Bronx News Sports: Fordham Schools Yale

Bronx News Sports: Fordham Schools Yale: Rams 8-0 for First Time in School History BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 21- Chances are Joe Moorhead will not even dominate the topic of ...

Fordham Schools Yale

Rams 8-0 for First Time in School History

BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 21- Chances are Joe Moorhead will not even dominate the topic of conversation at his own dinner table tonight despite the fact that he led the Fordham University football team to its eighth straight win, becoming the first Ram squad since 1923 (the first year in which dates for all games are available) to open the season 8-0. But Moorhead will not mind that his daughter will share the spotlight tonight after throwing a no-hitter for her softball team because Moorhead has the Rams firing on all cylinders as Fordham defeated Yale, 53-31, in the Yale Bowl.

“It’s been a tremendous ride and a testament to these young men,” said Moorhead. “They bought into the things we identified we needed to do in order to win, which includes preparation, effort and execution along with all the little things and making no excuses. My hat’s off to them as they are doing a phenomenal job.”

Not only did the Rams advance to 8-0 on the season, they also closed out their non-conference season with a perfect 6-0 record, the most non-conference wins ever for Fordham and the first undefeated non-conference season since the 1988 squad went 5-0. Fordham is now one of four undefeated NCAA FCS teams, the only one with eight wins.

The game featured an explosive Fordham offense and a bend-but-don’t break defense. Junior wide receiver Sam Ajala led the offense, hauling in ten passes for a school-record 282 yards and four touchdowns (which tied a school record). Junior quarterback Mike Nebrich was the one getting the ball to Ajala, finishing the game completing 19 of 26 passes for 421 yards and the four scores while also rushing for another touchdown. Nebrich, who had his second straight 400-yard passing game, finished just six yards shy of the Fordham single-game passing yards record.

The game was Fordham’s fourth 50-point game of the year, the most 50-points games in one year for the Rams, who had never had more than two in a season entering 2013.

Defensively, junior linebacker Stephen Hodge made a career-high 14 tackles for the second straight week, 13 solo, including five for loss and he forced two fumbles, while Ian Williams also made 14 stops, eleven solo and he forced a fumble as the Rams forced four Yale turnovers on the day.

The Rams did not waste much time getting on the score board as on the second play from scrimmage, Nebrich found a streaking Ajala with a 68-yard scoring strike to put the Rams up 7-0 just 35 seconds into the game.

The Bulldogs used a long kickoff return to get deep into Fordham territory but on the fourth play of the drive, Ian Williams hit Tyler Varga, forcing him to drop the ball which was recovered by Levon Williams on the Fordham 22.

Later in the first, Yale took over on the Fordham 32 following an interception and three plays later, Henry Furman took it in from the 17 to tie the game at seven with 2:18 left in the first.

But the game was not tied for long as Nebrich drove the team down field and eventually found Ajala with a 29-yard touchdown pass with 22 seconds left in the quarter.

Early in the second, Jake Dixon sacked Morgan Roberts on third down at the Fordham 35, forcing the Bulldogs to punt. The Rams got the ball to the Yale 27 where the drive stalled and Michael Marando came on to boot a 43-yard field goal to make it a 17-7 game.

The Bulldogs took the ensuing kickoff and moved to the Fordham 14 but Hodge hit Furman in the backfield forcing a fumble which was recovered by Jordan Chapman.

The game remained 17-7 until the second play of Fordham’s first possession of the second half when Nebrich found Ajala with a 68-yard touchdown pass to put the Rams up 24-7.

Yale drove down to the Fordham two on the next possession but could not punch it in on third down and had to settle for an 18-yard field goal to cut the Fordham lead to 14, 24-10, midway through the third.

The Bulldogs attempted an on-side kick but the ball went out of bounds at the Yale 47, giving the Rams a short field. Fordham covered the 47 yards on seven plays with Jared Crayton powering in from the six for the score and a 31-10 Fordham lead with 4:33 on the clock.

After Yale made it a 31-17 game, Nebrich hit Ajala with a 43-yard pass completion and, four plays later, ran it in from the seven to make it a 21-point game again, 38-17, with 1:07 left in the third.

On Fordham’s next possession, Ajala tied the school record with his fourth touchdown catch, a 33-yarder from Nebrich that pushed the Fordham lead to 45-17, 2:32 into the fourth.

A Yale touchdown made it a 45-24 game just under two minutes later, but an Austin Hancock interception set up a Crayton one-yard scoring plunge with 5:20 remaining to boost the Fordham lead to 52-24.

