Before They Drew X's and O's, Football 2012

Before They Drew X's and O's . . .

As you can imagine, many of the head coaches and assistants currently associated with city
leagues' football teams are former players. Since I'm ancient (smile), I wrote stories about
many of them during their high school careers.
We hope you enjoy this feature.
Would you like to see a story about someone who played in the Public, Catholic or Inter-Ac
leagues and is now a coach (assuming I did one on him)? Send me a note at silaryt@phillynews.com.
Thanks,
Ted

This story was written about Frankford's Montik Goodwin in the
1989 football season. He played at West Chester as a d-back and
returner and now coordinates the defense at Germantown.

HE'S IN GOOD COMPANY
GOODWIN ANOTHER OUTSTANDING FRANKFORD BACK

Oct 06, 1989

By Ted Silary, Daily News Sports Writer

Montik Goodwin is too busy pumping his legs, dodging tacklers, consuming yardage and scoring touchdowns.

For now, there is no time - nor an inclination - to sit back, draw a deep, relaxing breath and ponder the meaning of life.

Frankford football life, that is. And the prominent role that Goodwin is playing.

Yesterday, the 5-10, 165-pound senior rushed 24 times for 201 yards and two touchdowns as Frankford outlasted host Olney, 30-22, in an entertaining Public League game.

Goodwin's three-game totals now read 48 carries, 448 yards and five touchdowns. Unless folks are mistaken, including Frankford coach Tom Mullineaux, Montik is the next great Prodigious Pioneer, at least in terms of rushing.

To groups of defenders who futilely tried to chase them, and who came to mumble, "I'd know the back of those calves anywhere," the names of 1980s stars George Heineman, Charles Thomas, Gary Patillo, Blair Thomas, Kevin McCoy, Sean Parish, Darren Swift and Toney Snipes are familiar.

All those eight backs did in their senior seasons was combine for 8,832 yards rushing and 112 touchdowns.

When his name was mentioned in that company, Goodwin acted nonplussed.

"That stuff hasn't come over me yet," he said. "When we get to the later games, maybe it'll hit me about being 'The Man,' or whatever. But we're only three games into the season. I'm just getting started.

"I didn't even know how this season was going to go. It seemed like there was going to be a controversy, like either me or Wayne Allen would be playing left halfback. But things got worked out so both of us are running (as well as fullback Jerry Santa). "

When Montik Goodwin runs, he does so for more than one person.

His brother, Carl, could have become a prime two-way end for Frankford; witness that he made the '84 varsity as a sophomore. But, according to Montik, Carl lacked academic motivation and dropped out before the school year ended.

"Carl was about 6-4, maybe 200 pounds," said former coach Al Angelo, who is recuperating at home from a hip-replacement operation. "He had all the athletic skills to be an outstanding player. "

Said Montik: "I always wanted to follow in my brother's footsteps (athletically). Seeing what happened to him, I had to motivate myself even more to keep going the right way. Carl likes that everything's going well for me. He always says, 'Keep doing what you're doing. ' "

Goodwin scored yesterday on a 22-yard run two minutes before halftime and a 10-yard run 6:49 into the third quarter.

The second gave Frankford an 18-14 lead. Four plays later, Olney's Harry Jones, a 5-3, 140-pound waterbug, gave Mullineaux conniptions by scampering 66 yards for a go-ahead score. Jones, by the way, finished with the most rushing yards (142 in 19 carries) accumulated against Frankford since early 1984, when George Washington's Perry Clark had 169 in a 22-6 loss.

Goodwin, who had been manning the right cornerback spot, could not be faulted on the long run, however. He was perched on the sideline, nursing a cramp.

"It made me dig a little deeper," Goodwin said. "It made me want to get back out there again real quick. "

The spirit was more willing than the flesh. Two series later, on third-and- 6 from the Frankford 36, and with Goodwin still running gingerly, assistant Dave Sanderson suggested to Mullineaux that quarterback Nicky DeNofa run a 1-21 waggle keeper.

Next stop, end zone.

"By then, the way kids were getting (minor) injuries, we had to think about not only which calls were best, but which kids were healthy enough to run them," Mullineaux said. "I sort of had that play in the back of my mind, then when Dave suggested it, I said, 'You're right. We'll do it. ' "

Said DeNofa, who added another touchdown with 2:03 left on an 11-yard keeper: "Faking the waggle pass took everybody inside. It was all she wrote after that . . . Coach knew I had the speed to make that play. I'd played terribly to then. Maybe coach put in that call so I could redeem myself. "

To a lesser extent, at least in Mullineaux's eyes, Goodwin also needed some post-intermission redemption.

"He was 'looking' too much," the coach said. "His thing is speed. He has to hit the hole and go. He can't be putzing around, tiptoeing. He was trying to be too pretty. He's not big enough to run over people. He's got to blow by them.

"He has an explosive enough first step to do that, if he just turns on the juice. In the second half, he was running much better.

"Montik's a hard worker, never says a word. He blocks and tackles, too, but I have to spell him every so often because he's not that big of a kid. Mostly, he plays until he drops. "

Against Frankford, so do the Trojans.

"They always play us like it's a championship game," said Goodwin, who also plays varsity basketball. "Our concentration was lacking a little - we were trying to tackle with our hands instead of our shoulders - but still, Olney played us tough. I know some of their guys (Goodwin lives near 10th and Erie). There was some I'm-gonna-do-this, I'm-gonna-do-that stuff ahead of time, but nobody was talking today. "