TB IX: It Only Takes One Or Two
posted Friday November 28th, 2008 by Crooks

Football is a very interesting game; it’s highs and lows are immeasurable, and the game can depend so much on the play of one or two players. Yesterday, November 27, 2008, Turkey Bowl IX was decided by the play of two players: Co-MVP’s Tom Orio and Tuna Bucella. The Linebacker U front two played above and beyond anybody’s expectations, leading their team to a 9-4 victory. This writer speaks for all the players and fans in attendance yesterday in saying their performance was nothing less than impressive. I mean, come on, Thug U should have known they were doomed to fail when former Ridley All-Delco QB Jack McGlone showed up wearing blue.

The game began with Linebacker U Captain Tim Dougherty deferring the official Beer Pong winning decision to Thug U; Thug U would choose to receive. Thug U return man Chris Crooks would get the ball to mid-field, but the Thug U offense, as it found itself a great deal during the game, would be stifled by a strong Linebacker U defensive performance. Because of Linebacker U’s consistently efficient defensive performances their return man, Paul Middleton, would get ample opportunities to field punts. Middleton took advantage of these opportunities, constantly finding holes and blocks to give his team great field position.

As the game’s first half progressed, Linebacker U QB Tim Doc found WR Sergeant Slaughter on two long receptions for touchdowns to take a 2-0 lead. In a post game interview with Dougherty, Tim commented on the match-up between Thug U Defensive Back Chris Crooks and Linebacker U WR Sergeant Slaughter, Tim had this to say (speaking to Crooks and Thug U QB Mike Trill), "You (Crooks) covered him good. Sergeant just took advantage of your (Crooks’) mistakes. You (Crooks) face guarded the whole game. I just tried to under throw Sergeant since he was watching the ball." Slaughter continued to take advantage of Crooks’ mistakes throughout the game, ending with 5 touchdowns overall, four against Crooks’ coverage.

As the game continued through the first half, Thug U WR Kevin Rayer would even the game up at 2-2 with a couple of long touchdown receptions. Linebacker U would answer the Thug U comeback with three additional first half touchdowns by Slaughter, Middleton, and Mark Marcelli, bringing the score to 5-2 at the end of the half.

The second half would begin with a Linebacker U possession. Dougherty began to mount a strong drive against the Thug U defense, but Thug U DB Mike Trill would turn a Dougherty interception into a touchdown, narrowing Linebacker U’s lead to 2. Linebacker U would return the favor with 4 unanswered scores. Slaughter, Middleton, and Bucella would find the endzone for Linebacker U in the second half. Thug U Lineman Keith Cottom would find the endzone on a pass from Trill, but Linebacker U smartly ran out the clock on the game’s final drive. Turkey Bowl IX would end with a 9-4 victory in favor of Linebacker U.

In a game that at times resembled a defensive struggle, credit needs to be given to Linebacker U DB Mark Marcelli and Thug U Lineman Tony Laughlin. Mark came to play, laying big hits all over the field, mostly felt by Thug U Receivers Matt Marcelli and Chris Crooks. Mark’s father, Peter Marcelli, made this comment on the sidelines, "When Mark was younger playing for Swarthmore, the kids on his team would ask Mark to stop ‘low bridging’ them because he hit so hard." Mark consistently made great open field tackles on the Thug U receivers. I can attest to this first hand, as I am writing this still feeling the effects of Mark’s strong hits throughout my body, mostly in my black eye and my broken thumb. Other sideline interviews produced similar comments and observations, but Eric Hazlett summed it up best when he said, speaking to Thug U receiver Matt Marcelli, "You guys sucked today."

Not all was lost for the Thug U team and fans. The Thugettes, the female counterpart of Thug U, took a victory in the first LTFL game, beating the Linebackerinas 2-0. Strong performances by Corinne Panco, Steph Haley, Jenna Crooks, Kerri Ward, and Samantha Marcelli led the Thugettes to victory.

The TFL would also like to bid a fond farewell and good luck wishes to WR/DB Sergeant Slaughter. After the game, Sergeant announced that he was officially retiring from Turkey Bowl play in order to concentrate on staying healthy for his military career. Slaughter leaves the TFL holding the number one statistical spot in the following categories: Touchdowns Scored in a Career (11), Touchdown Receptions in a Career (9), Touchdowns Scored in a Single Game (5), and Touchdown Receptions in a Single Game (5).