Carlton Koonce rushed 20 times for 102 yards for the Rams, his fifth 100-yard rushing game of the year, while Tebucky Jones, Jr. and Wetzel each caught three passes.

After a bye week the Rams will return to action on Saturday, November 2, as they host the Holy Cross Crusaders on Jack Coffey Field at 1:00 p.m. in the annual Ram-Crusader Cup game between the two Patriot League Jesuits schools.

Bronx News Sports: St. John Schools Spellman

Bronx News Sports: St. John Schools Spellman: (Photos by Gary Quintal) By Gary Quintal BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 16- Saint John the Baptist broke a 6-6 second quarter tie...

St. John Schools Spellman

(Photos by Gary Quintal)

By Gary Quintal

BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 16- Saint John the Baptist broke a 6-6 second quarter tie with 36 unanswered points beating Cardinal Spellman 42-6 Saturday afternoon in the Bronx.  

Despite a strong first quarter that saw a 75-yard touchdown run from Spellman and a 6-6 tie, things quickly fell apart in the second quarter after a blocked Spellman field goal attempt that would have given them a 9-6 lead.  

Spellman visits Christ the King next Saturday for a 3 p.m. match-up. 

Bronx News Sports: Time Running Out for RKA Tigers

Bronx News Sports: Time Running Out for RKA Tigers: (Photos by Gary Quintal) By Gary Quintal BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 16- In Friday PSAL Bronx/Manhattan A1 division Girls ...

Time Running Out for RKA Tigers

(Photos by Gary Quintal)

By Gary Quintal

BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 16- In Friday PSAL Bronx/Manhattan A1 division Girls Soccer action, Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy hosted Stuyvesant High School at Van Cortlandt Park. The winlesss RKA Tigers had their best opportunity to win taking a 1-0 lead with a goal in the 26th minute of the first half.  

Stuyvesant however would answer with a goal of their own in the 38th minute and a second half goal to keep their owm playoff hopes alive. 

With only three games remaining, it does not look hopeful for RKA (0-12) to break into the win column. The Tigers play LaGuardia High School this Friday October 18th at Van Cortlandt Park.  Game time is 4 p.m. 

Bronx News Sports: Mustangs thinking pink

Bronx News Sports: Mustangs thinking pink: Women's volleyball will Side-out to fight breast cancer By Gary Axelbank The Monroe Mustangs women's volleyball team...

Bronx News Sports: Mustangs thinking pink

Bronx News Sports: Mustangs thinking pink: Women's volleyball will Side-out to fight breast cancer By Gary Axelbank The Monroe Mustangs women's volleyball team...

Mustangs thinking pink

Women's volleyball will Side-out to fight breast cancer

By Gary Axelbank

The Monroe Mustangs women's volleyball team is adding the color 'pink' to the royal blue and gold of Monroe.  

In an expanded commitment to the fight against breast cancer, the Mustangs are joining the Side-out Foundation's campaign that was established to unite volleyball players and coaches in furthering breast cancer awareness, education and patient services. The Mustangs have held Think Pink nights the past two years, but with the addition of this year's coin campaign, donation letters, and adorable pink socks for sale, their commitment will be season-long.

"Every Monroe player thought it was a good idea to become part of the Side-out campaign," said Assistant coach Lakeisha Milstrey, who is spearheading the team's effort. "Certainly this will make us more unified as a team to have a common off-the-court goal. More importantly, we are going to be raising money that can have an impact. At Monroe we play to win and this is win-win-win for everyone."

Fans will get used to seeing the pink donation buckets at the games of all Mustang sports, as the team circulates the stands for donations and the sale of socks. The original monetary goal was $500, but according to the team, that's already in the rear-view mirror. They expect to do a lot more.

"There's a life lesson here," said head coach Nephtali Delgado Reyes. "We attempt to achieve beyond our expectations when we play volleyball and now we're finding out that same effort can bring results off the court, too. I'm proud of my players for doing this and hope they can continue to do their part."

Fans are urged to look out for the pink buckets at all Monroe athletics events and the Mustangs ask you to 'think pink' and be generous!

This year's 'Think Pink' night for the Mustangs is Wednesday, October 16 at 6:00 p.m.

Bronx News Sports: Fordham Remains Unstoppable

Bronx News Sports: Fordham Remains Unstoppable: Football Stays Unbeaten with 34-12 Win at Georgetown BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 14- If football wins are equated to works of art, the ...

