Curtis makes Pirates walk the plank in a 16-10 Victory for PSAL championship

Date: Saturday, November 28, 2009, 4:52 PM

For the 2nd week in a row CHS's football team came from behind to defeat a great adversary. This time it was the fine tuned Tottenville team. With this victory came the pinnacle of kudos, the NYC PSAL football championship. At the beginning of the season CHS had lost two games. I wrote at that time that despite these two loses I believe this is a great team and I believed that it could go all the way. The team was a lot better than their early record indicates. Yesterday proved that.

What makes this team unique is not that they won, it's how they win, a reservoir of talent and a never give up attitude and I mean never give up. CHS won despite the fact that they committed so many errors. Most other teams would have folded. Fumbles, penalties and despite it they never once showed any signs of being demoralized one bit.Easley was being doubled team and sometimes triple teamed. Timmins and crew never let down and kept coming despite so many set backs. This team does not play flawless football. They have extraordinary talent and are relentless and will not be denied. The faith they have in their ability to come back is remarkable. The discipline to keep the faith shows the coaching staff has done an incredible job on teaching that attitude is as important as blocking. That never say die attitude can be all the difference in the world when it comes victory or defeat.

It was attitude that won that championship and got CHS into the playoffs. Talent-the winning TD by a second stringer named Gardner, who is not good but great. A shame he is a senior and didn't really get his full chance. He is a hard charger who is the understudy for another great back named Coles who was injured again. And again CHS never lost a beat when Gardner came in.He is a strong runner and isn't brought down to easily. The whole team is the ''right stuff'' .

This game began on a bright cool sunny day with few if any clouds in the sky. The heavy police presence was noticeable as both teams took to the field. Tottenville wore white Jerseys and purple pants.CHS in maroon tops and bright white pants. It looked like Tottenville had about a hundred or so players suited up for the game. Both teams looked like champions.CHS looked very relaxed,the Pirates looked sharp in pre game warm ups.

Both schools brought their bands. Totts had a great band and put on a great show with the display of floral colors and flags. CHS was so rinky dink they weren't even allowed to take the field. They were so embarrased they were stuck on the far side of the field in the end zone where they looked lost and forgotten. Why the band came at all was beyond me. I was told that no one but these few showed up and that's why they only had 12 or so members.

Well Kick off time came and CHS booted the ball. Tottenville was stopped cold and forced to punt and it was nearly blocked by an very aggressive CHS team. CHS returned the ball to the Tott 44 but it was nullified by holding, pushing CHS back. A couple of plays and again another holding penalty sending CHS way back. CHS was forced to punt and the Pirates took over on Totts 40 1st play stopped cold. 2nd down, Totts fired a pass on a square out on the far side of the field taking the ball to the 45 yd line. Next play they were thrown for a loss. The Totts came back with a sq.out to the nearside to the 37. The Pirates again went to the air. This time CHS deflected the ball and it was intercepted by CHS.

CHS took over and did what they do often, fumble. Tottenville took over and wasted no time as they went for a deep pass on the far side.The Pirates receiver stopped and came back under the defender and made a great catch on the 13. Next play the Totts fumbled for a 6 yd loss to the 19. Pirate QB dropped back but CHS defense rose to the occasion and dumped Tottenville for another 6 yd loss to the 25. Under pressure they tried another pass, incomplete. Undaunted , they threw a post pattern coming from the nearside and all alone and in for the score they went. The point after was kicked. 7-0 Tottenville.

Tottenville kicked off and a grounder of a kick. CHS missed the ball and it went past one of the return backs. Rather than fall on the ball he tried to pick up the ball and run. For this he was taken down at the 8. CHS came at Tottenville with 3 straight runs for 9 yds. 4th and one, CHS went to punt. But thanks to an offsides CHS now had another shot with the ball. CHS QB Brown made a great fake pulling away much of the Pirates defense. He rolled out on the near side and let the ball fly and McCoy reeled it in for a 77 yd score. Talk about the real McCoy. The point after CHS fumbled the ball but recovered it only to miss the pt. after attempt. CHS kicked off and then the quarter ended. As we looked onto the field the Totts were now going left to right. 1st play incomplete, 2nd incomplete, 3rd play short sq. out and off to the races as The Pirates took the ball to the 23. CHS's defense again came through with a 8 yd loss to the 31 by #21, Taykwan. The Next play was right out of the bible as Tott QB made a miraculous escaped from the grasp of a host of CHS tacklers to scamper to the 19 of CHS.

Then a N/S sq.out and 1st down at the 9. Again the awesome CHS defense came in loaded for bear and cornered the pip squeak QB for a 6 yd. loss to the 15. The pirates then tried a QB sweep around to the F/S of the field when LB Avery comes from the opposite side and runs him down for a 3 yd.loss . Tottenville comes back with a deep pass overthrown past the corner of the N/S end zone. Tottenville then attempts and gets a 35 yd field goal, 10-6 Pirates.

The Totts kick off and CHS returns it to the 32. CHS runs to the 36 and fumbles recovering but loosing 4. Next play, a rollout and an incomplete pass thrown. Time to punt, A fumbled snap but recovered and just booting it before almost being blocked.

