We're getting closer to a definitive playoff picture.  Last week's scores were almost all indicative of a return to the status quo.  The surprise of the week happened to be a huge upset over Gonzaga by Paul VI in two overtimes.  The Panthers beat the Purple Eagles 41-38 in two extra periods to make it a push for a three-way tie for fourth place if the stars align.

Good Counsel waxed Saint Johns College 42-3 removing any doubt of who would get the number one seed.  The poor Cadets suddenly don't look so tough, despite having only one conference loss, as they are coming to the hardest part of their schedule late in the season.   The Falcons, on the other hand, look completely invincible and are on a virtual cakewalk.

The only team that appears to have a shot against Good Counsel is DeMatha -and that could only occur in the championship game at the end of November.  The Stags had a decisive victory over Bishop O'Connell 41-0, in a return to defensive domination.  If DeMatha is firing on all cylinders around WCAC championship time, look for the upset and what would amount to be the biggest win that the Stags have managed in football, to date.

In a battle for fourth place in the league Bishop McNamara came out of obscurity to keep their hopes alive with an expected win over Archbishop Carroll, 27-9.  The Lions still can't manage all that well on offense and the Mustangs didn't want to end their streak of playoff appearances.  The result: another horrible season for Archbishop Carroll.

In fringe WCAC news, Bishop Ireton thoroughly trounced Saint Mary's Ryken 51-0 which is leading me to speculate that both teams should be official participants next year.  If the Bishop Ireton Cardinals can be content with two or three wins in the league every year then they need to jump on this bandwagon right now.

Dandini’s 2008 WCAC Week 9 Power Rankings

I was way too busy over this past weekend with Howard University homecoming so I’m just a little late on the recap that I know you’ve all been waiting for. The Magic Number in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference happens to be four. In a field of eight teams there are only seven league games and four losses would mean that a team is under the probably cut for the playoffs with a conference record under .500

With that thinking being the conventional wisdom of the league, Archbishop Carroll and Paul VI have effectively erased all doubt that come November they’re going to be focusing on basketball while the top four in the power rankings will likely contest for the football championship. Although, one can never doubt what nobody is sure about.

I fully expect Saint Johns to lose to DeMatha in two weeks, in order to guarantee a much needed second seed for the playoffs. I imagine that it will be highly contested game because Good Counsel is making a bid to go undefeated this season and they will likely get the top seed. Of course Saint Johns could change all that by beating the Falcons tomorrow, but again, we’re dealing with slim probabilities here.

DeMatha finally showed signs of enthusiasm and thoroughly trounced Gonzaga in their own stadium 35-6. The Stags shut out the Purple Eagles for the first three quarters and tried to put previous lackluster performances behind them for good this season.

Bishop O’Connell handled their business against Archbishop Carroll at their homecoming, 20-14. The Knights have just proved what everybody knew about the Lions though: you can only get so hype and eventually potential sinks into reality.

Special note to the Lions: Fire Coach Houchens immediately. If you’re going to be last in the WCAC, you might as well be led by a college graduate.  You are a college preparatory school, right? How come your Assistant Athletic Director isn't a college graduate?  Hmmn.

Good Counsel isn’t letting their foot off of the gas even for one second, as they throttled past Bishop McNamara 42-6 in an offensive showcase. The Falcons beating the Mustangs has brought McNamara to the brink, and they will likely be eliminated from contention in ensuing weeks.

Paul VI proved that they knew what was at stake by taking Saint Johns into two overtimes. The Panthers have played everybody tough recently but haven’t earned a WCAC win yet, as they lost 34-27 to the Cadets this past weekend.

The season is at the half-way point and the playoff picture is becoming clearer. The top seed is all but assured. The second and third seed will likely be decided by DeMatha versus Saint Johns in two weeks. And the fourth seed is expected to be a shake down of Bishop O’Connell, Gonzaga, and Bishop McNamara.