Fordham Remains Unstoppable

Football Stays Unbeaten with 34-12 Win at Georgetown

BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 14- If football wins are equated to works of art, the Fordham win over Lehigh last week could be compared with a Van Gough or Picasso and the win over Georgetown University might be looked at as C.M. Coolidge’s Dogs Playing Poker. But a win is a win and the Rams picked up their seventh in as many games today, downing the Hoyas, 34-12, on Multi-Sport Field.

The win keeps the Rams unbeaten at 7-0 this fall, the best start to a season since the 1930 squad also opened the season 7-0, while Georgetown falls to 1-5. Fordham is now one of five unbeaten NCAA FCS teams, one of two with a 7-0 record, joining Charleston Southern. The other NCAA FCS unbeaten teams are North Dakota State (6-0), Coastal Carolina (6-0) and Harvard (4-0).

“We’re very excited to get to 7-0 for the first time since 1930,” said Fordham head coach Joe Moorhead. “I thought we came out and started fast but we didn’t finish strong, especially on offense. I think the defense did an excellent job keeping Georgetown out of the end zone but offensively we had some miscues that didn’t allow us to capitalize on all of our chances.”

Junior quarterback Mike Nebrich, playing in front of a large contingence of family and friends from his nearby home of Lake Braddock, Virginia, led the way for the Rams, completing 35 of 45 passes for a career-high 405 yards and one touchdown while also rushing 12 times for 51 yards and another score. He completed his first 20 pass attempts in the game, setting a Patriot League record and tying the NCAA FCS record for most consecutive pass completions to open a game.

The 400-yard passing game is just the ninth in Fordham history as Nebrich joins John Skelton (4), Ryan Higgins (2), Gary Brennan (1) and Moorhead (1) in recording 400-yard games as a Ram. The 405 passing yards brings Nebrich’s season total to 2,166, the 10th best single season in school history while his 190 completions so far is already ninth best.

Nebrich’s favorite receiver was junior Tebucky Jones, Jr., who caught 12 passes for 182 yards, both career-highs. The 182 receiving yards is the 11th best game by a Fordham receiver in school history.

The defense had a strong game for the Rams, allowing just a field goal until the Hoys got into the end zone with 1:36 left in the game. The Fordham defense allowed 293 yards of total offense and returned an interception for a touchdown for the second time this year. Junior linebacker Stephen Hodge led the defense, recording a game and career-high 14 tackles, 10 solo, including one sack.

The Rams took the opening kickoff and drove to the Georgetown eight where Nebrich hit Brian Wetzel in the end zone for a 7-0 lead just over three minutes into the game.

The Hoyas moved to the Fordham 22 but a penalty and a DeAndre Slate/Austin Hancock sack moved them back to the 30 where Matt MacZura missed wide right on a 47-yard field goal attempt.

Later in the first, Fordham took over on its own 20 following a punt and Nebrich led the Rams down field, completing four passes, the last a 28-yard gain to Jones to put the ball on the eight where Nebrich took it around the left side for the score and a 13-0 lead with 2:40 on the clock.

Just over a minute later, Jordan Chapman stepped in front of an Isaiah Kempf pass and returned it 29 yards for a score and a 21-0 Fordham lead following a two-point conversion.

Fordham struck quickly in the second quarter, starting a drive on its own 41 where Nebrich found Jones open over the middle for a 48-yard gain. On the next play, Jared Crayton burst through the middle and into the end zone to give Fordham a 28-0 lead.

The Rams had a chance to increase the lead later in the second but Crayton fumbled on the Georgetown one when he was trying to pick up the extra yard after a 12-yard gain with 1:14 left in the half.

The Rams held the Hoys and got the ball back with 44 seconds remaining and they were able to get to the Georgetown 14 but a Michael Marando 31-yard field goal went wide left.

Fordham increased its lead to 31-0 on its first possession of the second half as Nebrich drove the Rams from their own 37 to the Georgetown eight where Marando booted a 25-yard field goal.

Later in the third, the Hoya got on the board with a 49-yard field goal to cut the Fordham lead to 31-3 after three quarters.

In the fourth, the Rams were backed up to their own one following a punt and a penalty and the Hoyas tackled Carlton Koonce in the backfield for a safety to make it a 31-5 game with 10:43 left.

On the subsequent possession, Georgetown moved from its own 38 to the Fordham 22 but couldn’t convert a fourth-and-three, giving the ball back to the Rams who moved to the Hoya ten where Marando connected on a 27-yard field goal to put the Rams up 34-5 with 4:44 on the clock.

The Hoyas closed out the day’s scoring with a 15-yard scoring pass from Tim Barnes to Michael Cimilluca with 1:36 remaining in the game.

Sam Ajala added eight receptions for 91 yards while Wetzel finished with six catches for 55 yards and the one score.

