On Location @ Charolette, NC              

Charlotte Country Day High School            

(UNDER A PACKED HOUSE)              

Photos by assorted contributors               

(www.ellrodimages.com)                

(www.enforcernation.com)              

The Road Win (DARKSIDE‘S SIGNATURE VICTORY) vs.  The Charlotte Cobras                

In the NFL, it’s common knowledge that the west coast team traveling to battle an east coast team usually can be considered a sacrificial lamb.  The winning percentage is an unimpressive 25%.  Jet lag?, Unfamiliarity?, Mind Games? There must be some form of logic that cripples a west coast team. Then again, the only logic that matters to YOUR SAN DIEGO ENFORCERS is the logic of having your fellow ENFORCER by your side.  The RED and BLACK stepped up huge, ignoring the common logic in exchange for a HARD FOUGHT VICTORY.    

This victory of which I speak is painted by the brush of COACH KURT DEBNIAK and THE DARKSIDE DEFENSE.  When Great Defenses are spoken of, they carry with them an entity of domination to point to; as a badge of accomplishment; a testament best describing the character, talent and achievement associated within their dominance.  For the SAN DIEGO ENFORCERS that badge shines like the ones placed on their chest.  That badge was had this day at the expense of a VERY DANGEROUS CHARLOTTE COBRA team.                

         

The 10-0 victory over a quality opponent was the scare this ENFORCER team needed.  Like a coiled snake with their attention to detail, game preparations, studying game film, evaluating individual tendencies and even so far as to learn of the ENFORCER names, stats and FACIAL FEATURES(you think I’m kidding?…) The COBRAS knew the ENFORCER players by recognizing their picture from the SAN DIEGO ENFORCER website. (www.sandiegoenforcers.com). These COBRA’S were ready to strike.                

  

The first possession of the game belonged to #14 JJ CARRELL and the best show in the league; the SAN DIEGO ENFORCER OFFENSE. However, the first STATEMENT belonged to Charlotte.  Charlotte’s #15 KEMP “MR. NFL” RASMUSSEN and #16 JARRETT WISHON started blitzing from their house.  They must have woke up, skipped brushing their teeth, eating breakfast and kissing the family good bye; only to head straight to the ENFORCER backfield.  I don’t think they even took their cars to the stadium because they acted as if they had no other place to go other than at the quarterback.  In the first series (and first half), THEY HAUNTED THE BEST TACKLES IN THE GAME.                 

For the first time in a long time, the ENFORCERS were forced to punt, AND THIS HAPPENED OFTEN.  Fortunately for the RED and BLACK, the ENFORCERS ARE NOT A ONE TRICK PONY.  #25 JARAD “ALL P” PRESTON punted the football as if he had bad intentions.  Thankfully for YOUR ENFORCERS this also happened often.  JARAD’S punt sent the Cobra’s back in their hole and after their first drive, the Cobra’s acted like they didn’t know what hit them.  It had been so easy for them in their last contest; posting a ridiculous 42 on their close by rival, South Carolina Commanders.  Now they found themselves alone on the field with THE DARKSIDE.  Not a cloud in the sky, yet to them it must have seemed COLD and BLACK; going three and out.                

The second series for the ENFORCERS didn’t fair much better than the first, as the Cobras #36 ROBERT MOORER and #9 JOEL LOWE let them know, their defense was here to stay.  JARAD was called in again and sent the Cobras back into an abyss that usually favors the DARKSIDE.  However that MASSIVE Cobra defense must have sent the right message to the Blue sideline because the Charlotte offense woke up.  Miraculously, against the scariest side of football, the Snake’s offense dug themselves out of bad field position with a running jab threat and a long pass completion.  THE COBRAS LOOKED FIERCE on defense and now they looked the part on offense, marching down the field like they own the place.  So much so, that when the ENFORCERS finally stopped the Cobras on the 20, causing a 4^th and short; THEIR CHARLOTTE COBRAS DECIDED TO GO FOR IT.  Many of you who weren’t at the game DIDN’T NEED TO BE THERE because know the outcome of this decision.  You know because the Cobra offense was going against the DARKSIDE defense…but you’d be wrong.  CHARLOTTE BUSTED THE LIP OF YOUR RED AND BLACK by getting the first down EASILY.  Charlottes’ charges continued,  in fact it was more like a vicious onslaught; running out of the back field with relative ease, catching the short passes without challenge. Inching closer and closer towards the goal line. THE VENEOMOUS COBRA OFFENSE WAS DOMIATING THE DARKSIDE. With one little, tiny, problem.  THEY WERE FACING THE FREAKIN’ DARKSIDE. Goal lines just don’t get crossed!  To make matters worse for the Cobras, the football wasn’t willing to go through the uprights either.  Early in the second quarter, a field goal attempt was blocked by the surging ENFORCER interior line to include the recent addition of #69 JASON “LEROY” BECKER and ALL WORLD outside linebacker #52 SEAN “BIG MILL” MILLER.  Charlotte threaded to invade the goal line several times but was stopped by a force stronger than man.  They were stopped by the surging sea of RED and BLACK. (It is unfair to the rest of the league to have #13 JASON BURK and #52 SEAN MILLER on the field at the same time.  I’d start considering #91 NICHOLAS “NICKELS” FURGUSON in that elite group too, cautiously of coarse because THOSE TWO ARE LEAGUE WORTHY)                

