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 | Round 2, Here we come... |
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| Posted By: Brian Pell on 2009-11-04 14:30:04 EST | Email Story | Flag As Spam | Comments (0) |
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After our loss in the last game of the regular season, we still qualified for the IL State High School Playoffs. However, with that loss, we were given a #16 seed (the lowest) and had to open up against #1 Hillcrest.
We traveled down south last Friday Night. It was raining all day. This has been a constant theme this football season. Fortunately Hillcrest had reserved the field turf stadium owned by the city and just down the road from the high school. It stopped raining about an hour before the game but the 25 mph wind was there to stay.
We struck first against their vaunted defense. They answered late in the 2nd quarter. Then they stood tall as we traded punts and turnovers much of the rest of the night. They took the lead with about 6 minutes to go in the 4th quarter 13-7.
We started our best drive of the night and scored to tie it up with just under two minutes. Then it seemed like a repeat of last week...another blocked extra point that would have given us the lead. Unlike last week, we stopped the ensuing kickoff and took the game to OT.
We won the toss so they went first. On their 3rd play, they ran it in from the 1. Going for two, we were able to stop them on the 1yd line. Then it was our turn. First play, a run to the 8. Second play, I hit my #1 receiver on a deep slant for the score. It was time for redemption!
After timeouts, Same Cote, hit the game winning extra point. Down goes the #1 and on to the second round for us. If you want more details, please feel free to read the stories below.
http://football.dailyherald.com/story/?id=333171
http://yourseason.suntimes.com/schools/wheatonacademy/1857109,103009-football-wheaton-academy-hillcrest.article |
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| Posted in football, high school sports, men's athletics |
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| Player of the Year! |
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| Posted By: Brian Pell on 2009-10-29 18:23:27 EST | Email Story | Flag As Spam | Comments (0) |
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Well it has been an incredible senior year. It has not been perfect but we have certainly achieved a number of goals.
The main goal was to make the playoffs in our new much tougher conference. So as we prepare for our first post season appearance since 1981, it has been an interesting week.
On the way to achieving a lot of these team objectives, I have had a lot of personal success thanks to the rest of the guys on the team. Included in the many thank yous are a very young offensive line who have stepped up all year, a tremendous group of receivers, and a coaching staff that has believed in us all.
So with that in mind, we had the annual regional awards banquet over the past two days. They split the conferences into two groups because of the large number. So last night I was thrilled to take part in the ceremony to receive my Player of the week nomination and awards from the season.
Then as a final award they name the Player(s) of the year for each conference. It is voted by the coaches within the conference so it has special meaning coming from all the ones you have competed against. So it is only fitting I was named Co Player of the Year with Johnny Magee from Aurora Christian. We had a classic duel earlier this year. My 395 yds (4 tds) to his 200+ yards rushing (3 tds).
It is a great honor and I was thrilled to receive it. |
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| Posted in football, high school sports, men's athletics |
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| Mud was made for 4 wheel drive! |
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| Posted By: Brian Pell on 2009-10-25 11:25:08 EST | Email Story | Flag As Spam | Comments (0) |
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It was the final week of the season and we were facing the St Edward Green Wave. For those not living in IL, then you cannot know just how the football gods have been frowning this year. It has been rainy and cold almost from the start every Friday Night. It is only fitting the final week of the regular season was the worst of all. It is also fitting it was an away game on what can be called a field only in that it had a goal post at each end. Nevertheless, it is this charm that makes football the greatest sport of all. We don't cancel or postpone because it is not perfect conditions.
Last week we went toe to toe with one of the top 20 teams in IL. We ended up coming up short but we played very well. I don't believe in moral victories but we knew we not only belonged on the field, we also knew we could play at a whole new level.
So this week against St Eds, we had to deal with a very good team fighting for their playoff lives and the elements. We both came in at 5-3 but with a tougher schedule, we had pretty much qualified for the playoffs based on the point system. St Eds had to win to get in.