Defensively, Ian Williams finished with nine tackles, six solo, while Slate added eight stops, including two for loss.

The Rams return to action next Saturday, October 19, as they travel to New Haven, Connecticut, to take on the Yale University Bulldogs in the Yale Bowl at 12:00 p.m.

Bronx News Sports: Yanks Face Challenges, Girardi Says

Bronx News Sports: Yanks Face Challenges, Girardi Says: Skipper Resigns for 4-Year Deal but has Work to Do By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 10- Joe Girardi said family was a maj...

Bronx News Sports: Yanks Face Challenges, Girardi Says

Bronx News Sports: Yanks Face Challenges, Girardi Says: Skipper Resigns for 4-Year Deal but has Work to Do By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 10- Joe Girardi said family was a maj...

Bronx News Sports: Yanks Face Challenges, Girardi Says

Bronx News Sports: Yanks Face Challenges, Girardi Says: Skipper Resigns for 4-Year Deal but has Work to Do By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 10- Joe Girardi said family was a maj...

Yanks Face Challenges, Girardi Says

Skipper Resigns for 4-Year Deal but has Work to Do

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 10- Joe Girardi said family was a major decision in re-signing a four-year deal, reportedly at $17 million to continue as manager of the New York Yankees. He also admitted, the challenge guiding a team that is considered the most high profiled in sports weighed in the decision.

And the challenge will be an important part of a task that begins now for Girardi and GM Brian Cashman. The offseason moves of dealing with free agency, trades, and who will play a role on 2014 at Yankee Stadium will be many as the Yankees look to get back in the postseason picture after failing to get there this season. 

They finished the 2012 season with an 85-77 record, fourth place in the AL east and missed the post season for the second time in 19 years. The Yankees not playing baseball in October is not the same and Girardi knows that feeling. He wanted to be a part of this ride another four years. There was never a stage of getting to talk about the Chicago Cubs about their managerial vacancy or returning to the broadcast booth.

Girardi is a Yankee and he wanted it to stay that way. Reportedly, he is the second highest paid manager in the game and second only to Mike Scioscia of the Los Angeles Angels.

“I wouldn’t have come back if I didn’t think we could win a championship,” commented Girardi in a late afternoon media conference call. The manager admitted he is not used to being home this time of year, and his wife and three children played a major role in his decision.  

Girardi had been hinting about moving on after a difficult season. His team sustained one injury after another including a significant amount of playing time missed by Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson and Alex Rodriguez.  In total there were 56 different players on the roster, 27 with stints on the disabled list including first baseman Mark Teixeira.

“There a lot of holes to fill,” he said, referring to the loss of players to free agency, and of course the retirements of all-time saves leader Mariano Rivera and one of the top five all-time winning pitchers, Andy Pettitte.

There were also numerous reports that the Chicago Cubs were looking to offer Girardi a huge deal to manage there, but his current contract that concludes at the end of this month prevented any of those talks to proceed. Girardi, a native of nearby Peoria Illinois, and a former Cubs player, said there were never any talks with the Cubs.

“I have fond memories,” he said about days with the Cubs, adding those were special but his time in the Bronx as a player and manager of the Yankees have been special also. Girardi managed the Yankees to their 27^th world championship in 2009, finishing with a final 103-57 record in the second year of his contract that was set to expire.

However, this past season was the most difficult to deal with in his managerial tenure. Injuries to key players compiled, youngsters called up from Triple-A as replacements were still learning on the field. Girardi used what he had available that kept the Yankees in the hunt for a second American League wild card until the last week of the season.

“It was a big family decision,” said Girardi about his return to the dugout in the Bronx. “They wanted me to continue what I was doing. There was never a lot of thought of me not coming back. I just had to make sure.”

Yankees ownership wanted to get the deal done soon. This will be a busy offseason for the organization having to fill voids at many positions and trying to stay at the salary threshold of $189 million. There is also the realization that Girardi returns for the first time without Rivera, Pettitte and Granderson in the outfield who is a free agent.

Two of the “Core Four” of those five Yankees championship teams, Rivera and Pettitte, under then manager Joe Torre and Girardi, threw their last pitches and had emotional goodbyes in the Bronx.

“It’s a special place to manage,” commented Girardi, “because of the atmosphere, the history of the organization and putting on the pinstripes. Think of the things I went through this year, Mariano and Andy….that’s special.” He admitted that there were tears when Rivera threw his final pitches at Yankee Stadium and, when Pettitte and Jeter came to the mound removing him from the game.