Pirates try going to the air and are run out of the pocket for a 1 yd gain. They then come back with a deep pass and the receiver drops the ball on the CHS 45. Thank you Jesus! The Pirates punt and CHS returns it to the 36. CHS drives to the 47 for a first down when the 4 minute warning is given. Next play Coles tries to sweep to the F/S and is chased down and throw for a 12 yd loss. Then CHS is cited for holding. The Pirates decline the penalty. CHS attempts a run. Next a pass that is defected and intercepted by Tottenville but the play is nullified and CHS is given a big break as Tottenville is cited for pass interference. Allah be praised! The ball is now on the Totts 42. CHS is thrown for a short loss. Next they run off tackle to the 39. 3rd and 7 and CHS fumbles again. Totts recover on the 44. Totts sweep to the 48. Now they pass to the N/S and complete it down to the CHS 44. Again the defense come thru and throws them for a 6 yd loss to midfield. Pirates drop back to pass and are rushed. The QB dumps the ball but its picked off by CHS. But CHS is called for a questionable face mask and the Totts another shot. The QB again tries to pass and is rushed and again escapes the clutches what appears to be the entire CHS line. He has 4 blockers as he scampers down the near side, what looks like a sure TD when #25 Washington splits the blockers for the saving tackle. Thank you Lord . With that the half ends.

2nd half Tottenville kicks off. CHS returns the ball to the 41. Two plays and CHS marches to Tott's 44. Next, up the middle to the 39. CHS's offense is stopped and The Pirates take over on downs. The tail back goes for a 10 yd run to the 49. A quick pass to the N/S takes the Totts to the CHS 35. Timmins storms in again and throws the pirates for a 8 yd loss to the 43. Next Easley Knocks the runner and the ball is loose. CHS defender picks the ball up on a bounce and returns the ball to the Totts 13 yd line. CHS grinds it down to the 9. Next play they are thrown for a 11 yd loss. An incomplete pass, then another pass that is intercepted kills CHS at the 7.

Tott on the 1st play looses a yd. A poor pass and anther one to the N/S goes incomplete. Tottenville is forced to punt. Both teams commit penalties and the play is repeated. Tottenville punts and CHS fumbles again but luckily recovers on the 41.

CHS goes for 3 yds. A bad snap leads to a fumble and Brown recovers and is forced out of bounds. CHS comes back with a N/S pass but its picked off. Totts open up with a 12 yd run off tackle to the near side of the field. CHS closes down Tottenville and they are forced to punt. CHS gets the ball and goes for another 1st down. CHS fumbles another snap and takes a 1 yd loss. CHS to the middle and goes nowhere. Brown then goes to the air with a deep pass to the 32. Gardner Thunders to the 20. They try the middle for no gain then a 2 yd plunge. Then CHS is thrown for a 7 yd loss. CHS throws a long pass and completes it, however it's short for the necessary yardage and Tottenville takes over on downs at the 12. CHS throws Totts for a 6 yd loss. Tottenvlle tries a run, short gain. Tottenville throws a deep pass to the 50 and the receiver drops the ball again. 4th down and the Pirates on the 6 are forced to punt out of their end zone.

The ball is snapped. In comes Timmins. He breaks through and hauls himself over the punter. The punt is blocked and there is a scramble for the ball. Tottenville recovers in the end zone and takes the safety, 2 pts. Score 10-10. Furthermore Tottenville must kick the ball back to CHS from their 20. CHS gets the kick and fumbles but luckily recovers it on their 48. CHS now rumbles to the Totts 43 with Gardner. Time is running low and CHS is still trailing. A QB keeper goes for another first down but CHS is cited for holding. A big loss at the worst possible time! Then CHS calls a gutsy play to McCoy, a reverse down to the 38 The crowd stands in awe no one can believe it. CHS comes out of the huddle, time is ticking away but the warriors seem untroubled and come out like its the 1st quarter. Pressure is mounting. The ball is snapped and given to Gardner. He sweeps to the outside on the nearside of the field. He cuts up the side line and is nearly knocked out of bounds as he tip toes along the side line and then breaks free for the home stretch as he runs into the history books and the game winning TD. The Curtis crowd goes wild and the Pirates look like the devil took the wind out of their sails. Their ship is burning. The warriors are now beginning to nail the plank on the side of the ship. The point after is stopped cold and CHS fumbles.CHS must now hold the pirates in these waning moments. CHS kicks off twice due to a penalty. Tottenville takes possession at the 45. Two passes go incomplete. The 3rd attempt goes for 12 and a 1st.down. An inside screen goes for 9 yds.The pirates come out. They are moving from our left going right . They run, 1 yd loss. Two passes one to the N/S and the other to the F/S. Both go incomplete. CHS takes over on downs at their 35. You could cut the tension with a knife.

CHS's Gardner makes a 10 yd plunge to the 45. CHS takes too much time and the penalty with it. CHS comes back with a 12 yd gain. A 4 yd run to about the 42. Next play a time consuming run. No gain. The clock is ticking. CHS then runs a daring reverse and it gains 20 yrds with McCoy. For all practical purposes its over. CHS has the ball and Tottenville has no time outs left as all hope runs out like sands through an hour glass. Its a long walk to the end of the pier and the Pirates must walk the plank. CHS 16 Tottenville 10 HOOO-rahhh