It was a back and forth game all night. They made more mistakes but we had trouble getting our speed going in the muck. Based on a muffed punt by them and 30 yard TD pass I was able to complete, we had the lead at half by one point. The second half, they cut down on mistakes and used their fullback to pound the ball. They started to celebrate when we let them score to go up by 12 with 2 1/2 minutes to go...
We had other plans. With the ball at our own 35. I was able to drive us down the field and throw another TD to bring us within 6. We missed the extra point. We failed at the onside kick. Two plays later, we were able to strip the ball from their big workhorse. With a little more than a minute to go, we had our best 2 minute drive of the season. A couple of completions and a scramble later, I ran out at the 5. The next play I rolled out and completed to my #1 receiver, Anthony Ritchie as he tapped both feet before falling out of bounds. It was my 4th TD of the night and we were setting up to take the lead with less than 30 seconds to go.
Once again, there were other plans. We missed the extra point. So we figure we are going to overtime. One problem...we had to kickoff. It still bothers me to think about it. Watching from the sidelines, their small but shifty RB cut back after making the first few miss and score the winning TD.
I heaved a couple prayers from our own 30. The last one was intercepted as the clock hit 0.
The story is in the link below.
http://football.dailyherald.com/story/?id=331451 |
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| Posted in football, high school sports, men's athletics |
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| Can you say Playoffs? |
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| Posted By: Brian Pell on 2009-10-12 10:37:50 EST | Email Story | Flag As Spam | Comments (0) |
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Ok it is not official yet but for the first time since 1981, Wheaton Academy is eligible for the IL High School Football Playoffs with a 5-2 record. Yes, you read that correctly...1981. That was the last winning season for the program that was disbanded about 1989.
The program was resurrected three years ago. Since then we have had moderate success, challenged some of the big boys, and moved to a new conference. It is arguably the toughest mid-size conference in the entire state with two state champs, one runner up, and numerous quarterfinalists from last year.
So on Friday night we met one of those state champs from last year, Immaculate Conception. A very talented team that has lost a number of close games to some powerhouses this year. Most of the papers didn't believe we were ready to take on the challenge. We knew it was big because we were chosen as the game of the week by the local Fox Station.
On a sloppy field from two days of rain, we came to play. Our lines dominated both sides of the ball regardless that at some matchups they had us by 80 lbs. With the time the O-line supplied, I had one of my best nights of the year, 13 of 16 for 247 yds and 2 TDs. I also ran for another score. Our running back had two spectacular runs to hand IC the most lopsided loss of the year, 35-15.
Nothing gets easier. This week we face Montini which was just ranked in the top 20 in IL a week ago. We have shocked everyone so far, so let's see if we can do it again.
If you would like to see the coverage from the local papers, the links are attached.
http://yourseason.suntimes.com/schools/wheatonacademy/1816883,100909-football-wheaton-academy-imm-conception.article
http://football.dailyherald.com/story/?id=328018
Here is the link for the clip from the news:
http://www.myfoxchicago.com/subindex/sports/fox_jox |
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| Posted in football, high school sports, men's athletics |
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| A Happy Day!! |
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| Posted By: Brian Pell on 2009-10-05 20:18:46 EST | Email Story | Flag As Spam | Comments (0) |
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Well it was homecoming all last week. It was a great to be sure. As a senior, I want to take in as much as I can.
We played so poorly the week before, we needed a great performance against a great team. There was a players only meeting last Saturday. I am very happy to say, we responded with a big win.
What made it even a little more special, it was my father's birthday and I know he wanted a win as a present. It was a Happy Birthday.
I played pretty well personally. We were focused more on the run so I got to help a bit more in that aspect. I also had two TD throws but the highlight was on D. On a halfback throwback, I read it and stepped right in front to intercept the pass and return it 69 yds for the score.