  

When asked about what has to be done in order for the Yankees to fill those voids and get back to the postseason, he said, “I always know the Yankees will do their best. We need these kids to develop and play a role. You just can’t go out and buy every free agent at every position.”

He always knew he would come back, that’s why other possible managerial interviews were never set, and as Girardi said, “Coming back was not contingent on having any more of a role.” In other words, this is a job that Girardi sees as maybe his last in a managerial capacity, at least for the next four years.

He did say, this was a year of challenges and learning more how to be a manager. There was that adversity from April to September, including the never ending saga of Alex Rodriguez and a steroid controversy. And there are uncertainties about Rodriguez, in the lineup, come April with his hearing and appeal of an impending full season suspension.

Yes, it is a special place to manage. The first phase of this busy offseason is complete for the New York Yankees bringing back the manager who wants to be here. Filling in the holes to play baseball again in October remain.

“I want to be back of being on top and that is important to me,” says Girardi. And with him still in the managerial chair, providing the holes are filled, he will once again have that opportunity.

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com  Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso

Bronx News Sports: Mustangs pull Homecoming Upset

Bronx News Sports: Mustangs pull Homecoming Upset: Henriquez' circus catches stun Louisburg, 21-17 By Gary Axelbank BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 9- The Monroe Mustangs picked a ...

Mustangs pull Homecoming Upset

Henriquez' circus catches stun Louisburg, 21-17

By Gary Axelbank

BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 9- The Monroe Mustangs picked a perfect afternoon to pull the biggest win of their two-year existence.  

On a lovely fall Saturday at SUNY Purchase, during the college's 80^th Homecoming celebration, Monroe's Rudolph Henriquez (Irvington, NJ) hauled in three touchdown passes, including two spectacular grabs, to defeat #17-ranked Louisburg (NC) 21-17 for the Mustangs first-ever NEFC win. The Hurricanes came into the game with a 5-0 record. Monroe is now 2-3 on the season. 

"This is our biggest win," said a smiling head coach Terry Karg after the game, "and we did it against a quality team. All that work and all that time and all the commitment during the bye week (last week) paid off.  We worked hard every day to get this."

Monroe was buoyed by the return of quarterback Clayton Tuner (Marietta, GA), the season's original starter who was injured in the Dean game three weeks ago. Harried and hurried by a fierce Louisburg blitz scheme for much of the game, the freshman finished his comeback game 8 for 21 with one interception. But his gritty play was rewarded with the three TD passes he threw to Henriquez.

The first came off a three-yard shovel pass, which capped a 5-play 51-yard drive in the first quarter to give Monroe a 7-0 lead. 

With time running out in the second quarter and Monroe leading 7-6, Turner and Henriquez hooked up again, this time on a 64-yard pass that came after a Hurricane defender tipped the ball and, before it hit the ground, the sophomore wide receiver scooped it up and scampered into the end zone for a 14-6 lead.

With 6:37 left in the third quarter, the Hurricanes took an ominous 17-14 lead, scoring a TD off a two-play, 39-yard drive that began after an ill-advised Turner interception.   

"At that point, we never sulked, we never hung our heads," Coach Karg said. "That told me a lot about this team."

"You got my back and I got yours," a bruised, but ecstatic Turner told his teammates in the post-game huddle.    

Down by three with 8:54 to go in the game, Monroe was forced to go for it on a 4th-and-18 on the Hurricane's 30 yard line.  That's when Henriquez made one of the plays of the year. 

Turner threw him a low liner on the sideline near the Mustangs bench. As he bent to catch it, the Hurricane defender rolled over his back, and somehow 'Ru' was able to keep his balance while not going down. He straightened up and raced into the end zone for what proved to be the winning touchdown.

"I caught it clean and used my arm to keep my knee from hitting the ground," he said after the game. "It never touched," 

Henriquez led all receivers with 5 catches for 131 yards and the three touchdowns.

Freshman running back Robert Jackson (Plainfield, NJ) had a strong game, filling in for the injured Donald Thomas (Bronx, NY). Jackson carried 19 times for 107 yards.

Monroe's defense was stellar, stopping the potent Hurricane offense on numerous crucial plays. Though Monroe's 'D' only had one official sack, it was a big one by Benjamin Compton  (Windsor, CT) on the final play of the game with Louisburg knocking at Monroe's door from the 17 yard-line. 

Sumir Burns (Linden, NJ) led Monroe with six solo tackles and seven assists.

"It's a good feeling and we want to enjoy it for about 24 hours," Coach Karg said. "But then we're going to go back to work to prepare for Hudson Valley, who are an improved team since we saw them in a pre-season scrimmage."