Dandini’s 2008 WCAC Week 8 Power Rankings

This year is shaping up to be one of the most highly contested years of all time: with six teams in the hunt with less than half of the season left to play!  Can we finally admit that the WCAC is healthy?  I think so.

Howard Homecoming Bison Roundup Masquerade Ball Montage:

“Ain't no tellin where I may be / May see me in D.C. at Howard Homecomin’ /
with my man Capone, dumbin’, fuckin’ somethin’ / You should know my steelo /
Went from ten G's for blow to thirty G's a show / to orgies with hoes I never seen befo'”

–Notorious B.I.G from Kick in the Door

Eden

It has become painfully obvious that the football program over there at Howard University is in complete shambles. Long gone are the days of old when Gary Harrell was catching touchdown passes from Jay “Sky” Walker and Howard University played Marshall University for the Division 1-AA Championship back when I was in school. Indeed, times have changed right before my very eyes.

The Howard University Bison absolutely suck on the gridiron in 2008. The football team already managed to lose to Georgetown, Hampton, Florida A&M, and Winston Salem State this year. The only win that the Bison have notched, so far, this season came against Savannah State –a perennial cupcake. Needless to say, fans of the Bison don’t even have their hopes up for a homecoming victory against Morgan State this Saturday, but that shouldn’t stop the partying.

Howard University Homecoming is the quintessential event for the Black College experienced. No other HBCU homecoming has the star power and the see-and-be-seen appeal that ‘The Mecca’ has to offer. Legendary rapper Notorious B.I.G. rapped about it. Jay Z, Sean Combs, L.L. Cool J, and others have made regular pit stops there. Pageantry, fashion shows, and concerts are all good distractions when the football team is terrible. The highlight of the festivities will undoubtedly be the Friday Yard Fest on the main campus beginning at 11:00 AM.

Thousands of visitors will pack The Yard for free concerts by well-known artists and street vendors hawking the latest wares. Georgia Avenue promises to be totally out of control as niggas brothers from all over the country try their hand at creating a mini Freak-nic by slowing their roll in their shiniest rent-a-car rides to garner female attention. Howard University is known for having a ridiculous ratio of women to men, realistically estimated at 8:1, and some of the loveliest stuck-up black women on the planet. The statistics were long held up as proof that Black Males were an endangered species on college campuses, and even justification for everything from womanizing to shameless materialism.

Howard University Homecoming only serves to reinforce those stereotypes and legends, as students fill the nightclubs attired in finery during the week-long celebration that will culminate with Saturday’s definite trouncing probable loss. Fortunately the football game isn’t going to be a completely dull affair or the only game in town, for that matter. The Howard University Showtime Marching Band is sure to entertain and if you can’t get your pimp on while attending Homecoming events then you might want to check the validation on your Black Card.

Of course fraternity parties will be all the rage, and Black Greeks are still campus kings. Visiting busters members from other schools will surely put on their brightest paraphernalia and step on the campus where many of the African-american fraternities and sororities were founded. Some of them will be in for a rude awakening because the brand of brotherhood and sisterhood peddled at Howard is slightly xenophobic. As backwards as it sounds, if you didn’t pledge your organization at Howard, then you might as well say that you’re not in it. If I were you I wouldn’t go traipsing off to the corner of the end zone thinking it’s going down sweet just because you have a purple shirt, either. There are going to be way too many people that want to talk to you, just because of it, so I avoid colors and letters altogether at homecoming.

A word to the wise: bourgeoisie black rules apply. If you don’t have your good job-right connections talk game down, then you better believe that your influence in this sphere is going to be limited considerably. At Howard University networking is the key to a special kind of affluence that can open doors. Do you want to be one of the guys that gets to watch the football game from the sidelines of the field or are you content in the stands? Do your merely want admittance to the most fabulous parties or are you trying to hold it down in V.I.P.? Are you trying to blow major dank kick it on The Yard with impunity or are you just okay with hitting your friend’s squeeze bottle of gin and juice on the low? These are all questions that you would want to have answered before you arrive.

