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T-Time Return to TedSilary.com Home Page Terrance McNeil, a former
Central HS football player, is a senior at Temple. He's majoring in
broadcasting and did a great job for this website during the '06 season. His
time was limited this fall, but he hit the Central-NE game. Don't be fooled by the picture at left (smile). Terrance is a
friendly, personable young man and we welcome him to our somewhat normal
group. Please offer your support. |
NOV. 22
THANKSGIVING RIVALRY
Northeast 44, Central 28
It’s been a long time. I shouldn’t have left you…
I know it’s been a while but “T-Time” is back in full effect.
I picked the last game of the season to get back at it, but I witnessed one of
the fiercest rivalries known to man and I enjoyed the game as Northeast defeated
my alma mater.
I’ll tell you one thing: I was NOT expecting to see 72 points to go on the
board in this one. But let the offensive fireworks begin.
Northeast’s scoring started with stud QB Malik Stokes sneaking over the
goal line from one yard out. Impressive RB Tyleel Robinson (this was my
first look at him) picked up 28 yards on 3 carries on the first drive and set up
Stokes’ TD with a 4-yard run to Central’s 1-yard line. Super-impressive K/P
Tim Freiling booted the extra point.
The Lancers came storming right back though. RB/DB Ray Harris, who has
a lot of talent, started the drive with a gain of 12. RB Carl King
finished the “drive” the next play racing 63 yards to paydirt. Joseph
Guarnieri kicked the extra point and tied the game at 7 and ended the
scoring for the first quarter.
Harris was the catalyst for Central’s next scoring drive, as he turned a
simple seam pass from big-armed QB Kyle Yeiter into a 37-yard gain to put
Central in business at Northeast’s 5-yard line. He got a couple of Viking
defenders pants dirty on the play, as he made multiple cutback and juke moves to
make them fall. It took Yeiter only two plays to get those 5 yards and he
eventually barreled his way in front a yard out. Guarnieri converted again to
make it 14-7.
Northeast’s heavy lifting RB James Rosseau did the honors for the
Vikings on their next drive, plowing in form 7 yards out. Robinson took the
two-point conversion in to put Northeast up 15-14.
Northeast would then force Central to punt on its next drive. The other
Stokes, WR Je’Ron Stokes, would prove how dangerous how was on just one
play. He took a little hitch and turned it into a 32-yard gain to get the
Vikings to Central’s 27-yard line. M. Stokes found WR Keith Scruggs, who
came up with a FANTASTIC one-handed grab earlier in the game, for a gain of nine
and a penalty on the Lancers’ defense on fourth down kept the drive alive.
Central’s D again had NE facing a fourth down at the 8-yard line, well within
Freiling’s range, so NE was set to kick. But Harris came across the line way
early and Viking coach Mel Hinton sent his offensive troops back on the
field and RB Quinton Reid scampered in untouched from 3 yards out. 22-14,
Northeast at the half.
Not much changed in the second half, as identical scoring occurred. WR/LB
Tyrik Clary made a big play on defense, halting Central’s first drive of the
2nd half by picking off a Yeiter pass in the flat. He was quickly rewarded on
offense, as 3 plays later he was seen hauling in a 15-yard pass from M. Stokes
for 6 points with 5:06 left in the 3rd quarter. That was the lone scoring of the
quarter.
But Central began the scoring in the 4th quarter, with Harris making yet
another big play for the Lancers, grabbing another seam pass and taking it 14
yards for the second of his 3 scores on the day and finishing up a 12-play,
70-yard drive. The two-point conversion attempt failed.
Northeast showed it could put on a long drive also, driving 10 plays and 60
yards on its next scoring drive. Central got a heavy dose of “Big Brother”
Stokes on this drive, as he had grabs of 18, 18, and 5 on consecutive plays. 3
plays later, Robinson waltzed in for his first TD of the game. RB Nafis
Muhammad snagged the 2PC from M. Stokes to make the score 37-14.
Northeast LB Antoine Fowler, who played his tail off, notching 10
tackles, ended Central’s next possession, grabbing Yeiter’s pass and returning
it 26 yards to Central’s 5-yard line. M. Stokes was dropped for a 1-yard loss by
LB Aaron Pierce on the next play, but Robinson strolled in from 6 yards
out 2 plays later.
Central’s last hurrah came by their go-to-guy for the last two years:
Harris. He made an 11- yard grab from the arm of Yeiter and 3 plays later
scampered in from 17 yards out to close the scoring.
Northeast took home the Wooden Horse this year and evened the all-time series,
51-51-10.
GAME BALL-
Fowler did some serious banging on D and Robinson was ballin’ on O, so they
split the game ball.
I NOTICED-
Central’s stands were flowing over with fans, while Northeast’s had some room to
spare…Former Central players were out in support of their team. The great 2004
team was represented by Marcel Quarterman (Lafayette), Juliene Adams (Iona),
Stephen Harvey, Promarty “Vamanos” Martinez, Quindel Ladson, Cornelius Bunch
(Northeastern), and Vaughn Webb. Rakim Herman, John “Boobie” Kennedy (Lehigh),
and Will Brown were representing for last year’s team…Kenny St. George,
who’s hoopin’ hard for West Chester, was also in attendance…Kyle Yeiter
is tough as nails and is a born leader. Not to mention quite a hitter in the
secondary… Jesse Martinez, whose hair flows like Steelers’ safety Troy
Polamalu’s, is an ABSOLUTE HAWK on special teams for Northeast. He
makes almost every tackle. He has good speed and a heart the size of Jupiter.
He’s not the biggest dude on the field, but he can lay wood with them, though.
He reminds me of a smaller version of Frankford’s special teams ace last year,
Stephen Ortega. Keep your eyes peeled for him next year.