Flashes push winning streak to 35 games
By: Sean Moylan
It was important that the Florence Township Memorial High School boys’ varsity football team won its annual Thanksgiving Day game versus Riverside. Because the victory not only locked up another Freedom Division crown for the Flashes, it also pushed their winning streak to an unbelievable 35 games.
Yet no one ever said that the Flashes’ triumph over the Rams had to be pretty. And it wasn’t. Florence played a sloppy game, but in the end superior talent won out as the Flashes buried the Rams, 33-19, at the Pit.
"We had five turnovers. We didn’t have five fumbles the whole rest of the year," said Florence head coach Joe Frappolli. "It was a short week and they run an efficient offense. You just don’t have a lot of preparation time."
Even so, the Flashes never actually trailed, although the Rams did manage to tie the contest twice with touchdowns. Brendon Griffin kept the Ram in the game with two touchdowns, 188 yards rushing and a pair of receptions for 54 yards. Meanwhile the Flashes countered with a more multi-faceted attack led by sophomore back Quentin Loftin. Loftin scored the Flashes first (a 5-yard run in the opening quarter) and last (an 80-yard run in the fourth quarter) touchdowns of the game. He ran 10 times for an unbelievable 143 yards. What people don’t realize about Loftin is he has rushed for 576 yards this season with a mind-blowing 8.7 yards per carry average. Yet Florence’s show-stopper is still senior running back Abree Jones.
Jones gave the Flashes a 13-6 halftime edge with an 11-yard second-quarter touchdown. Jones scored two more touchdowns in the third quarter to put the game in the bag. He ended the game with 173 yards rushing on 19 carries.
"Joe Spahn had another big game," added Frappolli. "When he’s at quarterback, he gives us an added dimension because he’s a tremendous blocker (from his days as a fullback) and runner."
Spahn threw a pair of passes and he completed both of them for 65 yards. He also ran for 39 yards. Jeff Perro made a 54-yard reception while Shaquan Virgil made an 11-yard catch and rushed for an additional 23 yards. As good as the Rams offense was. the Flashes still outrushed them by 208 yards (392 to 184). Meanwhile Florence’s defense played well in spite of the turnovers.
"It was still a championship game but we just didn’t come out with the same fire," said Frappolli. "But when we had to turn it on we did. (Being undefeated) It’s a tribute to this 2005 team and their leaders Anthony Cardone, Joe Spahn and Abree Jones. Thanksgiving is still one of the biggest games for Florence High School."
The biggest game of the season will come on Friday at 5 p.m. at Rutgers when the Flashes play David Brearley for the Central Jersey Group I title.