For the official story, please see the link below.
http://football.dailyherald.com/story/?id=326333 |
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| Posted in football, high school sports, men's athletics |
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| A little more press is a good thing... |
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| Posted By: Brian Pell on 2009-09-30 17:10:43 EST | Email Story | Flag As Spam | Comments (0) |
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This article appeared in a recent Daily Herald edition. It is not a major mention but I know a few of these guys (and am friends with some), and it is an honor to be listed in the article.
http://football.dailyherald.com/story/?id=324025 |
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| Posted in football, high school sports, men's athletics |
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| Time to Rebound |
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| Posted By: Brian Pell on 2009-09-21 05:07:24 EST | Email Story | Flag As Spam | Comments (0) |
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Well it was a tough night on Friday. Offensively we played pretty well but we needed to be perfect. The twin transfer brothers (Magees) at Aurora Christian were better than advertised. John Magee ran all over us and we had too many mistakes to overcome it.
For me personally, it was good to get back on the field after standing on the sidelines last week. The ankle is still a little tender but it did not affect my performance. Don Beebe who coaches AC is a gracious coach and very complimentary following the loss. I hate to lose but most of his players are pretty cool guys once that final horn sounds.
The link to the story is here:
http://football.dailyherald.com/story/?id=322696
We are heading into the meat of our schedule and we have some very tough games to come. This coming week we are at St. Francis. They are the defending state champs and appeared to be ready to go for another. |
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| Posted in football, high school sports, men's athletics |
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| For Wheaton Academy's Pell brothers, football is a snap |
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| Posted By: Brian Pell on 2009-09-17 18:28:03 EST | Email Story | Flag As Spam | Comments (0) |
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This is a fun one that just came about today. One of the writers heard about the somewhat unique position my brother and I share. So after a phone interview, we are thrilled to bring a little more press for Wheaton Academy.
There are tons of football families. Many brothers follow in the other's footsteps. There are also a few that get to play together on the same field. However, I suspect having one snap to the other isn't nearly as common.
Minor correction: My brother could actually be a sophomore by age but he is a VERY young junior. The writer already called to apologize for the mistake. It does not change the theme of the article.
Enjoy...
http://football.dailyherald.com/story/?id=322031
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| Posted in football, high school sports, men's athletics |
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| 3-0!!! |
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| Posted By: Brian Pell on 2009-09-13 10:23:28 EST | Email Story | Flag As Spam | Comments (0) |
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Well the gamble paid off... I was dressed for the game strapped up and ready to go if the situation warranted it. However, I was able to play "coach" with my QB Coach and Head Coach signaling in plays and throwing in my two cents based upon what the defense was giving us. It wasn't all that necessary because...
Our Defense came to play! Kai Libby gets a ton of credit. He took 2 interceptions back to the house. My replacement, Tyler Bosse, at LB was laying big hits all night and pressured the QB whenever they sent him. All around stud, Anthony Ritchie, was all over the field and chased down the one long run they had. We ended up shutting out a good all around team in Guerin Prep 21-0.
My backup at QB did a great job filling in and making sure we had the victory. He threw some really nice passes throughout the night, one was a beautiful TD.
The ankle is about 90 - 95%. Doctors have been amazed at the progress. Swelling is gone... bruising is gone... I haven't lifted in a week so I have been stretching and starting to strengthen it. I will be 100% for the big game at Aurora Christian this coming week.
Please find the writeup below.
http://football.dailyherald.com/story/?id=320918
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| Posted in football, high school sports, men's athletics |
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| Just a sprain...whew |
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| Posted By: Brian Pell on 2009-09-07 23:36:45 EST | Email Story | Flag As Spam | Comments (0) |
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Well the news was pretty good. After getting some X-rays, it was confirmed it was just a sprain. Classified as a level 2 sprain, it was just below the "high ankle" so I am day to day.
I will certainly be done playing "D" for a couple weeks. I am currently rehabbing with the doctors and trainers every day. Right now they will only give me a 50-50 chance to play this Friday but I am a bit more confident.
Here I come Guerin Prep!
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| Posted in football, high school sports, men's athletics |
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