Turkey Bowl IV
New School 10, Old School 9
1st2ndF
New School4610
Old School549
   Pritchard Field - Swarthmore, PA
   Date: November 27, 2003
   Weather: 56°, Mostly Cloudy
   MVP(s): Jon Hart

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Stats
New School Passing
NameTDs
Trill, Mike9
Old School Passing
NameTDs
Dougherty, Tim5
DiNofia, Rich2
Game Summary
Tim Doc, All-Delco Linebacker, fumbled on the one yard line.

On a day that saw the score see-saw back and forth all game, the outcome of the Turkey Bowl was decided by just one play.

Marcelli
Mark Marcelli, outweighed by almost 80 pounds, used every ounce of his 150lb frame to cause the fumble; and then recover it in the shadow of his own goal line. At the time of the turnover the score was tied at nine; however, that was not the only big play that helped decide the outcome of the game.

Old School opened the game with a sack of New School quarterback Mike Trill. Then, after forcing a punt, Old School proceeded to score on their second play from scrimmage when Tim Dougherty hit Bill Pohlig on a deep fly pattern. After tying the game at one on a rushing touchdown by Kevin Rayer, New School eventually took a 4-2 lead after touchdowns by Paul Middleton and Mark Marcelli. Old School battled back to a 4-4 tie before Matt Marcelli sent the Old Schoolers into halftime with a 5-4 lead when he returned an interception for a touchdown.

As the second half began, Team Old School extended its lead to 6-4 when Chris Crooks scored his lone touchdown of the day. But the New Schoolers refused to be silenced as Joe Doubet, Mark Marcelli and Paul Middleton all scored touchdowns to put New School up 7-6. The score remained that way until Old School quarterback Rich DiNofia found Matt Marcelli, through quadruple coverage, in the front of the end zone to knot the score at seven. OS then took an 8-7 lead when Bill Pohlig returned an interception all the way for the score. And after a goal line stand and a few more scores Old School was in good shape: up 9-8 and in possesion of the ball.

Trill
After methodically moving the ball into scoring range the Old Schoolers looked to put the game away, but a Mike Trill interception ended the drive. After making the defensive stop Trill proceeded to lead his team to the game tying score when Mark Marcelli beat older brother Matt on a short comeback route. It was at this point that the stage was set for the most dramatic conclusion in Turkey Bowl history.

Despite the New Schoolers most recent score, Team Old School was still in position to pull out a win. After receiving the kick and running a couple of unsuccessful plays, quarterback Rich DiNofia followed by going deep down field and finding an open Tim Dougherty at the one yard line. Just as it appeared the game was over, Mark Marcelli came up with one of the biggest plays in the short history of the TFL. After recovering the fumble that he forced, Marcelli and his teammates marched down the field and scored the game winner on a slant to Doubet.

After the game the younger Marcelli had these comments, "What can I say; big time players make big time plays in big time games. They did all the talking but we did all the walking. Now Im gonna go celebrate with my friends the B Brothers: Beers, Blunts, and Bitches."

Despite the valiant effort, Team Old School will have to wait until next year for a chance to take back the Dickey/Township trophy.

NOTES: John Hart became the first lineman to earn MVP honors. Hart was awarded MVP without scoring a single touchdown. The New School lineman played on both sides of the ball and didnt run a single play at any other position ... Mark Marcelli (NS) was second in MVP voting, followed by Bill Pohlig (OS) ... This is the final Turkey Bowl for Matt Marcelli's (OS) PONYS.

ATTENDANCE: 19
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