Monroe will travel to Hudson Valley for a 1:00 p.m. game on Saturday October 12. They will return home to play their first-ever regular season game in their home city at City Park in New Rochelle on October 19. It will be a 1:30 p.m. kickoff against Lackawana.

Bronx News Sports: Truman Gets Needed Win

Bronx News Sports: Truman Gets Needed Win: (Photos by Gary Quintal) By Gary Quintal BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 9- In need of a win, Truman High School hosted the w...

Truman Gets Needed Win

(Photos by Gary Quintal)

By Gary Quintal

BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 9- In need of a win, Truman High School hosted the winless John Adams High School on a misty and soggy afternoon.  

The 1-3 Truman Mustangs had not won since opening week, but their fortunes looked good as they opened the game with a touchdown on a kickoff return and added another touchdown in the first quarter off a threeyard touchdown run.  

The run came on the heels of an Adams turnover as Truman gained possession on a fumble at midfield giving the Mustangs a 12-0 lead at halftime.  

Despite a 16 point fourth quarter push from Adams, Truman would hold on for an 18-16 victory.  

The Mustangs travel to Staten Island for a Friday evening match-up with Tottenville October 11th.  Game-time is at 7pm. 

Bronx News Sports: Fordham Rams Through to Another Victory

Bronx News Sports: Fordham Rams Through to Another Victory: Team Undefeated at 6-0 Photos by Gary Quintal By Howard Goldin BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 7- A capacity crowd was drawn to...

Fordham Rams Through to Another Victory

Team Undefeated at 6-0

Photos by Gary Quintal

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 7- A capacity crowd was drawn to Jack Coffey Field in the Bronx on Saturday afternoon to watch two undefeated, offensive college football powerhouses, the Fordham University Rams (6-0) and the Lehigh Mountain Lions (4-1) clash. The contest was the first in the Patriot League between two undefeated and ranked teams since 2009. At game time, Fordham was nationally ranked 13/12 and Lehigh 10/13 in the FCS.

The Fordham offense moved steadily on its first series of downs. The Rams marched 78 yards across the field. A 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Mike Nebrich to Sam Ajala culminated the successful drive.

The Rams took the football to the Lehigh nine yard line in their second possession, but settled for a 26-yard field goal by Michael Marando at 4:10 to raise the Fordham advantage to 10-0.

The highly rated Lehigh offense was finally heard from at the close of the first quarter as senior Brandon Bialkowski threw a 9-yard pass to fellow senior Sergio Fernandez-Soto for the first Lehigh touchdown of the afternoon, which cut the deficit to 10-7.

The Rams were first on the board again in the second quarter as sophomore Jared Crayton ended an 80-year drive with a 3-yard touchdown run at 10:17. 

The final touchdown of the first half was a replication of the first score as Nebrich again connected with Ajala with a 40-yard touchdown pass. Fordham led, 24-14, at the half.

The next Fordham score at 5:33 of the third was the third in which Nebrich and Ajala combined. The yardage for the score again increased as this touchdown was for 62 yards. Ajalaa’s three touchdowns doubled his total for 2013.

At the time of the next touchdown for the Mountain Hawks, 2:58 in the third, Fordham led by only three points, 31-28.

Two turnovers by Lehigh led to the next two touchdowns for the Rams as the home team took full advantage of the Lehigh miscues.

Fordham’s Ada Malkiewicz recovered a Lehigh fumble on the Lehigh 15 with 1:32 left in the third quarter. After a five-yard penalty against Fordham, Carlton Koonce, Fordham’s record holding ground gainer, ran 20 yards for a touchdown.

The next drive by the Mountain Hawks was halted at the Fordham 29 as Levon Williams made the only interception of the contest. On the sixth play of the Fordham drive, quarterback Nebrich ran one yard to score Fordham’s sixth touchdown of the afternoon.

Lehigh’s coach, Andy Coen, now in his eighth season at the helm, recognized the importance of his team’s errors, “The game flipped on the turnovers. They [Fordham] scored off that. That obviously was a difference.” He pointed out that a 31-28 contest with Lehigh in possession of the football became a 45-28 game shortly after those plays.

The remaining minutes of the fourth quarter did not affect the result.

There were many contributors to the victory on the Fordham offensive and defensive sides. Nebrich was especially effective. He completed 26 of 36 passes, four for touchdowns and none intercepted. The 384 yards gained was bettered only 11 times in Fordham history, including a 413 yard performance by current coach Joe Moorhead in 1995.