The football game isn’t going to be in question, however. Howard University has one player, apparently, and his name is Endor Cooper: The All American Middle Linebacker is a tackling machine, but if you can somehow get past him then you can score. Head Coach Carey Bailey, already in his second year, must not have known what he was getting into but if he wants to stay at our storied institution he would do well to surprise some people and win a few of these homecoming games. Lord knows black folk hate to lose on homecoming, even if he is a newbie from Minnesota…

At this stage, I’m a Howard Homecoming veteran so I’ll be concentrating on the bare minimum to keep my fraternity brothers and friends happy. The theme this year is Eden, and if you happen to be an educated African-american male with new Jordan’s, a fresh haircut, a job that requires the occasional use of cufflinks and access to some rims, you’ll soon find out why…  Talented Tenth peep game:

The Bruzz’ Eden Schedule

Wednesday, Oct. 15 @ 6:00 PM until 10:00 PM in Blackburn Ballroom: “Serenity” International Student Party. Free Admission. Caribbean students wind it up!

Thursday, Oct. 16 @ 10:30 PM in Crampton Auditorium “Cirque De La Vie” Fashion Show

Friday, Oct. 17 @ 11:00 AM until sundown Yard Festival

Friday, Oct. 17 @ 5:30 PM until 3:00 AM Rudy’s Old School Alumni House Party @ 57 Randolph Place. Free food. Free liquor. Free admission. Hosted by brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha and Kappa Kappa Psi. All cool Greeks welcomed, but tone it down…

Friday, Oct. 17 @ 7:00 PM in Crampton Auditorium Raheem DeVaughn R&B Concert

Saturday, Oct. 18 @ 10:00 AM near the Main Campus, Homecoming Parade.

Saturday, Oct. 18 @ 12:00 Noon in Greene Stadium: Howard versus Morgan State. Like every year, regardless of how well the football team is performing, this even is sold out. I hope you know someone important!

Saturday, Oct. 18 @ 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM @ “I can’t even tell you, pimp.” Exclusive Alumni Cool Kids Affair hosted by Bison Round-up’s Bryndon Moore. (You can’t get in.)

Saturday, Oct. 18 @ 7:00 PM in DC Armory: The Duel of the Divine Greek Step Show ($30).

Saturday, Oct. 18 @ 8:30 PM until 3:00 AM @ Bobby Vans. Masquerade Ball DJ Kid Capri and 92 Drew Crew’s own, Young Guru. (All inclusive, top shelf open bar, $100.)

Sunday, Oct. 19 @ 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM Bison Roundup Unified Alumni Brunch.  Station 9 (1438 U Street.)

If there were only enough time, then I would also suggest the For Alumni By Alumni (FABA) party at B. Smith’s restaurant in Union Station on Friday, Oct. 17 @ 9:00 PM. The truth of the matter is that it is way too far away from campus to see the kid and that there are just way too many parties during Howard Homecoming week. I’m not saying that it will be a bunk party or anything, I’m just saying that I can only attend the very best of the best given my elite veteran status.

Bonus:  Genesis Chapter 2

8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of The Garden, and The Tree of Knowledge of good and evil.
10 And a river went out of Eden to water The Garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.
11 The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;
12 And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.
13 And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. 14 And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.
15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of The Garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of The Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

Dandini’s 2008 WCAC Week 7 Power Rankings

Fast forward a week and the league is wide open. There has been a major blow for the Mustangs playoff hopes, though.  After a losing to Gonzaga 26-7, it has become apparent that McNamara is the sixth best team in the league.  Head Coach Bryce Bevill, a 1991 DeMatha graduate and former standout at  running back, has an uphill battle to guide his McNamara team to a third consecutive playoff birth.

The worst of the bad news for the Stags may be yet to come, though.  For the first time in a while I, myself, am doubtful that DeMatha is a lock for the playoffs.  DeMatha frantically struggled to beat the Panthers 21-13 at home coming off their blow-out loss to Good Counsel. The Stags have a lot of work to do if they want to make it happen this year and they are on long odds.

