a big win would get the Golden Hawks back on track after last week’s 45-35 loss to Abington.
“We just knew we didn’t play South football,” Emelius said. “We didn’t play our style of play. We have to get back to what we did right – take care of the ball and make tackles.
“We learned that we’re not the best and we’re not always going to win no matter what. We have to do our jobs and do everything right to get the victory. They’re not going to come easy – we have to earn it.”
On Friday night, the Indians will most assuredly give the Golden Hawks all they can handle.“It’s fun,” Rock North senior captain Bobby Rubino said. “I’m friends with all the kids on the other team, and obviously, it’s fun when you know the kid you’re hitting.”
Midway through the program, the players took time to exchange handshakes and even hugs. It was a special night for Council Rock football, a special night that wouldn’t happen without the support of Donohoe and Worthington.
Donohoe – an admitted ‘Council Rock guy through and through’ – has strong ties to Council Rock, both past and present.
A 1972 graduate, he was an all-area lineman at Council Rock under legendary coach Walt Snyder. He went on to play football at Lebanon Valley College where he played under Lou Sorrentino, who had previously coached at Woodrow Wilson and was Snyder’s mentor.
If it sounds like a ‘family affair,’ it is.
Donohoe’s wife and four children all graduated from Council Rock. His three brothers – all of whom played football – and two sisters also graduated from Council Rock. His son Johnny is Rock South’s offensive coordinator while sons Patrick and Colin were captains of their respective teams.“I love the Council Rock School District,” Donohoe said. “We have a terrific superintendent in Mark Klein who puts kids first and policies and process second, and we have two great schools.
“So all I’m doing is giving back to a school system that was very, very good to me and mine. If not me, who?”
Worthington – himself a graduate of Hatboro-Horsham – had two sons who went through the football program at Rock North.“Both Jim and I do this senior dinner purely for the enjoyment it gives us in recognizing these kids which gave us three years of pride in watching them play, mature and grow into men.
“It keeps me attached to a sport program and school district that I love.”
And it’s creating memories for the young men who play football for Council Rock South and North. If it sounds like a win-win, it is.
Council Rock North at Council Rock South
Friday, Nov. 5, 2010, 7 p.m.
Record: Council Rock South 5-1 SOL (8-1 overall), Council Rock North 1-5 SOL (1-8 overall)
Last week: Abington defeated Council Rock South 45-35, Council Rock North downed Bensalem 36-18
Last year: Council Rock South 35, Council Rock North 28
Council Rock South’s Vince Bedesem’s key to the game:
- “Ball security. If you look at our game last week – our guys have learned that. No slight to the Abington football team, but it’s a different story if we don’t turn the ball over. That is a lesson for any football team out there, whether it’s youth football, high school football, college football or pro football. Coaches will always tell you – it’s about turnovers and the opportunities created off of turnovers. Abington did a great job of creating opportunities off of turnovers.”
Coach Bedesem says: “Forget the records, forget everything. Anybody that’s been part of a rivalry game – throw the records out. There’s always a mystique about them, especially at the end of the year. Let the best team win.”
Council Rock North coach Adam Collachi’s key to the game:
- “We have to control the ball, and we have to control the line of scrimmage, and that’s easier said than done. They are an excellent football team. They have been the most physically dominating team in the league.”
Coach Collachi says: “(Getting a win last week) was important for the kids. Wins and losses will come. You never say you deserve anything, but our kids deserve to win games. They have worked hard, they battled through adversity, and they have battled through injuries. My big thing is you have to earn everything in this world, but sometimes you deserve something every now and again. These kids showed a lot of character all year long, and they really deserved that win.”
Friday night’s Pennsbury/Neshaminy game will be broadcast live on WBCB 1490 AM at 7 p.m., preceded by a pre-game show at 6 p.m. The North Penn/Pennridge game will be broadcast live on the web site www.wnpv1440.com at 7:30 p.m. The Souderton/Quakertown game will be broadcast live on the WNPV 1440 AM, beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.
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