PBI XII: The Vintage Duel, 22-19
Dan Fulop, reporting from Bagel City
A close game. A hard fought contest.
The seasoned veteran. The emerging leader.
Amazing plays. Constant lead changes.
A last-minute comeback. The Dramatic culmination.
PBI XII. Absolute classic.
PBI XII stands to earn a berth on bloggers' lists of the greatest PBIs of all-time, a contest that will be remembered as one of the most competitive and entertaining Thanksgiving football games ever. Like a debate between the two Talmudic schools of Hillel and Shammai, the teams bobbed and weaved during a low scoring first half and traded punches throughout the second half, matching each other’s touchdowns to combine for 27 points before a victor emerged in suspenseful fashion.
In the weeks prior to the annual PBI Thanksgiving football bout, analysts from Montrose Road to Tuckerman Lane agreed the 12th annual contest was shaping up to be one of the most evenly matched games in the event’s history. On paper both teams’ rosters featured similar overall talent, yet the philosophy and style contrasts of the Blue and Gold squads gave local armchair quarterbacks fodder for discussion. Most of the pregame analysis that filled the Jewish sports-talk radio airwaves, such as The Yiddish Voice – WKRP 1370 AM, predicted a close game won by the underdog Gold team.
The opening ceremonies featured standup comedian Jason Pickar (‘02) and a stirring rendition of the national anthem by Josh Bernstein (’15), a 7th grade student at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School. Bernstein, winner of JDS’s American Idol competition, gave such a rousing performance that participants in other pickup football games on the adjacent fields were moved to cover their hearts and stand in attention. The pregame festivities concluded with the coin toss, won by Blue captain Ariel Oxman (’99), who elected to receive the kickoff.
Before taking the field Gold quarterback and offensive coordinator Noah Zimmerman was asked by the lone member of the media for his thoughts about the sloppy field conditions. Zimmerman had a sneaking suspicion that the wet field may have been intentional – perhaps to capitalize on Blue’s power and limit Gold’s speed advantage. “I don’t know if it was an effort to slow us down, but the turf looked like Kozy Shack chocolate pudding, the kind I used to eat at the Fulop’s house.”
A close game. A hard fought contest.
The seasoned veteran. The emerging leader.
Amazing plays. Constant lead changes.
A last-minute comeback. The Dramatic culmination.
PBI XII. Absolute classic.
PBI XII stands to earn a berth on bloggers' lists of the greatest PBIs of all-time, a contest that will be remembered as one of the most competitive and entertaining Thanksgiving football games ever. Like a debate between the two Talmudic schools of Hillel and Shammai, the teams bobbed and weaved during a low scoring first half and traded punches throughout the second half, matching each other’s touchdowns to combine for 27 points before a victor emerged in suspenseful fashion.
In the weeks prior to the annual PBI Thanksgiving football bout, analysts from Montrose Road to Tuckerman Lane agreed the 12th annual contest was shaping up to be one of the most evenly matched games in the event’s history. On paper both teams’ rosters featured similar overall talent, yet the philosophy and style contrasts of the Blue and Gold squads gave local armchair quarterbacks fodder for discussion. Most of the pregame analysis that filled the Jewish sports-talk radio airwaves, such as The Yiddish Voice – WKRP 1370 AM, predicted a close game won by the underdog Gold team.
The opening ceremonies featured standup comedian Jason Pickar (‘02) and a stirring rendition of the national anthem by Josh Bernstein (’15), a 7th grade student at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School. Bernstein, winner of JDS’s American Idol competition, gave such a rousing performance that participants in other pickup football games on the adjacent fields were moved to cover their hearts and stand in attention. The pregame festivities concluded with the coin toss, won by Blue captain Ariel Oxman (’99), who elected to receive the kickoff.
Before taking the field Gold quarterback and offensive coordinator Noah Zimmerman was asked by the lone member of the media for his thoughts about the sloppy field conditions. Zimmerman had a sneaking suspicion that the wet field may have been intentional – perhaps to capitalize on Blue’s power and limit Gold’s speed advantage. “I don’t know if it was an effort to slow us down, but the turf looked like Kozy Shack chocolate pudding, the kind I used to eat at the Fulop’s house.”
Recap
First Half
After forcing Blue to punt on the opening drive of the game, Gold quickly jumped out to an 8-0 lead. Running back Jon Leener (’06) proved a good mudder on the wet and sloppy field, taking a direct snap in for a touchdown on a 6-yard sweep to the left behind a wall of blockers. On the two-point conversion Dan Fulop (’99) snatched a deflected pass out of the air from his tight end position.
The rest of the first half played out in a scoreless defensive struggle, as both team’s defenses were aggressive and opportunistic, combining for four interceptions (3 by Blue) and five sacks. Despite good field position from the glut of turnovers neither team was able to capitalize and several early scoring opportunities were squandered. On three straight possessions Blue’s offense drove inside the Gold 5-yard line, yet failed to score a single point.