Coach Coen of Lehigh expressed extremely high praise for the opposing quarterback [Nebrich], “He’s the best one [quarterback] I’ve seen in my tenure at Lehigh [eight years]. He’s got great skill. He’s obviously well-coached.”

Koonce’s 127 yards gained on the ground raised his 2013 total to 752 in the six contests. Ajala caught seven passes for a career-high total of 166 yards and three touchdowns. Marando scored 10 points on a field goal and seven extra points to raise his year’s points to a team high 58.

Fordham’s six wins to begin the year has not been accomplished since 1988. The last season that the Rams began a season with seven consecutive victories was 1930.

Fordham will carry its undefeated mark to D.C. next Saturday afternoon as the Rams face the Georgetown Hoyas. The Rams will not return to Jack Coffey Field until November 2, when they host Bucknell.

Bad Break for Player at Clinton Homecoming

By David Greene

 

BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 3- The DeWitt Clinton High School varsity football team, the Governors, remained unbeaten after coming from behind to beat the Engineers from Brooklyn Tech High School on Saturday, September 27.

 

Played at Clinton's home field on Paul Avenue. the Engineers led the Governors at halftime by a score of 24-14. In the opening drive of the third quarter Brooklyn Tech senior Teshawn Guy was tackled and suffered a broken ankle and was transported by EMS to a local hospital.

 

The Governors regrouped, coming back with 16-points in the third quarter and an additional six in the final quarter, while Clinton's defense shutdown the opposing offense and defeated the Engineers by the score of 36-24.

 

Governors quarterback Brandon Harris led his team with nine completions for 198-yards, including three touchdowns and a fumble.

 

The Governors improved to (4-0) while the Engineers fell to (0-4.)

 

Clinton High School will next host Tottenville High School on October 6, before going against Lehman High School on October 12. 

(Brooklyn Tech player is helped off the field after suffering a broken ankle during his teams fourth consecutive defeat.--Photos by David Greene)

Bronx News Sports: Mustangs set up stretch run

Bronx News Sports: Mustangs set up stretch run: Tie Massasoit, shutout WCC, five games left By Gary Axelbank BRONX, NEW YORK, October 2- The Monroe Mustangs men's socce...

Mustangs set up stretch run

Tie Massasoit, shutout WCC, five games left

By Gary Axelbank

BRONX, NEW YORK, October 2- The Monroe Mustangs men's soccer team is in the midst of another winning season. Having played the always tough Massasoit Warriors to a 1-1 tie last weekend and blasted through an 8-0 shutout over Westchester CC, the 4-1-2 Mustangs are in tune for the stretch-run of the final five regular season games, leading to the playoffs.

"We've played well in some stretches and not quite up to par in others," said Coach Marcus DiBernardo. "When things are in gear, we have a good work rate and are mentally tough to play the full 90 minutes. That's what we strive towards, regardless of the opponent."

The game against Massasoit was a case in point for Coach 'D'.  He felt things were clicking, but the Mustangs just missed some first-half opportunities that could have been the difference.  

Monroe got on the board in the first minute of the game as Flilp Kula (Brooklyn, NY) assisted Amare Thomas (Trinidad and Tobago) on the only goal Monroe would get in the game.  Keeper Mark Weir (Scotland) stopped three shots, but the Mustang attack forced his counterpart at Massasoit into 11 saves.

The Mustangs were flying against Westchester, scoring early and often. The 6-0 half-time score was a signal to Coach 'D' that it was a chance to put his second unit in and so he substituted all-eleven to play out the rest of the game. They did not disappoint, showing off Monroe's depth with two more unanswered goals.  Thomas had three first half goals in that one.

Monroe will travel to Massachusetts over the weekend to play Mass Bay CC on Saturday and then will play at Macombs Dam Park in the Bronx on Monday at 4:00pm against Globe.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Cash Says Yanks Have Issues

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Cash Says Yanks Have Issues: W ork to do for Next Season By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 1- Two days after the New York Yankees completed an 85-77 season, their...

Bronx News Sports: Cash Says Yanks Have Issues

Bronx News Sports: Cash Says Yanks Have Issues: Work to do for Next Season By Rich Mancuso BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 1- Two days after the New York Yankees completed an 85-77 season, their ...

Cash Says Yanks Have Issues

Work to do for Next Season

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 1- Two days after the New York Yankees

completed an 85-77 season, their worst since 1992, Brian Cashman the

general manager said it the best way he could. It was rough, and there

are many uncertainties with the roster and does manager Joe Girardi

return for another season?