The main reason the Stags aren’t the favorite is because Good Counsel doesn’t seem to have anybody in their way. The Falcons absolutely destroyed O’Connell, 41-14, and eliminated any doubt if they would overlook a Knight team that has enjoyed recent success. Perhaps the only goal that Good Counsel has the rest of the season will come by avenging a regular season loss to Saint Johns College last year.

Saint Johns isn’t letting up the pressure or willing to concede anything to the league favorite, either, as the Cadets continued to roll in the WCAC. Archbishop Carroll was the latest victim of the Cadets who are vying for to be the best in the confines of the District. With a 35-12 win over the struggling Lions, Saint Johns College is playing well enough to count on making a post season appearance.

This season is awesome, so far, by the way.  If you're a DeMatha fan like I am we all know that this season could get even better, though.  I'm going to keep staring at my Halle Berry goal posts and hope for a Stag resurgence the likes of which we have never seen before.  Seriously, I don't mean to start talking it up out of fear of jinxing it, but you have to think that with the way the Stags have been playing recently, if they were to suddenly come out of their funk and win the WCAC championship it would be the greatest upset in Stag football history.  The reason why it would be an upset is because Good Counsel just continues to run roughshod over everybody that happens to get in their way.  In case you people haven't figured it out yet, everybody is saying that this is the Falcons' year.  Halle, I hope not!

In addition to DeMatha getting totally screwed with little lubrication doubled-up by Good Counsel 42-21 on national television last week the following scores were of significance to the WCAC:

Gonzaga showed Carroll that they don’t mean to be at the bottom of the barrel this year, beating them in the battle for North Capital Street 38-16.  Gonzaga gets a their first win of the season and further calls into question the quality of the Sparrow's Point win that the Lions were able to notch.

McNamara took care of business against the Paul VI Panthers 20-18.  The Mustangs barely beat the Panthers proving that the league is far more competitive this year than any other.

Saint Johns College narrowly escapes an upset from an upstart O’Connell team 13-6 in overtime.  One of the Trimble brothers could be out for the season and Knights might be coming back to earth after their five week high.  Saint Johns remains perfect in the league and could be looking to repeat the upset of Good Counsel like they did last year.

Of course the preponderance of talent on the Good Counsel football team might make a Saint Johns win the most unlikely of scenarios this year,  but anything can still happen. Absolutely nothing is solved yet.  Just about any team in the top six could win the remainder of their games and be crowned a champion.  I'm just going to keep right on staring at Halle's ass until all is right with the world, too. 

What is more, if you throw away the score of the DeMatha raping rogering then you can see that the scores across the board are getting closer.  (Halle, make the visions stop!)  Any thoughts about the league not being in great shape have just gone out the window in only six weeks.

Dandini’s 2008 WCAC Week 6 Power Rankings

Short Number One:  Politcs as Usual

I wouldn’t be in the least bit surprised if Senator John McCain shot Senator Barack Obama dead at the next presidential debate. (I'm covering the third debate on October 15, 2008.)  I can just imagine McCain in some repressed racial tirade that leads him to take on the cause of “good white citizens” by offing the “uppity negro.”

I, of course, am in no way condoning such behavior but McCain could be the tinder box that ignites the impending race war should Obama lose the election through any other cause other than his complete abdication of his campaign.  I also can't help but to think that signs like the one on the right should make John McCain think very seriously about being a spokesman for people making decisions entirely based on race, if he wasn't already one of them.  Silence on the issue is akin to consent.  If McCain were smarter he would have used this opportunity to deliver his own speech on race in America, in order to get the last word in.  But I'm just a Black Republican, what do I know?

Short Number Two:  Classic Friday Night DIC Loses a Crazy Bitch in Just One Hour!

