Memorable
Moments
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This is YOUR page. Whether you're a player, coach, fan or parent, or were formerly one of those, we'd like to receive your stories about Memorable Moments you've witnessed, or were part of, and publish them here. Send your submissions to silaryt@phillynews.com. One favor, please: Don't write in all capital letters. And include a phone number in case we need to cross-check information and/or your identity. This has become a tremendous addition to www.tedsilary.com. Thank you, Ted. (P.S. -- You don't have to mention my name to get your moment published. My name is on this thing enough.)
Jason Bailey
Frankford FB, '98
I don't remember the exact date, but I remember during
the 1996 football season that my team, the Frankford Pioneers, played Northeast High on a
Thursday night. We were so hyped about the idea of playing a night football game. And all
that excitement spilled over onto the field as we destroyed the Vikings 35-7(i think). In
that game my teammate Eddie Gaskins ran for over 300 yards. And he only played 2 1/2
quarters. Best of all it was their homecoming and we got to spoil it for their alumni.
(Ted's note: I remember this one vividly. Eddie ran for 314 and could have had 390,
which would have been the city record, if not for a horrible penalty called way behind the
action on a long TD run. Remember that, Jason?)
Andre Taylor
Ben Franklin lineman '97
It was in the 1997 All-Star game when the best scoring play
was executed. University City's stellar receiver, Ed Giddings, broke a long run for a
score against the Catholic All-Stars' defense. It was All-City tackle Andre Taylor from
Ben Franklin that made the key block to spring Giddings. It will forever be the best score
in Philadelphia High School football history. I remember on December 1, 1996, I went to my
internship at Veterans Stadium. Yup, I was working with the Eagles. When I arrived,
everyone looked at me as I walked through the long hallway. Yup, another person Ted Silary
made famous. It was after I sat down at my desk that I heard the mumbles of people saying,
"He must be really good or something." That wasn't the case, I just had a great
team to support me. That day was not only a great day for Andre Taylor, but it was a great
day for Ben Franklin's football team, and the entire school. I guess after I graduate next
year, I guess I'll take your spot, Ted. Thank for the "ink."
(Ted's note: Great to hear from Andre! He worked at the Daily News
one summer, too. If I remember correctly, didn't Ed's TD come on a reverse?)
Brendan Mallon
Prep fan '01
After the Catholic League Red Division championship game was
over, I was on the field to congratulate the team, especially the seniors, on one of the
most unbelievable seasons in Prep history. An older man came up to me and we started
to talk about the game, and about some of the great things teams throughout the Catholic
League have done this year. He told me how he remembered championship games all the
way back to the 50's. It was really cool to be able to have the opportunity to
listen to all the history this man knew about Catholic League football. To me, as a
fan, that was my most memorable moment this year. And to the Prep football players,
hold your heads up high. You had a great season, and you played your hearts out
every step of the way. Thank you guys.
Jim Leahy
Dougherty, C, No. 66 ('02)
My most memorable moment would have to be when Mickey
King from Cardinal Dougherty broke the record for most touchdown receptions in a
season. He is one incredible athlete and a great friend. It's going to be a tough task
trying to replace a player of his caliber for next year. It was a great feat for a great
guy. I will never forget that night. Thanks for a great three seasons together, Mick.
We'll all miss you and the rest of the seniors.
(Ted's note: The game Jim referred to was when Dougherty beat Wood in
OT. King had four TD catches, tying a record, and that raised his season total to a record
15. He finished with 16.)
Tom Gorman
La Salle, TE-DE, No. 11
Even though this seemed to be a very bad night for all La Salle
fans, that game we just played against O'Hara (Red semifinal, Nov. 18) was one of the
greatest games I have ever seen or heard of. Both teams played their hearts out, but
unfortunately for me and my team, we ended up on the losing end (23-21 on a field goal
with 0:06 left). I will never forget how our defense shut down O'Hara's multi-talented
offense. This game was unreal right down to the finish. It was just one of those
games where you hate for there to be a winner or loser!
(Ted's note: Tom had two sacks and three other tackles for losses. He
brought great energy to a game that wound up being electric.)
Joe Curran
Lincoln, class of '86
My most memorable moment concerns the 1984 Lincoln-Judge
Thanksgiving game and my teammate Marc Foster. Marc was a machine that
day, but the moment that stands out is a field
goal attempt by Judge. Marc was an outstanding triple jumper while at Lincoln. There were
3 seconds left in the first half and Judge was attempting a 35-yard field goal. Marc
jumped from 3 yards behind the line of scrimmage and cleared the center, then hopped on
his other foot about 5 yards behind the line and blocked the kick. It was the most
unbelievable play I ever witnessed. He also ran for about 100 yards and had about 10
tackles. Lincoln went on to lose, 7-6. But I will never forget what a player Marc Foster
was. He was a four-year starter for Purdue (as a defensive back).
