The Story from Florida
These Coventry Senior Midgets left no doubt that they are truly I-AA National Champions. Knowing the type of players and personalities that he had this year, head Coach Ken Cloutier knew that his Rams? team would be vying for a championship at either I-A or I-AA level. The Rams I-AA run started after the State Championship game in which the Edgewood Eagles escaped with a victory by only a slight margin of a 13-8 over the Rams. This loss automatically seated the Rams in the I-AA Championship bracket. How fitting of an opportunity is it for these indomitable Rams to go on and play for this Championship. After all, they lost a State Championship game that seemingly up to the final minutes no one in the stands knew who the victor would be that day. This group of Rams and Eagles have had nothing but close turf wars for the past three years. What the fans did not know during this bout for the State title, is that they were watching the two best teams in the nation at the Sr. Midget level affiliated with the American Youth Football Program.
To back up a bit, it was the exhibition game that prompted each team to take a closer look during the season at each others accomplishments. As the season progressed, one did not need Nostradamus to predict the battle that was soon to ensue. After that fateful day of championship play, both teams had earned each others respect and admiration. Both the Rams and the Eagles knew that their formidable opponent had prepared them for next rounds of Regional and National play. It was on this Championship day that each team made each other better. As sportsmanship and tradition warrants, soon after the gun sounded each team lined up at mid field for the congratulatory ?nice game?. It was reminiscing for those that walked through that line of the quote from the original movie ?Rocky?. At the end of the movie, a thoroughly exhausted Apollo Creed says there " ain't gonna be no rematch." "Don't want one," answers an equally drained Rocky.
Round one for the Rams came on Tuesday Dec. 5 th. Faced with an opponent they new nothing about the Rams came in with a desire and willingness needed to obtain a victory. Win they did. The Rams defeated the Westwood Seminoles from Chicago by the score of 30-0. It was another spectacular effort from both sides of the ball. The defense accounted for their 9 th shutout of the season (corrected from previously listed as 4 th). Coming up huge for the Rams were the four fighting in the trenches. DePrite, Powers, Higgins, Mahoney, Hallas and Vargas won the battle of the Brutes. When they weren?t making the stop due to them holding their gaps, Brinkman and Andrews filled all would be lanes and made the tackles.
The offense ?RAMmed? forward on the ground and in the air. One player stood slightly taller than the rest in the battle for yardage this day. Geoff ?the work horse? Powers rushed for 138 yards with 3 TD?s on the day. When he wasn?t slicing through Seminoles, he was running through them. But not alone in his quest for victory, Geoff new his teammates would come up big also. Palmer combined for 50 yards (rush. rec.). Brinkman came up big with hard nose running also combining for substantial total gains of 61 yards. When short yardage was needed the rams to turned several well intended players to get the job done. Pieczarcka, Andrews, Mahoney and Barrett did just that all combining for 40 yards including a Pieczarcka TD. Often when the sticks showed 3 rd and long, it was no secret whose # they called. Coach Dane unleashed Johnny ?Big Play? Ruest. There could be a circle of 5 around him, yet when the ball starts falling and six players go up for it, Ruest always comes down with it. QB Dan Ferdinandi will be the first to tell you how nice it is to have such a receiver on his side. Dan threw for 81 yards on the day while leading this Rams team to their dominant victory. Coach Ken knew he had to keep egos in check to be successful this week. And like all great coaches, he turned to his players and said ?Congrats boys. Let?s move on. There?s work to do and things to improve on?.
Round 2 was Thursday Dec. 7 th against the New Jersey team, the Embark Eagles. The Rams subdued the Eagles and won 22-0. This accredited for yet another K.O. by the Rams heavy hitters. Coach Powers have instilled in his Defense; ?Shut out a team and they can?t win?And that is exactly what his ?wall of Ram horns? did.Pieczarcka, Palmer and Ruest would not let their teammates break ?the wall?. These three corners knew that they were the last line of defense if the opposition broke one open. As leaders, they motivated the power players in front of them and praised them for their determined and successful efforts.
These were 22 of the toughest points that the Rams had to earn. The Eagles took many blows and still came up fighting. It was a barrage of blockers and hard running ball carriers that punished any would be tackles that attempted to slow these Rams down. Anderson, Veskovic (Micky), Almeida, Costello, Chaffey, Peck, Matteson, Palmiere, and Hallas were the front line that wore down the Eagles ?D? allowing the Rams gainers to pursue forward for all plus yardage. To watch these linemen at the snap of the ball brought on great satisfaction to each coach that trained these boys. They were faster and stronger than the players across from them. There feet keep moving which in turn soften the Eagles ?D? line.
