Not This Time Around!
Spartan's Leave Delaware Stadium With A Win, As Blue Defeats Gold 31 - 20
For recently graduated St. Mark's football players P.J. Groves, Eric Cella, and Jamai Rice the 61ST D.F.R.C. Blue & Gold All Star High School Football Game offered something more than the honor and prestige that comes with being a participant. It offered the young men a second chance to walk off the field for the final time as high school players ,on a winning note. Had their season concluded with a late November loss it likely would have been disappointing, but still cause for celebration, for the trio who had already been members of two previous tournament teams. Instead, after a humbling loss in week 10 to their arch rivals, they found themselves on the outside looking in, at the postseason party. So when fate presented them with another opportunity seven months later they made the most of it.
From the opening kickoff the Spartans played as though winning mattered, and were rewarded when the Blue Squad defeated the Gold 31 - 20. It was a sentiment that seemed to be shared by many of their Blue teammates, especially those from teams whose season's ended in a similarly disappointing fashion. The classic, which showcases the states top players and benefits the foundation for Reaching Citizens With Intellectual DisABILITIES was typical of an all star game, with it's share of turnovers and mistakes. And while some might point to those mistakes or the Blue squad being more talented as the difference in the outcome, I felt it came down to desire. To me, it seemed as though the Blue team wanted to win just a little bit more than their Gold counterparts. The score was close throughout most of the game, but it never felt that way. It always seemed as though someone from the Blue squad would step up and make a play whenever the Gold threatened, and they did.
The contest started out with offensive fireworks, as both squads scored on their opening possessions. Then settled into a defensive struggle for the remainder of the half, with the Blue team taking a 13 - 7 lead into the locker room courtesy of a 100 yard interception return by Salesianum's Colby Reeder. The game would remain tight in the second half with both teams trading scores before the Blue put the game away with back to back touchdowns in the 4th quarter. St. Mark's participants, as has often been the case throughout the years, played key roles in the contest. Eric Cella was part of a bend but don't break defense, that registered 13 sacks on the Gold quarterbacks. P.J. Groves helped the offensive line pave the way for Colby Reeder's 144 yard, 2 touchdown rushing performance. And Jamai Rice saw action, and played solidly in all three phases of the game, though unfortunately did not get the opportunity to show his skills in a run heavy offense.
While it may not have been the moment on Raymond Field the players had hoped for, it was certainly one the Spartan captains could take pride in and satisfaction as being their last. It was also a moment that P.J. Groves could not have imagined possible back in September. After a season ending knee injury in the team's second game, he was left wondering if he would ever play again, nevertheless on the high school level. So naturally, when presented with a second chance to play , one would think he would be satisfied just to get on the field. Those that know him well, know different. It also offered the young man with his only opportunity to experience a victory in his final year. So it came as no surprise , when he said following the game "no matter the outcome it would still have been an amazing experience, but we wanted to win." A sentiment that I felt was shared by his fellow Spartans and Blue teammates, and essentially the difference in the game. After all, from the very beginning it was obvious they had no desire to walk off the field in defeat. Not this time around!