         

The Offense got the ball back and a little slice of momentum.   JJ started finding his targets and spreading the ball.  #85 JOHN “VELCRO” WIESE had the catch of the day while being frisked by Charlottes’ finest in mid air and still holding onto the ball.  Catches by #7 CORY HIGBEE and first down runs by #35 WILSON “PINEAPPLE EXPRESS” UGLIGITONE also paced the ENFORCERS, putting the exclamation mark on the drive was #27 JAHIR “WALK ON” WATERMAN.  It was impressive to see this marvel contort and move his body into fooling half of Charlottes’ defense.  ”WALK ON” is a ninja.  Finally, with the efforts of one PISSED OFF offensive line, #25 JARAD “ALL P” PRESTON continued to prove you need two out of three entities to win a football game; and he was determined THE SPECIAL TEAMS WOULD BE ADVANTAGE; RED AND BLACK.  The first points and the first half  belonged the ENFORCERS. The DARKSIDE was doing what they do best, they were willing the team to victory, and the first half was just a few brush strokes to their soon to be masterpiece.                 

  

However, at half time; COACH SALMON was beside himself.  He had realized his ENFORCERS weren’t prepared.  This was as profound a moment as I have seen this man digest.  I personally love the ENFORCERS; It’s players are my family, it’s staff are my family, This game is my quality of life. But COACH SALMON FLAT OUT LIVES FOR THIS.  The day the ENFORCERS die(WHICH WILL BE NEVER), someone will have to look after COACH BRIAN “TOO GOOD LOOKING FOR HIS OWN GOOD” SALMON.  He takes this team personal.  He’s like a dad, no one has the BALLS to admit to it because we’re all grown ass men; but think about this…He’s quick to praise others and does not give blame but only to himself. He says specific names when gloating about a hard hitting tackle or a death defying catch, but says ‘we’ when comments of improvement must be said. If you listen closely, he’ll quickly claim that ‘HE’ didn’t do a good enough job when criticism arises, AND HE DOESN’T RUN, THROW, or BLOCK.  He’s lived playing the game, he’s played hurt, HE’S PLAYED BROKEN, and he’s survived many surgeries(get him drunk one night and ask to see his scars…the only way he’ll show ‘em to you. Unless he’s trying to motivate you to look past your own ACL tear)                  

He’s done what we’ve done, he’s fought in the same fights and he tries everything within his power to MAKE AN IMPACT. Does the opinion of a man of this caliber matter to you? Someone who cares more for you than himself.  If he swells with emotion because we represented well for him, does it give you a sense of PRIDE; does the back of your hair stand straight the F*&^ Up?  I tell you this, it killed me that HE WAS DISAPPOINTED AT HALF TIME…                

ENFORCERS 3; COBRAS 0             

3rd Quarter              

When beautiful paintings are made, the artist is always in full control no matter how many flaws the outside observer may see at first.  It’s the artist that knows, in order to have a finished product; the table primarily has to be set.  This table looked liked a defensive gem at the half and the game continued its legendary pace in the third quarter.                 

  

The Cobras would have the ball first this time and proved the first half was no fluke.  THE COBRAS MOVED THE BALL.  In fact, the game plan from the Charlotte Cobra Coaching Staff was obvious…eat up the clock and keep the ENFORCER OFFENSE off of the brown dormant grass field and Cobra running back star, #26 AMIR HOLDING looked to be the hungriest wearing the ROYAL and WHITE.  One long completion down field and a mixture of short catches to include #17 CHARLES ARTIS, with hard runs off the tackles from #26, showed the well represented Carolina Faithful, their team had something for the visitors from California.  And just when you think it’s the DARKSIDE DEFENSE that’s getting punched in the mouth, the Cobras laid the football on the ground with a fumbled exchange to the running back. If  #13 JASON “HOLLYWOOD” BURK is anywhere near your zip code, that ball won’t be on the ground for long.  Before the brown pig skin could get any more of a tan in the Carolina Sun, BURK had the ball, momentum and game in his vise-like grasp.                  

