Jenkins helps carry Florence to opening day win

Flashes trounce, 42-0

By:Sean Moylan
   Jorron Jenkins scored two touchdowns and rushed for 136 years on 11 carries. Bryan Maus ran for 43 yards on only six carries and also scored a touchdown. In many ways the Florence Township Memorial High School football team’s 42-0 shellacking over Maple Shade at "the Pit" this past Saturday afternoon looked like just another "day at the office." However, the Flashes were able to showcase some great new office workers and some "temps" who’ll have permanent positions at "the Office" in the years to come.
   Still, it was Jenkins, the hard-working veteran, who got the ball rolling with a 2-yard first-quarter scamper into the end zone.
   "After we scored our first touchdown, I knew they (Maple Shade) didn’t have it," said Joe Frappolli, the legendary head coach of the Flashes, whose team had more speed than Maple Shade (like the Eagles had against the Redskins on Monday night).
   Then it was Talbert Woodall’s turn to shine. Used as a running back when he first came to the Flashes, Woodall proved to one and all that tight end is his natural position by catching a pair of Ryan Shafer touchdown passes (7 yards and 49 yards) in the first quarter.
   "The fact that we throw the ball gives us balance," added Coach Frappolli.
   Steady and ready, Bryan Maus wrapped up the first half scoring with a 2-yard score and after Jenkins ran it in from 15 yards out early in the third quarter, he got the rest of the day off. And what a day it was. In addition to his running duties, Jenkins’ punts for the day averaged 37 yards.
   Meanwhile, Nick Lubraso, Florence’s defensive coordinator, showed Maple Shade more looks than it ever wanted to see. "He (Lubrano) just mixed the defenses up. They don’t have a lot of speed," added Coach Frappolli. Florence’s big "D" held Maple Shade to 60 yards on the ground and 27 yards passing.
   Steve Ordog, Chad Kessler freshman Joe Spahn and sophomore linebacker Brett Burg played well defensively for Florence.
   Meanwhile, facing its first big test, Florence’s offensive line of Ordog, Kessler, Bryan Miller, Burg, Andrew Semptimphelter among others, came through with an incredible effort. However, it was Florence’s backup center Joe Fitzpatrick who received the biggest prize when he recovered a fumble by a teammate to score a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
   Moreover, freshman Abree Jones had a terrific day kicking for Florence (two kicks into the end zone) and senior Maurjani Rawls and sophomore Maurice Calhoun each rushed for over 25 yards. Dave Tardiff kicked a couple of extra points and Dan Miller scored on a 2-point conversion on a Shafer strike (on Woodall’s first touchdown).
   "We knew Shafer has always had some natural ability, but he had a real good camp," said Coach Frappolli, who gave Shafer the starting quarterback spot.
   "We do whatever people give us. And we felt in certain spots we could throw the ball."
   They did. They ran it too and played an excellent overall game. Florence’s coaching staff of Frappolli, Steve Ordog, Lubrano, Joe Frappolli Jr., Ross O’Neill, and Aaron Bordash, had a sensational day calling plays.
NOTES
Florence is scheduled to host an athletic Burlington City team on Saturday. If the Flashes avoid turnovers they should do well. It will be Parent’s Appreciation Day at Florence.
   Steve Ordog was scheduled to receive the Brooks Irving award this past Monday. Jamal Lundy, a former Florence linebacker, had a terrific game for the University of Connecticut in a 24-3 victory over Buffalo last Saturday night in a game that was shown on the YES network. Lundy made countless tackles, broke up a couple of passes and hurried the Buffalo quarterback several times. Mikal Lundy (Towson State), an ex-Florence player, was selected as "Player of the Week" two weeks ago. Kevin Hutchison (Monmouth) and Najee Lundy (Kent State) are also doing extremely well for their respective college teams.