(Ted's note: Joe was one of Marc's blockers. He was in an outstanding
picture we published -- the linemen were down in their stances and Marc was leaping over
top. The photo looked like something out of the 1940s. Joe is now an assistant at
Lincoln.)
Cameron Murphy
Northeast OT-DT, Class of '01
Out of my three years of starting in varsity football, I'll
never forget the game I played against Dobbins last year when I tore the ACL in my left
knee. It was a good game. I believe the final score was 7-6 . I can remember my
coach telling me to go in on defense. As I lined up I was so hyped, waiting to make a
play. As the ball was snapped, I attacked and as I was going through all the steps
coach teaches us, I felt a helmet come down hard on my knee from the outside. Plink,
plink, plink is all I remember hearing. I remember my dad rushing out to see if I
was OK. I laid on the field and just prayed to God that everything would be all right.
We didn't make the playoffs last year, so that was my last game as a junior.
I handled the injury pretty well, I think. I missed the Thanksgiving Day game against
Central. But I was with my team spiritually and physically as I hollered my lungs
out on the sideline.
(Ted's note: Cameron is likely the most enthusiastic player I've seen
this season. When he's not on the field, he encourages his teammates NON-STOP.)
Ronald Bullard
Southern WR-LB
My most memorable moment is when I played against my friend Timothy
King, a RB-LB, for Edison last year in our first game. It was my first Public
League game and I scored a touchdown on our first drive, then then my friend Tim scored
twice. They won, but it was fun going against one of my close friends in a game, and
scoring my first touchdown.
(Ted's note: Ronald made two catches for 77 yards in that game. Like
all of the Rams, he is to be commended for hanging tough during this difficult season.)
Vernon "Big Mac" McKenzie
West Catholic, class of 2000
I remember it was a pretty warm Fall night. It was a playoff between
West Catholic and St. John Neumann at Northeast. It was a defensive battle the whole game
and going into the final 40 seconds my team (West Catholic) was up, 7-0. I remember Neuman
had the ball at like our 10 yard line and it was second down. The quarterback came to the
line and got the ball. After the ball was hiked I ran like a bat out of hell from my DE
position and hit that quarterback HARD and he just fell to the ground. After we won the
game I thought that I was going to get the game ball because I played a helluva game, but
the game ball went to Billy Ford who caught the winning touchdown pass.
But a few minutes later, my coach came up to me and said that I was going to be in the
paper because Ted Silary wanted to interview me. One of
the best days of my life.
(Ted's note: I had fun writing about how Vernon worked at the
McDonald's at City and Haverford Avenues. "Big Mac" was a perfect fit as a
nickname, right? Last spring I was driving down City Avenue and got lunch there -- No. 3,
with a diet coke -- via the drive-through window. I asked the girl if Vernon
McKenzie was the owner yet. She gave me a blank stare.)
Matt Wendler
North Catholic quarterback
I will never forget the Beach Bowl of 1999 when North Catholic
played St. John Neuman. I was a junior starting at cornerback and playing in my first
varsity game. I was a little nervous in front of many
Wildwood fans. I started the game off with an interception and "begged" Ted
Silary just to put my name in the game's article that I had an interception. He
told me that I needed maybe two or three interceptions to get my name in the paper, so I
told him OK and I went back out on the field for defense and intercepted two more before
the game was over. That was a time I will never forget.
(Ted's note: I remember that vividly, too. Before this year's
North-Neumann game, I told Matt, "Just don't THROW three interceptions, OK?")
Mike Gallagher
Roman Catholic, Class of 1991
It was the 1999 season, I was an assistant under coach Danny
Algeo and the Cahillites were playing our archrival, St. Joe's Prep. We hadn't
beaten them in our three previous years coaching and the year before they'd knocked us out
of the playoffs. They were the monkey on our backs.We were down, 24-20, with 6:20 to play
and we ran our phenomenal junior fullback, Joe McCourt. He was exhausted,
but he helped us chew clock and finally we were in prime position.With the ball on their
16 and fourth-and-10, quarterback Tim Schmidt dropped back and threw a
touch pass that came down in the hands of Gordie Bayard in the end zone.
We led, 26-24 -- four years of frustration gone, finally.That game proved to our kids that
we belonged, that it was our year. We went on to beat Prep again in the playoffs on our
way to a Catholic League title. What made the game more special was the fact that David
Pringle, our d-tackle, and I shared a special moment. We'd both had
parents die before playing The Prep, he the year before and I two before. We always marked
that game as our day, the game we wanted, and after many tears and a couple games, we'd
finally gotten it.
(Ted's note: Mike is now an assistant under Danny Algeo
at Phoenixville. He was a center-guard at Roman, where his most famous teammate was Marvin
Harrison.)
Matt Weidenmiller
North Catholic, Class of 2001
I'll never forget the 1997 playoff game between North Catholic
and Archbishop Ryan. I was only a freshmen then, but it was by far the best North playoff
game I've ever watched. It was a battle that went back and forth (before Ryan won, 19-14).