As of now, Girardi is still the manager and it appears he will be

offered an option to return for the 2014 season. Meetings with the

agent for Girardi are scheduled to begin Wednesday, and as Cashman

said at a noon press conference Tuesday, “We will provide a time frame

as to how it is going.”

Time frames and decisions will keep Cashman busy this off season. The

Yankees, for the second time in 19-years, are not playing baseball in

October and a discussion regarding next season in the press conference

room at Yankee Stadium to say the least is very rare this time of

year.

There is the immediate matter of resolving what Girardi wants to do,

the Alex Rodriguez possible suspension, the pitching staff, and of

course an infield that may not see much more of Derek Jeter at

shortstop. And after the conclusion of the World Series, second

baseman Robinson Cano is a free agent and the Yankees may not be able

to afford him.

Those are just a few of the many issues Cashman has ahead, always with

the goal of getting the Yankees back to the post season.

“We got derailed this year by decision making as well as injures,” he

said. Cashman did say, Cano could be the first Dominican born player

with Yankee homegrown roots to have a plaque placed in Moument Park at

Yankee Stadium. However, Cano, and his new profiled agents, are

looking to make the second baseman the richest player in the game.

And the question, how do the Yankees get under next year’s $189

million luxury tax threshold? If the A-Rod suspension, currently under

appeal for violating baseball’s anti drug policies, goes through, that

threshold question becomes easier.

The Yankees would not have to pay Rodriguez another $25 or 30- million

if he sits out a full season, and if the appeal is not favorable, the

high powered legal team that A-Rod has will plead a case to the

Federal courts. If that is the situation, A-Rod would probably be

permitted to play baseball in 2014.

But that is one of the many significant issues Cashman has at hand. He

would like to see Girardi return for a seventh season. Through all the

injuries, and roster moves, Girardi guided the Yankees until the final

days of the season for one of two Al wild card post season spots.

That did not happen, though Cashman would not say it directly, that it

was not acceptable, he did admit not playing in October clearly is his

responsibility as the GM.

“We’ve been fortunate for a long time to avoid what happened to us

this year,” he said about the injuries to Jeter, Curtis Granderson,

Mark Teixeira, the uncertainty of A-Rod and the Yankees having to use

56 different players, 27 on and off the disabled list.

Cashman added, “What happened this year derailed other clubs,”

referring to the Braves of 1996, a team the Yankees defeated in the

World Series without David Justice. “I take full responsibility what

happened, I am the general manager,” he said about the Yankees fourth

place finish in the standings.

As for Rodriguez, Cashman said until otherwise known, he expects the

third baseman to be ready for spring training in mid- February. “I

operate under the assumption A-Rod will be here.”

When asked about the possibility of A-Rod not being available, or what

players the Yankees may pursue via trade or on the free agent market,

the GM said, “I don’t know what is available what is on the trade

market yet. “That may include other options regarding the playing time

for Jeter.

The Yankees captain had two stints on the disabled list, was limited

to running on the bases, and there is every chance 2014 will be his

last season. Cashman said Jeter could be in the lineup everyday or be

placed in the designated hitter role, all depending on his health and

how the surgically repaired left ankle is.

“The left side of the infield is a priority,” he said about the

uncertainty of Jeter and Rodriguez, “Also at second base, questions

that have to be answered,” referring to the contract status of Cano.

He hopes Teixeira at first base is not a position to be concerned

with. ‘’His injury he should be fine and ready to go to spring

training,” commenting about the surgery to the left wrist. Cashman

also speculated there may be a need for right handed hitters.

On Ichiro, “He’s a great athlete. When he’s on base he obviously

changes the game for you.” The outfielder who will be 40-years of age

may not return after achieving 4,000 hits this season combined from

his playing days in Japan. “Don’t know yet. Depends on the situation,”

said Cashman.

So the production of home runs was down, and increased when Alfonso

Soriano was reacquired by Cashman. The Yankees played small ball and

scored less runs.  But in the end, it comes down to pitching and

Cashman has to address the future of free agent Hiroki Kuroda who did

not win a game in September, after a successful first half.

And does Michael Pineda finally throw a pitch after a 13-month rehab

assignment? Is CC Sabathia the ace? That, according to Cashman depends

on his health, the velocity of a fastball that diminished, and

avoiding the home run ball.

“Hope his numbers, are identical to the past,” said Cashman.  “We

think he can pitch towards that front end. The performance will speak

for itself.”

Yes, Yankee Stadium is dark this October. However, the meetings have

started. This is not acceptable, not playing baseball this time of

year. And there will be every effort to make it better because the

Yankees have that fan base.

And Cashman knows also, empty seats at the big stadium in the Bronx

will not look good.

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com