The Falcon Green Team evened the season series with the Falcon White Team at one game each with a 29-26 victory Sunday afternoon at the Siskey Y field. Daniel Zangmeister of the white team scored on the second play of the game when he took a handoff from Ben Marsico and wound his way through the green team’s defense for a long touchdown run and a 6-0 Falcon White lead. The two point conversion failed and the green team took possession on their own five yard line. On their first play from scrimmage, Ryan Brown took the snap from center and lofted a deep pass to Mitch Moore who had gotten behind the white team defense. Mitch caught the pass in stride and the green team was on the board. Christian Farmer hit Mitch with the extra point pass and the Falcon Green Team was up 7-6. The game was off to a flying start with two touchdowns in 3 plays and only a couple of minutes off the clock. The Falcon White Team has a high powered offense and they proved that on the very next possession. Moving steadily down the field Matthew Pedemont broke free behind the Green Falcon defenders and gathered in a pass from Ben Marsico for a touchdown and another 6 points for the White Falcons. Coach Alexander decided to go for two points and the turning point of the game came on the very next play. Mitch Moore stepped in front of the White Falcon’s receiver, intercepting the pass and taking the ball all the way to the other end zone. It was a four point swing. The two points that would have gone to the white team went to the green team instead. The White Falcons were still on top but now the score was only 12-9. The Green Falcons once again took possession on their on 5 yard line and came out with three straight runs straight up the middle by Paul Cunningham advancing the ball to midfield. The White Falcons pulled in their defense just enough to allow Ryan Brown to get behind them and Mitch Moore hit him in full stride and the Green Falcons had their second touchdown. The extra point failed but the score was now 15-12. The White Falcons once again drove down the field and looked like they would go in for the go ahead score when Ryan Brown intercepted a pass at the goal line to stop the drive and give the ball back to the Green Falcons on their own 3 yard line. The Green Falcons used a series of runs and passes to advance the ball to the White Falcons 15 yard line where Mitch Moore completed his second touchdown pass to Ryan Brown in the back of the end zone. This time the extra point was successful when Christian Farmer connected with Ryan in the middle of the end zone for the one point conversion and a 22-12 Green Falcon lead. Fighting the clock, the White Falcons were unable to score in their next possession and the half ended.
The Green Falcons had the first possession of the second half and used a lot of the clock driving the ball down field. Ryan Brown completed his second touchdown pass to Mitch Moore and the Green Falcons had scored on their fourth straight possession. Caleb Robinson caught the extra point pass from his brother Ethan and the Green Falcons now had a three score lead at 29-12. The White Falcons were unable to cross midfield for a first down and the ball went back to the Green Falcons. The White Falcon defense stiffened as the clock was winding down and forced the Green Team into a four and out. The White Falcons moved over midfield where Ben Marsico hit Daniel Zangmeister with a short pass and Daniel turned it into his second touchdown of the game. The extra point failed but there was a slight momentum change as the White Falcons still had life. The Green Falcons were still up 29-18 and the White Falcons needed a defensive stop to stay in the game. It took three plays for the Green Falcons to advance the ball just short of midfield where they could gain a first down and run out the clock. The fourth down pass fell incomplete and the White Falcon defense had come up big. They still needed two scores but there is always a chance if they could pull off the big play. The Green Falcons spread their defense and were determined to hang on to the lead. The White Falcons were able to move the ball but could not get the single big play they needed. Ben Marsico completed his second touchdown pass to Matthew Pedemont in the back of the end zone but with only 15 seconds left in the game. The two point conversion was successful when Trey Barnes sprinted around the right end past two defenders and into the cornor of the end zone. The Green Falcons had evened the series with a 29-26 win.
Another great game between the two Arborbrook teams. Both teams joined together at the end of the game for final words and a prayer from Coach Scott Tyson. This game and the season series ended as it should have with each team winning one game. Both teams competed hard while on the field and both teams strived for the victory. When the final whistle sounded, all the players walked off the field as friends and classmates. There is a lesson to be learned in the two games the Arborbrook teams played against each other. You can compete against each other for the same prize but the real prize is friendship and God’s love. I believe God looked down and smiled as the two teams huddled together at the end of the game.
