FDNY proves their legitamacy; Beats the ENFORCERS 20-11.

On Location        

@ Cathedral Catholic High School        

AKA:   “THE JAIL HOUSE”        

Pictures by Dave Ellrod and FDNY web site        

(http://ellrodimages.com) (http://bravestfootball.com)        

First things first; FDNY won the game.  Those fire fightin’ bastards, who play the game with unbelievable passion, did something no other team in the NPSFL could do in the last two years…end up with more points than YOUR SAN DIEGO ENFORCERS.  Truth is, the Enforcers were bigger, faster and stronger than their opponent,… but end up with an ‘L’.  What does that mean in the great scheme of things for ENFORCER NATION?  Not much, as one game may have been tallied in the loss column, but it proved invaluable to the type of message sent through out the team.        

But I’m getting ahead of myself, FDNY and the rest of the league are more than likely curious as to how this player, one that ‘hides behind a computer’, will respond.  Congratulations to the FDNY BRAVEST.  They came all the way from the East Coast, to put a whooping on the San Diego ENFORCERS; 20-11.  And I’m telling the world EVERY MAN that wore the FDNY across their chest had a fire and lust for the game that the Football God’s themselves; CRAVE.   

#44 TERENCE HALLORAN, a player you'd love to hate; unless he's wearing your colors.

I’ll go even further against the fibers of my soul and go so far as to say; #44 TERENCE HALLORAN played a hell of a game with his four, may be five picks and one returned for a touchdown.  Easily the player of the game, I think his exact totals were two picks, five sacks, and an endless supply of tackles, BUT HIS PLAY CASHED IN EVERY CHECK HIS MOUTH WROTE.  In the words of Pittsburg Steeler Great Jack Lambert, “I didn’t care if my opponents liked me, I cared that they respected me though.”  FDNY brought more than that outstanding linebacker, as #1 ALEX SAYERS took it upon himself to stake his claim as one of the leagues best players also.  It was more than a dynamic duo for the BRAVEST.  #91 ANTHONY BETITO and #75 MATT LAPOINTE did their part to humiliate the RED and BLACK.  A whooping of our offense by a more spirited unit sent this game into a great victory for the visiting team.   

#45 YSIDRO "LITTLE ROCK" GRANILLO continued his defenses hard hitting tradition with a shot heard 'round the world.

On the offensive side of the ball, FDNY couldn’t do much, not against the best defense in the league;  A TITLE I STILL BELIEVE BELONGS TO THE DARKSIDE.  Although a blown assignment lead to a quick score in the second quarter by the connection of #15 JOE MONFERRATO to #89 BRYAN VOMERO for a whopping 78 yard touchdown, the DARKSIDE was virtually impenetrable the remainder of the game, especially near the end when the outcome seemed inevidable.  The ENFORCER DEFENSE NEVER STOPPED DOMINATING.        

Unfortunately, by controversally calling it like I see it, the loss goes squarely on the ENFORECER offense and their inability to execute.  If FDNY looked themselves in the mirror, I’m sure they’d take this win, but MUST do so with the knowledge of facing a team that was more successful in destroying themselves, other than an FDNY defense actually beating their opponent.  Call the statement sour grapes, but to be involved in the game and see the bloodshed for myself, I would have to say that if the two teams rolled up their sleeves and met in the back alley; the ENFORCERS would have come out the least scathed.  Credit the BRAVEST coaching staff and especially Defensive Coordinator JOHN ROSATI for applying the necessary pressure towards the ENFORCERS self destruct button.  The BRAVEST UNRELENTING tenacity along with their strategic placement of personnel lead to the unraveling of an ENFORCER OFFENSE that once held the title of unstoppable.  Going into the game, the ENFORCERS felt they could attack the BRAVEST secondary.  Defensive Back Coach for the BRAVEST, JJ NEWSHEIWAT and #20 CRAIG MANFREDONIA, with one of the interception touchdown returns, would have none of that.         

To pick on the ENFORCER offensive unit as a whole seems too general, and doesn’t focus in on the problems of this once proud entity.  THE OFFENSIVE LINE BLOCKED TO NEAR PERFECTION;  They were part of the frustrating reasoning behind the proclamation of us as a team being able to come out of a street fight less marred.  Instead the emphasis has to be placed on the quarterbacks and receivers not being on the EXACT same page.  The accuracy and timing of a pass pattern has to be dead on.  A route that needs to be broken off at 8 yards, means 8 yards, not 6, or 10.  If a play requires a slant, it would be a HUGE problem if the receiver does a curl.  Therefore, I blame a lack of REPITITION and FAMILIARITY within the synchronization of communication that a passing game relies on.  Essentially, that is, in my opinion, THE ONLY PROBLEM YOUR ENFORCERS HAVE.  (#27 JAHIR “WALK ON” WATERMAN and the running game was stout, gaining four or five yards at will.)  Fix that(passing game), and the once proclaimed ‘Greatest Show in the NPSFL’ will regain their title…but not until then.        

#7 CORY HIGBEE did and excellent job in stepping in at quarterback.  It was an absolute manly display for him to set aside his injuries and play broken for the sake of the team.  That being said, HUGE props go to #35 WILSON “PINEAPPLE EXPRESS” UELIGITONE who had to battle a heavy heart, but STILL showed up to battle with his ENFORCER FAMILY.  #56 AARON ”THE BEAST” HOXIE also played a mans game with a cast on his right arm.  Same can be said for the heroics of THE BEST LINEBACKER IN THE LEAGUE; #13 JASON ”HOLLYWOOD” BURK.  That man was more than just banged up, yet he continued to bludgeoned the BRAVEST offense.  #37 TONY “THE GREAT” DAVID played the whole game with a concussion, but still managed to give out cans of whoop ass as generously as Santa stuffing stockings at Christmas.  I don’t know if #1 “SUGAR” SHANE LYNN played hurt, but I do know that he played one hell of a game.  ”SUGAR” had two interceptions and several tackles, many were with bad intentions.  #11 JOSHUA ”SAY MY NAME” JEMELKA had his hat popping all game.  I GUARANTEE THEY KNEW WHO #11 WAS BY THE END OF THE GAME.   

An inspirational phenomenon, Head Coach MIKE "STACK" STACKPOLE has his team playing his way; PASSIONATELY RELENTLESS.

All and all, my respects to an FDNY team that played with unbelievable passion, a character trait, no doubt taken from the pages of inspirational Head Coach MIKE “STACK” STACKPOLE’S play book.  TO A MAN(emphasis on every player, and #22 JOSEPH ”THE ANIMAL” COLUMBIA), the toughest group of S.O.B’s ever to share the same field as YOUR ENFORCERS.  As great a loss as the ENFORCERS have experience since learning we could play with LAPD; in a loss to our heated rivals up north; the ENFORCERS found out, WE CAN PLAY WITH ANYBODY, PERIOD.  Next up, the game that makes or breaks a season…LAPD WEEK!        

Apologies to the lack of play by play information in this article; and a thank you to the contributions of ENFORCER FAITHFUL MIKE ELLIS and the FDNY website for player information, and their article’s author(name withheld).