2008 Daniel Boone

Week 11

Bears Fall to Blazers to end Season

Daniel Boone Knocks off Northern for 2^nd Straight Year in PIAA District 3 Playoffs

Polar Bears Finish Season at 7-4

November 7, 2008

Daniel Boone 42 – Northern 24

When the teams took to the field last night after the pre-game pomp and circumstance, no one really knew what to expect. Daniel Boone resides in Birdsboro, PA, some 80 miles east of Dillsburg and 20 miles from Philadelphia. The Blazers play their games in the Berks Inter-County Conference, Section 1. Northern and Boone have no common opponents and their only knowledge of one another comes from last seasons’ upset in the 2^nd round at Bostic Field. That game is not a reliable barometer because so many of the players have moved on. So, here we stood at the opening kickoff completely unsure of the expectations and let unfold a hard hitting, action packed football game that saw ups, downs, miracle plays, effort and emotion all rolled in to two hours of District 3 Playoff football.

In the end, Boone had just too much fire power for the Bears but the momentum of the game teetered several times and had Northern been able to harness it, we could be talking about a different outcome.

At 9:19 of the 1^st Quarter, Robert James scored the games 1^st touchdown around the left side after Northern took the opening kickoff and drove the length of the field. The drive was exactly what the Bears needed after Boone deferred the coin toss to the home team. Not to be outdone, Daniel Boone under the field leadership of Jon Monteiro marched the length of the field and tied the game at 7 with 5:28 left in the 1^st. Joe Tuschak led the bears back down the field in the 2^nd Quarter into the red zone and looked to take the lead but a tipped ball at the line of scrimmage resulted in a Boone interception. The Blazers capitalized on the turnover when Monteiro hit his big Tight End Yarmush for Boone’s 2^nd score. Northern’s offense was dealt a sever blow on their next possession when stand out Sophomore QB Joe Tuschak was drilled by two Blazers on a quarterback keeper that left him seriously banged up. Joey remained down on the field for a long period of time while being attended to by the training staff and sideline Physician. Eventually he was helped up and off the field but would not return to the game. Senior Robbie Bleiler took over at the helm and when the Bears’ drive sputtered, they settled for a Jake Warner 37 yard Field Goal getting to within 4. Boone didn’t let up however and with less than two minutes to play in the half, Monteiro threw his third touchdown pass of the night giving the Blazers a 21-10 lead. On the ensuing drive and with less than a minute and a half to play in the Quarter, Robbie took the Bears down the field on the strength of his arm and his legs. The half ended when Robbie scrambled to his right and while being hit threw a dart into triple coverage that was somehow caught by Luke Barricklow in the end zone with no time on the clock. The extra point made it 21-17 and the half ended.

The 3^rd Quarter was all Daniel Boone as Monteiro threw for two more touchdowns. Northern tried to keep pace but were outscored in the quarter 21-7. There was no scoring in the 4^th Quarter by either team and the game finished at 42-24. An omen of victory came for Boone late in the 3^rd when on 4^th down from Northern’s 14; Monteiro threw a pass that was deflected by Tyler Potteiger right into the arms of Boone’s Joshua Ortiz. It was simply that kind of a night for the Polar Bears who played with everything they had in this 1^st round game. There was no quit, no dissension, and no ego. Like they had done all season, they won as a team and lost as a team. The 2008 Northern football team played well beyond expectations and the players and coaches should be extremely proud of all that they accomplished this year.

Northernfootball.com wishes Daniel Boone the best of luck for the rest of the tournament and congratulates the 2008 Polar Bears for a job well done this year.

Good Luck Seniors.

You will be missed.