LANDON FOOTBALL 36 ST. ALBANS 14

Yes, beating a team for a fifth year¹ in a row may be a bit underwhelming (conversely the opponents’ dismal season would have made their record memorable; see their faces post-game, but the foe is Saint Albans. Vanquishing the DC Bull Dogs (DCBD?) as a predicate for securing a share of the 2023 Interstate Athletic Conference makes it EXTRAORDINARY. In fact, Landon’s 7-3 performance is evidence of the character of all the Bears and of the exceptional Coaching by Coach Padalino and his able assistants: Michael Auerbach, Donato Bucci, Connor Cassidy L’08, John Furgeson, Daryl Hodge, Marty Klingelhofer L’77, PD Moore and Woody Wiegmann ‘06. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!!!

THE CLASS OF 2024 AND THEIR FAMILIES CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH TO THIS SEASON. Their leadership was palpable in critical moments; they would not lose!!!

correction 2024

StA received the kickoff but a QBH ANTHONY PANETTI and a Pass Breakup by SEAN MURRAY made their time with the ball short. The Bears started at their own 40 yard line and a mix of ground and air bought the line to gain to the Bulldogs 11 yard line. ANTHONY turned the corner and scored, plus the PAT team (Tiller Smith to Sean Murray to Chase Robertson made it Bears 7 DCBD 0 @9:27

The White Jerseys showed some talent as their O moved the ball 80 yards in 9 plays at 6:40 Bears 7 DCBD 7

The Brown jerseys started 60 yards from an answer. NATHAN FURGESON led the attack first keeping the spheroid through 3 StA tacklers for +13, then 8 yards followed by a 11 yd rush by #24 with the finishing touch being 2 Nathan passes first to Sean for 5 and then an 11 yard TD pass caught byTROY ULISNEY pat GOOD BEARS 14 DCBD 7 @4:54

The visitors did not fold. They put together a 18 play campaign covering 70 yards and moved the clock from Q1 to Q2 at 10:54. The Ball rested a mere dozen yards from the equalizer, BUT OH NO, the Bulldogs’ QB coughed up the ball. ZOOM—UBIE was GONE; he went ~65 yards on the scoop-and-score PAT good BEARS 21 DCBD 7

Another Sisyphean O possession for the visitors; they pushed the rock towards their goal, only to see their rock fly down the other end of the field. An StA RB trying to get a few more yards, fumbled and

saw Troy recover it. Senior QB DYLANARYVAND passed once, handed the Ball to Anthony for 7notches on the chain and then launched a 59 yard TD pass to CADEN SOUTHWORTH PAT GOOD, BEARS 28 DCBD 7

StA unleashed a single wing attack: TB and FB lined up behind the center and a QB (blocker off set to one side of the formation). Seventeen successive runs changed the point of attack from its own 27 to 1st-and-goal at the Bear 9. They reached the 2.5 line, brought in their T formation QB and saw a pass broken up by Troy at 0:40 remaining until halftime. The Landon 0 ran the clock to 0:00 and halftime 

After the intermission, DCBD maintained possession for 7 plays returning the ball to the Bears. An unfortunate Landon fumble set up their 40 only 66’ from a TD, which they attained. BEARS 28 DC BD 14

The remainder of the third stanza was punctuated by Landon interceptions; Nathan playing centerfield (though he’s a lax midfielder) grabbed the first and then Sean picked one off.  

Q4 started with a Bear O explosion—Nathan to Caden for 70 yards @ 5:26 2 pt PAT good BEARS 36 DC BD 14

Nothing of great consequence transpired in the last 300 seconds.  

FINAL SCORE BEARS 36 DC BD 14

Special recognition is due to Coach Padalino and his support team. Back in August, few would have forecast that these Bears would have had this high level of success. All the boys deserve tremendous credit, but the Teachers/Mentor/Coaches instilled the physical and mental discipline that beat opponents.

2023 IAC FOOTBALL TRICHAMPIONS celebrate with their fans

THOSE ARE BEARS!!!