Many never gave North a chance, but they gave Ryan the best game they would ever play. On
the final drive of the game North drove down to about the 35 and with 10 seconds left they
threw a bomb that was caught by Tim Murphy. But the refs said the ball
had hit the ground. North was just seconds away from upsetting the Northern Division
champions.
(Ted's note: Matt, a senior, starts at free safety and
wingback for the Falcons. His brother, Fred, was a first team coaches'
All-Catholic DB for North that season.)
Lamar Murray
Dobbins, Class of 1994
It was a rainy, muddy day in December 1993. By 3 o'clock in
the afternoon, the lights at Northeast High were forced to be turned on. The players'
uniforms were too muddy to recognize numbers.You had powerhouse Mastbaum (10-0) returning
to the PL championship game against a Dobbins team that barely made the playoffs, going
only 2-2-1 in league play. It was the least amount of talent on the Dobbins team in recent
years, everybody said. Dobbins entered halftime losing, 16-0, and appeared to be down and
out. Then, as the skies darkened even more, Dobbins quickly rose to the challenge. The
defense, which gave up almost 100 yards on the ground in the first quarter, stuffed
Mastbaum. With grit and determination, Dobbins rallied to win its first ever title, 23-16.
That one day has always stayed with me -- It's never over 'til it's over.
(Ted's note: Lamar, a RB-LB-P, was a second team All-City honoree at
the multipurpose position.)
Kenny Pickron
Dobbins, Class of 1993
We had to play Central for a playoff position. It was
the last regular season game of my senior year, Nov. 10, 1992. I had my best day ever as a
high school player. I passed 8-for-13 for 132 yards and two TDs. I ran six times for 38
yards and another TD. I also kicked a 28-yard FG. We won the game, 21-6. Our defense was
relentless (I played safety). Central did not score until the last drive, when they got
more than half of their total yards.
(Ted's note: Kenny was a flat-out money player on both sides of the
ball. Dobbins' practice field had no goalposts. He practiced his FG's by kicking the ball
between two trees at the Lehigh Avenue end. Kenny became a star safety at Cheyney.)
Tony Fardella
Northeast, Class of 2001
It was late November 1998. I was a sophomore. I played alongside a
dominating LB and FB, Dante Poole. With 15 seconds left on the clock, we
were losing, 8-7, vs. Bok in the Public League semifinals. Bok comes out to punt so we
bring our block team on. Dante calls the signal, and I said, "Let's go, Dante."
He looked back at me with this indescribable look in his eyes and said, "I'm not
losing this game." Right then I knew that we would be in the finals that year. The
ball is snapped, and I pick up Dante's man, and I hear the whistle blow. The ball flew out
the back of the end zone . . . he blocked it. We then took the lead, 9-8, with 7 seconds
left and went on to win. We later lost to Mastbaum in the finals. It still hurts. But that
Bok game, I will never forget.
(Ted's note: Tony, a LB, is a leader, both by production and emotion,
for this year's defense.)
Bill Bethel
West Catholic, Class of 1989
It was a beautiful fall Sunday in 1989. I couldn't
decide whether to stay home and watch the Birds battle the Houston Oilers or head out and
watch the Burrs take on the Bonner Friars. The phone rang . . . It was "Huck"
(current Daily News statman Ed Palmer). Needless to say,
my fate was sealed, I was headed to Upper Darby. "Come on, just go to the West
game. It will be a good game, plus you know there are going to be a lot of Prendie chicks
there. Pick me up in 15 minutes." If my memory serves me correct, it was a
pretty close game until Bonner scored late to clinch the victory. Throughout the game, the
stupid Bonner mascot was jumping up and down running around the field taunting the West
fans. Finally after the last touchdown for Bonner, he was doing this stupid dance in the
back of the end zone. Then there was this flash that went by us -- Mark Nordo,
who was a Neumann student after transferring from West. He sprinted down the bleachers,
across the track, down the sidelines, and laid the perfect hit on the mascot. The head
went flying, the guy was down. Mark then proceeded to do the same stupid dance, as
the West fans cheered!
(Ted's note: Bill played baseball for the Burrs. He was a first team
All-Catholic player.)
Keith Davis
Southern, Class of 2003
I will never forget this game. We lost to
Germantown, 50-0 (Sept. 29), but I played my heart out. I started at defensive end and
offensive guard and did a good job. I had like five tackles and I rushed the QB and hit
him numerous times.
(Ted's note: Keith is a sophomore lineman. He hopes to become famous.)
Phil Evans
Bartram, Class of 1978
My most memorable moment came in 1977 against University City (20-0
win). My picture was in the Daily News crushing RB Tyrone Scott
and I had about 12 tackles. I made first team All-Public at DB. I lost that picture during
the flood of 1999 (in SW Philly and Delaware County).
(Ted's note: Phil's son, Phillip Jr., is Bartram's starting
QB this season.)