The Rams running backs weren?t going to allow these linemen?s efforts go unrecognized. The fact that the Rams gained 214 yards on the ground this day is a testament to each lineman. Getting the bulk of the carries was Powers (125 yrds,TD). Palmer and Andrews combined for 60 yards on the day. Coach Ken and coach Dane Laboissonier are fortunate to have two QB?s that can get the job done. On this day Ferdanandi and Pieczarcka did just that. Pieczarcka?s ATT. /COMP. of 2-2 for 38 yards and Ferdanandi?s 30 yards and a TD signified that these Rams have arsenal of weapons. And when mentioning the word ?weapon?, how could one not include Jon Ruest. When he wasn?t playing the ?cow catcher? for this Ram?s train of RB?s, he was doing what he has done all season, being the ?Big Play? Ruest (pron; Rue-A). Jon set the tempo for the Rams on the opening kickoff when he took it 70 yards for the score. Expressing his thoughts to the team Coach Vargas quickly pointed out that every player on this team is of ?Big Play? caliber. He echoed the word ?Team?. Message received coach!
Championship Dec. 9 th, the Championship. From the opening kickoff it was complete dominance dished out by the Rams. It was undeniably, unmistakably and undoubtedly that the Rams saved their best performance for their last. And yes, they finished with their 11 th shutout of the season. What an affirmation! Coach Geoff Powers Defense as made him proud. They bent, but did not break. Has Coach Geoff tells us, ?they are not perfect, but they play perfectly as a defensive unit.?
When you have players like Barrett, O?Niel and Mahoney who read and react to the offense at the snap of the ball so well, it?s helps one to understand why so many shutouts are conceivable. No one can match the passion that Brinkman, Powers and Andrews play with. Their desire not only to stop the opposing offense, but drive them backwards, makes them three of the best Linebackers to ever of played at their level. After receiving the signals from Coach Geoff, Team leader Dan Ferdanandi quickly echoes it to his Teammates and adjusts his personnel accordingly to the offensive formations. The leadership did not stop there for this ?Wall of Ram horns?. Ruest, Palmer and Pieczarcka let their commands be heard when revealing familiar patterns of the opponent?s game plan.
Not to go unnoticed , Higgins, DiPrete and Vargas ultimately won the battle of the trenches this whole week in Florida. Their opponents knew from the first defensive stand they faced that these Ram boy?s would be their greatest challenge of their season. These down linemen not only wore down the offensive lines they faced, but literately broke through every line structure that the opponent?s could form. Hats? off to these warriors.
Offensively, too many weapons and superior game plans allowed this team to seemingly score at will. Head Coach Ken Cloutier harnessed these talents and positioned his players accordingly. This team?s accomplishment validates Coach Ken?s decisions.
Ferdinandi guided this Rams offensive for the past two years. His leadership when piloting this team is unsurpassed. Much like the rest of these Rams he finished strong. His success, along with all the ball carriers was greatly relied on of the Offensive line. Higgins snapping the ball and moving on to his next assignment showed of him the soldier that the point man needs to be. Protecting the ?A? gaps with tremendous success were O?Neil and Vargas. At the tackle positions Deprite and Hanson lead the charge each play. These two monsters in the middle redefine the term ?Gridiron Guru?s?. The Tight end that consistently logged in his targets was Tyree Andrews. These five superior Linemen are unarguably the main reason for the Rams total yardage throughout this championship game. How else could have the Rams offense account for the 413 yards on the ground that day without the ?Fab 5? leading the way. Would it have been possible for Ferdinandi to throw for 63 yards with a TD. I think not. The fact that the Rams totaled 476 of offense in this National Championship game ultimately attributes this team?s consummation to the ?Fab-5? that were really only fighting for inches.
On this day, many of these players could have been called MVP. But the title can only go to one. Geoff Powers earned the right to this title. Why not? He rushed for 208 yard accounting for two rushing TD?s. He caught a pass for 24 yards and took that into the end zone. Defensively Powers accounted for 14 solo tackles and appeared to be on every stop when the whistle blew. His presence is called upon on each special team, offense and defense. His high level of play never falters and his sportsmanship is transcended amongst the masses of Maulers. No one better deserves this prestigious adjudication other than Geoff Powers.
Also immensely contributing to this Championship victory was Denzel Palmer with 116 yards rushing and Tyree Andrews having 113 combined rushing and receiving yards. Johnny ?Big Play? Ruest helped stretch out the field by drawing much attention just by his presence at the Flanker position.
This team finished their season with the same way they started it, as a team. The Rams mindset of ?no ones bigger than the team? started six months ago when they stepped on the field for the first time. For most of these Midget Rams this has been their swansong game. Their youth football career for this organization comes to an end. Whether it be one year of service or like most, seven + years, their era of hard nose, gallant football has been seared into the youth behind them. The example sportsmanship, courage, respect and dignity that these Veterans have displayed as brought this Ram Organization into new light. Because of these retiring Midgets the Rams organization and Rhody Youth Football is forever in the history books has one of the Classiest programs in the Country. You boys have served us well. The youth behind you have big cleats to fill and a heavy torch to carry. But your positive lasting impression will be there guide. Boy?s, we thank you!
Coach Ken Cloutier, Coach Vargas, Coach Dane Laboissonier, C oach Geoff Powers and Coach Jon Ruest have instilled so many of the great qualities that these Midgets have displayed. Coaches, your efforts are appreciated and you are commended for your results. It is your by contributions and professionalism that allowed for this team to conquer the national Title.
Congratulations to the Coventry midgets and the Rams Organization.
