2002 In Review

Week 11

1-0 in the 2^nd Season

Northern Mercy-Rules Hamburg 35-0

Polar Bears Victorious in Round 1 of the PIAA District 3 Playoffs

Set to meet Daniel Boone in Round 2

November 9, 2007

Northern 35 – Hamburg 0

The 2007 playoff season get off not to a bang, but to a streak as the Northern Polar Bears flew past Hamburg on a biting cold, rainy Friday Night at Bostic field. Little was known about the 16^th seed from the small town near Allentown. They were 7-3 on the season and finished 2^nd in the Berks Inter-County Conference, Section 2. They boasted two 1000 yard rushers and their mascot is the Hawk. Last night at Bostic, none of that mattered as the Bears simply shutdown the visitors in every aspect of the game.

Hawk stud running back, Jordan Ernest was held to negative yards on the night. The entire Hamburg offense managed only 135 total yards as the relentless Bear defense rocked them play after play. Hawk QB Jared Ruppert threw three interceptions while only completing 5 passes for 38 yards. Everywhere the Hawks turned, there was a Polar Bear. It seemed as if Ryan O’Toole, Travis Wenger, and Tim McAleer were actually lined up in the Hamburg Backfield. Alex Potteiger and Eddie Stephenson stuck to the Hawk Wide Outs like glue and bear linebackers Mokes Davies and Hank Sanders finished off every hit with authority.

Offensively, Northern took the opening kickoff and marched straight down the field scoring when Jordan Rutherford threw a strike to Donnie Bell from 8 yards out. The teams traded possessions in the balance of the first quarter but as the second quarter began, the track meet was on. The Bears scored four more times in the second quarter the first of which, a 4 yard burst by Bubba Smith. Rutherford hit Robbie Bleiler from 20 yards out 1:13 later. Michael Davies ran around the left side for a 3 yard TD two minutes after that and with 49 seconds left in the half, Rutherford hit pay-dirt again with a 13 yard TD pass to Ryan Aumiller. At the half the rout was on. The third quarter began under the PIAA mercy-rule with the clock running continually and the Bears finished up emptying the bench. The second half saw some strong play by Brad Moose who had a pick and several tackles and Cody Whary at linebacker. Robert James had a highlight run when he trucked a Hawk cornerback on a burst over the left side. Rutherford finished the night 8 of 14 for 106 yards and 3 touchdowns. Mokes had 13 carries for 113 yards and 1 touchdown. Bubba Smith rushed 9 times for 82 yards and a touchdown. Northern as a team had 326 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Round 2 of the playoffs kicks off this Friday Night, November 16, 7:00 p.m. at Bostic Stadium. The Bears will face Daniel Boone from Denver, PA. Boone defeated Greencastle last night in overtime as they scored a touchdown first in the extended period but kept the Blue Devils out of the endzone on their try. GA had a 4^th and Goal from the 2 but could not punch it in. Northern fans may remember Daniel Boone because in 2004, Boone came to Bostic in the 1^st round of the playoffs. They led 22-15 at the half but fell to the Bears 38-30. Daniel Boone is where our Own Coach Mauck got his teaching and Coaching career started.