Friday 09/12/08 @ Maple Shade 


SCORE: Flashes  21               Wildcats 14

 Flashes open new season by raining on Wildcats parade
Junior Marcus "Flash" Rawls and seniors Josh "O-M'gosh" Stillwell" and Zack "Attack" Carugno have taken over the "Gridiron Greats" offensive attack. Juniors Ian "Groovy" Groover Sean "Steam" Harris and Brian "Lil Big Cat" Watts and Sophomore Bobby "Brickwall" Bruan have inherited big defensive responsibilities. Seniors Jimmy "Snake Charmer" Martinson, Kevin "Let's Go" Jiras and Jimmy "Big Jim" Narkun now provide the leadership experience as the Mighty Flashes set out to establish the new era of "Flashes Football".  They embarked on that journey last night with a gutzy win over a much improved Maple Shade team who had high hopes of a victory by taking advantage of the Mighty Flashes youth and inexperience.  On a rainy night and a slick field, the "Gridiron Greats" set out to begin defense of their Freedom Division title. With a strong Fan contingent and loud Cheerleaders & Band behind them, the young Mighty Flashes, took advantage of some early Wildcat mistakes to open up a 21-6 lead and then held on (by coming up big when it counted) to shutdown the Wildcats upset bid and take home another season opening win. 

The team that made the fewest mistakes was going to win. And Florence did, 21-14. The mistakes that made the difference were a blocked punt that led to the Flashes' first touchdown and a mishandled punt snap that led to Florence's second score.

“Maple Shade has athletes and a lot of people back,” Frappolli said. “We don't. Our young kids played hard. We just have to keep getting better.

A couple of questionable penalty calls kept the score close as the "Mighty Flashes" had a 52 yard touchdown run called back and a big gain that would have kept a drive in the Wildcats end of the field alive, nullified.

“They gave us all we can handle. We were able to take advantage of two errors in their kicking game. A lot of times on opening day it's the team that makes the fewest mistakes that wins,”  stated Head Coach Joe "Frapp" Frappolli.

Maple Shade outgained Florence 235-181,even  though the Flashes did outrush the Wildcats 152-59. Maple Shade had 17 first downs. The Mighty Flashes had nine.

Florence's first touchdown, a 26-yard pass from Jimmy "snake Charmer" Martinson to Josh "O-M'Gosh" Stillwell came two plays after a blocked punt. After The Wildcats cored to make it 7-6 on a one-yard run, the teams traded scoreless possessions.

The Wildcats's next possession ended with a mishandled snap on a fourth down punt attempt. Marcus "Flash" Rawls scored from three yards out on the next play.

Also adding to the Flashes offensive attack was the consistant efforts of running backs Zack "Attack" Carugno, Kory "Reds" Linaco, Sean "Steam" Harris and Mike "Mr. Mean" Staton

"Flash" would make it 21-6, three plays into Florence's next drive with a nifty 70-yard shake-N-bake run around right end. Also known as "Mighty Mouse" because of his small (5'5" 140 lbs.) stature, Marcus represents the epitome of Florence Football. Soft poken and polite to a fault off the field, but electrifing, confident and daring when he's in the game.

“You have to give most of the credit to our coaches,” Rawls said. “They really prepared us for this game, but we have a lot more work to do if we want to repeat as division champions''

Rawls finished with 125 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns.