As the Trinity Catholic and Saint Clement football teams gathered for a prayer at the end of their Thanksgiving Day game yesterday at Tufts University, the scoreboard didn't seem to matter. It said that Trinity had lost 45-0, but in reality, how could anyone say playing football with your friends on a crisp Thanksgiving morning is anything but a positive given the odds stacked against the Falcons late this season?
Playing with just 16 kids, only two of them seniors, Trinity closed out its rebuilding 0-10 season with a hard-fought effort against the Anchormen. TC coach Steve McGonigle had nothing but praise for his team after having just finished a winless season.
``We had a lot of kids come out and play varsity football for their first time this year,'' he said. ``They all really just had to learn with baptism under fire for the most part.
``We have a terrific group of kids who are all improving, and I'm extremely excited about their potential in the coming years. Obviously, the present is disappointing, but we've been realistic about it the whole time, and our future is going to be a lot brighter.''
This game was all about the offensive line and rushing attack of the Anchormen, who ran at will on a depleted Falcon defense.
SC built a 12-0 lead in the first quarter on the back of Robert Ofoedu, who set school records for touchdowns in a season (20) and career rushing yards.
``He's an excellent football player,'' McGonigle said. ``Any team they played today would have had trouble stopping him. There's a reason he's coming to play football here (at Tufts University) next season.''
The Anchormen (5-5) pushed their lead to 20-0 on a 25-yard quarterback keeper, one play after a touchdown by Ofoedu was called back due to holding. Just two minutes later, Ofoedu was back in the end zone, making it 26-0 with 4:06 remaining in the half.
With under a minute remaining in the half, a crushing hit resulted in a sack, and fumble recovery for a touchdown for SC, making it a 33-0 halftime score.
It was more of the same just three plays into the second half, as the Falcons just had no answer for the ground attack of SC all day. A 43-yard rushing touchdown made it 39-0. After going three-and-out, Trinity recovered a fumbled punt, but it continued to be one of those years for the Falcons, as they fumbled on the next play from scrimmage. It was the first time they had been in SC territory all day.
The Anchormen were back in the end zone three minutes later. Trinity had one last chance to break the ice with a possession on the SC 15 with under two minutes to play, but couldn't break through the door.
Despite the tough season, in which Trinity scored only 22 points, McGonigle believes things will start turning around.
``We've just got to keep grinding,'' he said. ``We've got to make sure kids get in the weight room, and we really need to get more people to come out and play for us.
``You're not going to win many games when you can't even practice 11-on-11 during the week. We'll get there, though.
``It's coming.''