The turnover spree started when Gold cornerback Michael Feldman (’06) intercepted quarterback Ilan Fulop’s (’02) pass and returned the theft 20-yards down the left sideline. Several plays later Gold quarterback Noah Zimmerman (’99) forced a pass into tight coverage that Blue defensive back Yossi May (’02) intercepted in the end zone. Blue subsequently marched to the 3-yard line, but Gold’s goal-line defense stiffened, and Blue was forced to settle for a 20-yard field goal attempt from Yossi May that sailed wide-right.
Leener replaced Zimmerman at quarterback on Gold’s next possession and attempted a deep pass to Feldman. The throw fell short and safety Oxman fielded the ball for another Blue interception. Oxman’s 25-yard return and a few quick passes gave Blue first-and-goal at the 3-yard line, yet once more they failed to punch the ball into the end zone. On three straight quarterback draws up the middle, Gold’s swarming defense clogged the gaps and stuffed Ilan Fulop each time, before a fourth-down pass fell incomplete.
With less than 1 minute left in the first half and deep in their own territory, Gold lined up its hurry-up offense, which consisted of only 3 receivers and a 7 man line for max pass protection. The aggressive play calling right before halftime backfired when Oxman collected his second interception of the game, this one off a Zimmerman pass deep down the middle into triple coverage, an ill-advised and uncharacteristic throw by the savvy veteran.
Three quick completions carried Blue within a few yards of their first score, and with two timeouts in their pocket, they suddenly looked poised to snatch momentum going into intermission. The Gold defense, however, which had bent all afternoon, particularly against the run, refused to break and turned in yet another key defensive stand, highlighted by linebacker Jon Leener’s third down sack. In total, Blue had run 3 plays from inside the 5-yard line and lost 5 yards. Blue tried to salvage the drive with a 27-yard field goal attempt, but Yossi May’s kick was blocked by the head of Blue offensive lineman, and true Gever, Adam Cohen. The gritty performance preserved Gold’s first-half shutout and their lead over Blue at halftime at 8-0.
Second Half
After receiving the second half kickoff, Gold opened the drive with four consecutive running plays, employing a ball-control offense aimed at consuming time and wearing down the Blue defense. Leener and Zimmerman found daylight between the tackles or straight up the middle, while short passes and screens prevented the defense from stacking the line of scrimmage. The conservative possession consumed close to eight minutes and included three successful third down conversions, yet Gold’s balanced attack failed to produce any points, stalling after two aggressive attempts at the end zone slipped through their fingertips, literally.
On second down from Blue’s 25-yard line, Zimmerman fired a deep-out towards the right corner of the end zone, placing the ball over the outstretched arms of two defenders and directly into the hands of wide receiver Aaron Schooler (’06). For a brief moment the aerial masterpiece entered the PBI’s highlight reel of most memorable plays, however, the sure-handed Schooler failed to haul in the pass. Following the game Schooler lamented his gaffe, putting the play in words that suggest it secured another place in PBI memory after all. “Quite possibly the worst dropped sure thing TD in history.” Gold remained aggressive on third down, as Zimmerman took another shot at the end zone, this time threading the ball to wide receiver Michael Feldman running a flag pattern in the left corner. Opposite side of the field, same outcome. Although he beat his man, Feldman dropped the pass and a chance to put his team up by two scores. Facing 4th down and still missing kicker David May, Gold had little choice but to line up for another offensive play. Blue cornerback Eric Horowitz (’02) batted down Zimmerman’s pass, giving his team possession and a much needed shot of momentum.
From this point on the game became a see-saw affair, a back and forth scuffle of constant lead changes. After Horowitz forced the turnover on downs, Blue ignited the offensive flurry on an improbable play. On 3rd and ten, Ilan Fulop narrowly escaped out of a would-be sack, then heaved a 50-yard pass to Jared Sichel (’08) who caught the ball at the 5-yard line and appeared down. Although Sichel fell to the ground, the defender never tagged him down, and the young receiver scampered into the end zone. Following the heads-up touchdown, a screen pass to Yossi May for the 2-point conversion was snuffed out by Micha Weinblatt (‘01), but Blue was finally on the scoreboard, trailing 8–6.
Gold’s ensuing possession quickly ended when Horowitz picked off a Zimmerman pass, Blue’s fourth theft of the day. Starting with great field position, Blue stormed down the field on completions to Steve Krupin (’00), Adam Heller (’00) and David Ochs (’02). This time there would be no goal-line heroics for Gold, as Ilan shook off several punishing hits on a 3rd down keeper to give Blue their first lead of the game. Again Blue failed to convert the 2-point conversion attempt when a pass to Ariel Oxman was batted away by Feldman, making the score 12–8.
The lead was short lived as Gold immediately countered with a scoring drive of their own; highlighted by slot receiver Aaron Schooler’s 25-yard catch and run. The 6-play drive culminated with Zimmerman’s 25-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Feldman, and after new arrival David May kicked the extra-point, Gold led by a field goal, 15–12.
