2005: Mixed Game
The Eighth Annual PBI was a rematch of sorts from the previous year’s game. Ilan and Dan Fulop vowed to hand Noah Zimmerman his first defeat in the Thanksgiving Classic. With the creation of the PBI website, trash talk and chat forums added to the drama and anticipation. However 10 minutes before kickoff the Fulop brothers were nowhere to be found. As the Blue team panicked and delegated quarterbacking responsibility, Ilan’s Rockville Interiors employee car died in the BJE parking lot, and a stumbling, still drunk Dan Fulop emerged. After an emotional Star Spangled Banner, the hitting began on the first kickoff. Dan Fulop blindsided Ari Jacobovitz well after the ball had fluttered out of bounds on Ariel Oxman’s weak kickoff. However there were no penalty flags, but Jacobovitz got his revenge by leg wipping Fulop in the neck.
Both offenses moved the ball easily, scoring on their first two drives. The Red team used a balanced attack, featuring the power running of David Ochs, and short timely passes by Noah Zimmerman. The Red team culminated the efficient drives with short touchdown runs by Ochs and Zimmerman. The Blue team abandoned the run early and went to their vertical passing attack. Ilan Fulop’s first pass was good for a 40 yard touchdown to Jesse Dymond. Dymond was looking to rebound from a week 2004 showing, and dedicated the game to his brother, Gabe Dymond, who days earlier retired from the modeling industry. The Blue team’s second touchdown came on a broken play, as a scrambling Ilan Fulop found Elliot Totah alone in the end zone to complete a 20 yard score. On Red’s next drive, Noah Zimmerman capped on of the greatest PBI runs of all time, running over, through, and away from the entire Blue defense. Following a Blue team punt, Zimmerman drove his team on a long drive, hitting several different receivers. Ariel Oxman, Mark Krakauer, and Eric Horwitz converted third down receptions into drive sustaining plays. The Blue team failed to capitalize on a key third down pass to Oxman. Zimmerman found Oxman in the flat, who fumbled the ball into the air after being hit by Dan Fulop. However Oxman recovered the fumble in the air, and after fumbling the ball again, his teammate emerged from the pile with possession. With less then a minute in the half, David Ochs ran up the middle for a 7 yard touchdown. Red’s fourth 2 point conversion stretched their lead to 20.
Halftime featured a special presentation as the players presented Paul Blank with a $250 check to the ASIRT foundation. Spokeswoman Jackie Ochs was responsible for the artistic design of the giant check. Ms. Ochs has been the lone loyal fan of the PBI for many years.
Following halftime the Blue team took the field fired and ready to receive the second half kickoff. Place-kicker Ariexl Oxman attempted an onside kick, and recovered the ball before the surprised Blue team could react. David Ochs finished the quick scoring drive with his third touchdown run of the game. On the ensuing kickoff, Blue team return man Mike Reiter made an ill advised lateral which was recovered by Red team special teamer Daniel Leiber. The Red team needed only one play as Noah Zimmerman hit Danny Feuer with a 35 yard touchdown pass. Feuer, a surprise performer from the 2004 contest, burned Yoav Tal down the left sideline.
Down 24 points, the Blue team spirit was hurt, but not broken. Jesse Dymond returned the following kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown. The kick return, which is subject to two hand touch rather then tackle, was the first touchdown runback of a kickoff or punt in the PBI Classic. After the teams traded turnover on downs, Dymond ran several times, gaining 40 yards on the drive. Dymond’s 8 yard touchdown run brought the Blue Team within 20 points. On the ensuing Red team drive, Dan Fulop stuffed David Ochs on a 4th and inches, giving the Blue team possession with 3 minutes left in the game. The next play would be the games last. Dan Fulop took a handoff, ran left for 5 yards and was flipped by Noah Zimmerman. Fulop came down on his left elbow, dislocating it. The ambulance sirens marked the end of the game.
RED BLUE
R: D.Ochs 10yd td run (2point run by N.Zimmerman) 8 0
B: I.Fulop 40yd td pass to J.Dymond (extra point no good) 8 6
R: N.Zimmerman 2yd td run (2point run by D.Ochs) 16 6
B: I.Fulop 20 yd td pass to Elliot Totah (extra point no good) 16 12
R: N.Zimmerman 45 yd td run (2point run by N.Zimmerman) 24 12
R: D.Ochs 7yd td run up middle (2point pass to Y.Cohen) 32 12
HALF
R: D.Ochs 5yd td run (extra point kick missed) 38 12
B: J.Dymond 75yd td kickoff return (extra point no good) 38 18
R:Zimmerman 35yd td pass to D.Feuer 46 18
(2point pass to E.Horwitz)
B: J.Dymond 8yd td run (2point run by I.Fulop) 46 26
DAN DISLOCATES ELBOW
Receiving:
R: Oxman 3-40, E.Horwitz 2-23, Feuer 1-35, Krakauer 2-18
B: J.Dymond 1-40, Nagler 1-8, D.Fulop 1-3, Totah 2-30, Reiter 1-15
Rushing:
R: D.Ochs 15-125, N.Zimmerman 10-100
B: D.Fulop 2-12, Nagler 2-2, I.Fulop 8-40, J.Dymond 5-40
Passing:
R: N.Zimmerman 120yds, 1int, 1td
B: I.Fulop 95yds, 2tds
No Sacks:
B: None
R: None
Int:
B: Elliot Totah 1-0yds
R: None
Fumbles Recoveries:
R: D.Leiber 1-0yds
MVP – Dan Fulop (1rec/3yds, 12yds rushing, 8 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 dislocated elbow)