DESPITE a few unsettling drives given up and two ‘gimme’ field goals, the ENFORCER DEFENSE and SPECIAL TEAMS were now playing as solid of a game as can be asked for on the road.  You have to win two of the three battles and #74 IGNACIO “NACHO” BRAVO and #36 FRANK “THE TRUTH” WILSON helped make sure those two entities were doing just that.  Now with momentum on their side, the ENFORCER OFFENSE had the ball and the start of the fourth quarter. The Cobras game plan was working and the ENFORCER offense had one quarter left to make amends.  Only up by the game’s sole field goal, this clock was going fast.                

ENFORCER three and out.                

Back come the DARKSIDE and this time they bring  #6 JERRY “THE INSURANCE” WEARY (Nick named ‘THE INSURANCE’ because he’ll cover anybody).  WEARY’S absence was felt because his presence produced;  One play enter, One play an interception.  WEARY and the DARKSIDE gift wrapped the ball had handed it over to the SAN DIEGO OFFENSE once again.                

Embarrassed by its previous offensive series, YOUR ENFORCERS found themselves staring down the opponent in the ring, both contestants looked battered and beaten.  Right Guard for YOUR ENFORCERS; #90 MARK MORENO had lost his right wrist, in place was a display of flesh that had swollen up unrecognizable, except to say his forearm appeared to no longer have a natural taper to his hand, but instead a continuation of his forearm, black and bruised; bloodied and disfigured. “I think I broke it.” He laughs to me., possibly forgetting for a second that I would type out his heroics and bring it to your eyes.  He was one of the beaten down but not out  that took the field with a purpose of having the game on the line. AND THAT ENFORCER DRIVE SHOWED GUTS, pushing the over-sized Cobra defense back on their heels. JAB, a run up the middle with a “PINEAPPLE”. JAB, quick strike to #81 CHAYIN OSGOOD. UPPER-CUT to #7 CORY HIGBEE.  And you know, THE OFFENSIVE LINE WERE THROWING PUNCHES OF THEIR OWN. Anchored by the starters; Center #62 JAMES “SWINTONIO GATES” SWINEY, the guards #64 SEAN “IRISH” DAVIDSON and MORENO and tackles #70 CHRIS “BIG CHIEF” FLORES and #59 RICK “POW POW” PAUWEE the offensive line pushed, punched and scrapped without substitution. THEY WANTED…NEEDED TO FINISH THIS FIGHT.  Even #17 WILL LOREN got after it.  Blocking down field with so much effort, I saw a Cobra defender begging a referee for a call(The corner was denied).  The ENFORCER OFFENSE was finlly winning the fight and starting to beat up on this tough Cobra defense.  Though the drive showed the promise of improved play, a sneaky Cobra leaped out of the defensive brush and #14 JJ “WHITE LIGHTNING” CARRELL was bit for the last time this day.  His third interception of the day. Usually a number associated with his seasonal total…                

THE CHARLOTTE COBRA DEFENSE IS FOR REAL.                

AND…THIS IS WHY THE ENFORCER DEFENSE – THE DARKSIDE – IS THE BEST IN THE LEAGUE…                

  

W I T H   T H E   G A M E   O N   T H E   L I N E   . . .  and  with the MASTERPIECE nearly complete, The quarterback for the Cobras, #13 ROD WALLACE who consistently found himself being battered by our own #13, with #52, #37, #91 and #56 was doing everything he could to stay alive and complete down field passes. With several ‘hail mary’ type throws, and a violent hit by “BIG MILL”, WALLACE threw up one too many prayers.  #11 JOSHUA JEMELKA took the ball from the heavens and ran it all the way back for the game’s only touchdown.  How’s that for a John Handcock? With the signature in place and the paint left only to dry; THE DARKSIDE HAD THEIR SIGNATURE WIN.  The ENFORCER FAITHFUL that made the trip were on their feet and cheering, the players on the sideline acting like children at recess, the coaches catching their breath; all beside themselves that they were able to see and survive such a game.                

BOTH OF THE TEAMS WITH THEIR HEADS HELD HIGH AND SHOULDERS SUNK LOW, EMBRACED ON THE 50 YARD LINE WITH THE RESPECT OF A HARD FOUGHT GAME.  THEIR MAIN COMFORT…A MUTUAL RESPECT OF ONE ANOTHER.