Blue struck right back on their next drive, displaying tremendous resiliency to come from behind yet again. Blue retook the lead on Quarterback Ilan Fulop’s keeper, who found a hole in the line and went into the end zone from 1-yard out. Ariel Oxman kicked the extra point kick, giving Blue a 19-15 lead with 5:30 left in the game.
Yossi May’s kickoff was downed for a touchback, giving Gold possession at the 20-yard line. Trailing by four points with 5:15 on the clock, quarterback Noah Zimmerman must have experienced a brief bout of déjà vu, as one year earlier in PBI XI; he had led Gold on a come-from-behind drive in the game’s closing moments. Although his efforts the year before came up short, Zimmerman and Gold now had a chance to avenge their heartbreaking loss in PBI XI.
Assuming Blue would crowd the sidelines to prevent his receivers from stepping out of bounds and immediately stop the clock, Zimmerman threw a pair of short completions in the middle of the field, one to Leener and one to Feldman. Two incomplete passes brought up a long third-down, and having only advanced just past the 35-yard line, a sense of desperation seeped into the offensive huddle. But Gold overcame the situation on the next play with a 25-yard catch and run by wide receiver David May, who caught the ball at midfield and evaded 3 Blue defenders. Three straight running plays to Leener, the last a 12-yard sweep to the left, advanced Gold to the 10-yard line with 1:20 left in the game. Zimmerman finished the drive with a 7-yard touchdown run up the middle, finding an open seam vacated when 3 defenders followed tight end Dan Fulop. David May’s extra point kick gave Gold a 22-19 lead with 55 seconds to go.
Blue got the ball back with only 45 seconds remaining, however, they still had two timeouts and only needed a field-goal to tie the game and force overtime. After a completion to Oxman picked up a first-down, Gold’s prevent defense blanketed Ilan’s receivers and applied heavy pressure, forcing two incomplete passes. On third down the pass rush forced Ilan to make a desperate throw that linebacker Jon Leener intercepted with 10 seconds left. Two kneel-downs sealed Gold’s victory.
Halftime performance: Josh Bernstein
Player Statistics
|
Passing |
Completions |
Attempts |
Yards |
TD/Int. |
|
Blue |
|
|
|
|
|
I. Fulop |
13 |
35 |
186 |
2/0 |
|
Gold |
|
|
|
|
|
N. Zimmerman |
12 |
30 |
139 |
0/3 |
|
J. Leener |
0 |
1 |
|
0/1 |
|
Receiving |
Catches |
Yards |
TD |
|
Gold |
|
|
|
|
M. Feldman |
2 |
35 |
1 |
|
J. Leener |
2 |
25 |
|
|
D. Fulop |
3 |
35 |
*2-pt.conv. |
|
A. Schooler |
2 |
45 |
|
|
D. May |
1 |
25 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Blue |
|
|
|
|
A. Oxman |
5 |
60 |
|
|
S. Krupin |
3 |
35 |
|
|
A. Heller |
2 |
40 |
|
|
Y. May |
2 |
15 |
|
|
J. Sichel |
1 |
50 |
1 |
|
D. Ochs |
1 |
10 |
|
|
E. Horowitz |
1 |
3 |
|
|
Rushing |
Attempts |
Yards |
TD |
Fumbles/FL |
|
Blue |
|
|
|
|
|
I. Fulop |
5 |
25 |
2 |
|
|
Y. May |
3 |
10 |
|
1/0 |
|
A. Oxman |
2 |
–20 |
|
2/0 |
|
Gold |
|
|
|
|
|
N. Zimmerman |
7 |
45 |
1 |
|
|
J. Leener |
4 |
25 |
1 |
|
|
D. Fulop |
|
|
|
1/0 |
|
Defense |
Sacks |
Interceptions |
Forced Fumble |
|
Blue |
|
|
|
|
A. Oxman |
|
2 – 30yds |
|
|
A. Heller |
1 |
|
|
|
D. Ochs |
1 |
|
|
|
Y. May |
1 |
1 – 0yds |
|
|
E. Horowitz |
|
1 – 5yds |
|
|
Gold |
|
|
|
|
D. Fulop |
1 |
|
|
|
J. Leener |
1 |
1 – 15yds |
|
|
M. Feldman |
|
1 – 20yds |
|
|
Y. Cohen |
1 |
|
|
|
A. Nagler |
|
|
|
|
M. Weinblatt |
1 |
|
|
|
J.J. Sachs |
|
|
1 |
|
Kicking |
XPM |
XPA |
FGM |
FGA |
|
Blue |
|
|
|
|
|
Y. May |
|
|
0 |
2 |
|
A. Oxman |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
Gold |
|
|
|
|
|
D. May |
2 |
2 |
|
|
MVP: Michael Feldman – 2 receptions, 35 yds, 1 TD /1 int. 20 yds, 3 pass deflections
Referees: Zach Cytrin; David Friedland; and Thomas Gutterman.
Milestones
–Most sets of brothers = 4 – Ochs, May, Fulop, Hamburger (tied 2008)
–2nd most diverse game = 10 different grades
–Halftime score of 8–0 is the lowest in PBI history, surpassing 12–6 halftime score in PBI’s IV and VI
