Archive for June, 2009
Time runs out on PRs
The ball left the aging quarterback’s hand like too many that afternoon. With :02 left, some 20 yards and six waiting defenders separating the Pocket Rockets from their first ever Gold championship, Jonny Vegas took a deep drop and cocked his arm in position to throw THE pass. You know the one. The pass he tossed to himself over and over again in his backyard as a nearly friendless youth in the sticks. The pass that won the Pennsylvania high school championship, Sugar Bowl, Super Bowl or whatever championship inspired him that day. The pass that always fell into the receiver’s arms for the winning score — even when it didn’t (because the defense committed a penalty, not because he dropped it or the pass was dogshit). At Belmont Hill School, in the BSSC Division I(II) championship game vs. Mean Machine on Sunday, THE pass left his hand with enough velocity to carry 40 yards or more. But this time the ball overshot the target by feet, not inches. No flag on the play. Game over. Mean Machine survived and celebrated the championship. The Pocket Rockets did not survive three interceptions and one incomplete, dogshit pass.
The afternoon began auspiciously, if several minutes late, for the Pocket Rockets. Facing the No. 2 seed UPS in the semifinal, the PRs opened with a big play on their second snap. Uncle Ron ran a crisp in-cut. Vegas whistled a dart over the middle. Ronnie weaved in, out and around the defense (two of whom were born as seemingly gifted runners) for the first score of the game. After holding UPS down near the goal-line, the Uncle Ron struck again on a deep post. Just like that the PRs led, 14-0. UPS climbed to 14-6 and forced the PRs into 4th-and-short near midfield… but Stepha’s pass to Vegas on the slant-and-go put the PRs up 20-6. A late drive by UPS cut the deficit to 7.
The second half featured even more Ron (perhaps because he knew his time was waning) with an interception on the opening drive. But the PRs couldn’t capitalize and turned the ball over on downs near midfield. UPS scored soon after, forcing the PRs back to work. On a critical third-down-and-long play, Ron ran the out-cut… not as crisp this time… and the throw came out low. He dove, but the ball eluded him. However, the ref… and apparently Ron’s defender… thought otherwise. That call brought fourth-and-inches. Vegas faked to Jos on the end-around and jogged into the endzone. UPS scored again as one of their speed demons posterized Vegas on the deep post (I still can’t believe he caught that). With time ticking down to under a minute, the PRs faced fourth-down-and-3 near midfield. Vegas called for a double-slant for the girls on the left with a run/pass option. UPS sniffed out the run and forced a throw… Mere cut her route back to the sideline and snared the 15-yard lob to seal the PRs first-ever Gold semifinal victory. Game ball to Uncle Ron. Meanwhile Mean Machine, which started the season 0-2 was driving in the final seconds against No. 1 seed Cougar’s Pride. Inexplicably, CP was playing man-to-man with just seconds left. MM ran a deep post… the ball arrived on time and in stride. Touchdown. Mean Machine and the Pocket Rockets would meet for the title… having only played once before, in the Fall 2007 semis.
Ron picked up where he left off in the semis and scored on the game’s third play on a deep-middle route. After a defensive stand, the PRs looked like they were in business but MM forced a fourth-and-long from the PR 5. Even though the PRs practiced punting earlier in the day, and had two able legs at the ready, they decided to go for it. Vegas chucked the ball deep into triple coverage… somehow Ron outjumped everyone and came up with the catch. Just 10 yards from the end zone, it looked like the PRs would put this one to bed early… but Vegas tried to thread the needle to Freddie over the middle on second down. The defender jumped the route. Drive over. MM scored on the subsequent drive on a deep ball. Just like that it was a new ballgame. The PRs tried to get it right back on a deep ball to Stepha, but Vegas didn’t catch the defender playing centerfield… he was hard not to spot considering he had just snagged one interception and was wearing a red hat… Anyway, he stepped in front for INT No. 2. MM scored to take a 14-8 lead… on a gender play to Vegas’s side of the end zone (I didn’t think she could throw it that far). After the next PR drive stalled near the goal line, MM was back in business and drove to the PR 5. Perhaps getting a little too cute, MM took a knee rather than run the ball into the end zone. Bad move. They spent the better part of the next two minutes (five downs worth) trying to score and run out the clock. They succeeded in running out the clock, but an incredible defensive effort kept the score at 14-8 at the half. I can’t remember who was out there for that… but it was the best defense we’ve probably ever played.
With new hope, the PRs took the field confidently in the second half… only to have Vegas relinquish it with another bad deep throw… this time intended for Jos… and also intercepted by a centerfielder. MM would drive and score, taking a 2 TD lead, 21-8. The PRs advanced to mid-field, with Freddie catching a tough, sliding 4th-down catch. The next play, Stepha hit Vegas on a deep post for a TD. Back in the game… MM picked away at the PR defense and moved within a few yards of the game-icing score, but Stepha stepped in front of a low pass and saved the PRs for the moment. Subbing gals for guys — namely Mike and Freddie who were busting their asses on defense — the 3-and-3 Equal Opportunity Offense began its long march… which ended with Vegas running it in from three yards for a 22-21 PR lead with 3:30 remaining!! Mixing man and zone defense, the PRs slowed the MM offense… but couldn’t hold on a 4th-and-10 with roughly 1:00 left. Now we’re into Mike Holmgren territory… do we let them score? Hmm… maybe. But having played such great defense to close the fist half the PRs stood firm. But not firm enough. MM scored on a short cross with just 25 seconds left. Enough time to make it interesting at the end, but not enough for a championship.
One step closer, but one step short.
OK, that was a lot of writing. I suppose it was therapeutic. Who knows? If the Pens lose tonight, I may need to consider therapy. Here’s some linky nonsense.
We need more of this tonight, boys (notice the fan wearing the ref uniform when Kennedy jumps into the glass… classic):
Also tonight, the Lakers face the Magic in the NBA finals… zzzzz… NHL > NBA. Anyway, in case you were interested in how the Lakers got their name:
Question: Is this guy a BSSC ref, too?
Know the expression that you don’t want to know how sausage is made? I wonder if this is why?