Picture DIC holding it down at the crib trying to figure out how to break it to yonder SillyGirl that he isn't really all that interested in seeing her because something is amiss with the va-jay-jay.  Lets just say that SillyGirl's vagina was significantly devalued -probably the result of previous wanton deregulation because she was mentally impaired. Not to mention SillyGirl had a penchant for letting stupid shit come out of her mouth like "I love you."  Furthermore, SillyGirl went so far to write "I love you" in a Hallmark card and actually hand delivered it with the expectation that DIC would open it on the spot and read it!  Needless to say, after only one week of real dating (4 actual dates spread over six months), it was a little bit hard to believe the true depths of SillyGirls emotions.  Hoes lie.  DIC would employ the classic defense, How to Lose a Crazy Bitch in an Hour.

Rather than say it outright, DIC comes up with the plan to continue to bide his time by passively-aggressively never asking to see her again.  In DIC's experience, it never pays to wait on love bombs because after they go off girls usually want reciprocation.  Besides, an early love bomb usually means that a girl doesn't have a good relationship with her father and the instability that comes from such a significant failed relationship can be the source of some serious crazy.  Hoes are needy.  DIC's rule is to never break away from crazy, but to make crazy break away from DIC.  Essentially this is the waiting game in reverse routine: you need to seem considerate enough to stay in contact until the other person breaks it off.  The key to this move is to never let on that you do not intend to see the person again, while keeping all interactions either public or long distance.  (Pimp translation: Long-D-in-them hoes.) 

8:03 PM DIC texts: “So how was your day?”

8:07 PM SillyGirl texts: “Good! Very productive. How is New York?”

8:08 PM DIC texts “I’m holding down DC. May go out drinking...”

8:10 PM SillyGirl texts “Oh Cool. Yeah I think we are going to Ibiza.”

1. This is the confirmation that DIC was concerned about: he did not want to be on the hook for a Friday night with SillyGirl and he successfully ensured that she would be with friends at some bullshit nightclub instead.
2. Never try this move with a girl that you actually care for.  You know niggas are sitting up in the club plotting on your fine pussy.  If she's fine enough, never let a woman that you intend to keep go to the club, alone or with "friends."  Keep that chick in a hijab.

8:26 PM SillyGirl texts “Ok one friend won’t be ready for another two hours and the other is still in MD. Do u want to hang out? I’m restless… girls I tell ya.”

1. Fifteen minutes later there was an apparent reversal shameless ploy that was met by no response.  A non-response is the best thing that you can do in this instance because it essential says: bitch, I'm not paying attention to you...  aren't you supposed to be somewhere?

8:34 PM SillyGirl calls to push the issue. DIC politely reminds SillyGirl that the two of them did not make plans. (DIC told himself about a year ago that he would never “make plans” with a woman again because of StupidGirl.  See #2 below.) Instead, DIC informs SillyGirl of his intentions to hold down the PlayStation in his velour Fila sweat suit until it was late enough (1 AM) to go to the all-night steak place with the full bar and hold that down. The two hang up amicably with DIC saying “I’ll call you later.”

1. Picking up the phone and calling to confirm was a very calculated and shrewd move by SillyGirl.  But, chances are she never factored in DIC's resolve to leave her Silly ass alone on a Friday night.
2. She is Silly, not stupid.  (StupidGirl never got the memo that DIC never calling or making plans meant that DIC never wanted to see her again because she was stupid.)  SillyGirl definitely got it because after a a solid week of "how was your day?" texts with no planning she became irritated.
3. If DIC says that he'll "call you later" you can bet that is the last time you're going to hear his voice for a while, probably until you call DIC again.

8:39 PM SillyGirl texts “Things are so always on your page and on your terms. I’m not interested in steak so no need to call me later.”

1. Steak houses that stay open past midnight with full bars don't come cheap.  Whether she ate beef or not, the bill was more than her salary could afford.  With no expectation of intercourse, DIC wondered what SillyGirl thought that she would be bringing to the table?  Who invited this hoe?  Who told this bitch she was invited?
2. Nobody invited SillyGirl so instead of finding a stand-in replacement, this money should be looked at as an unexpected boon that could be put towards some much needed hallucinogens.

8:52 PM DIC texts “I thought that you had plans. You are so demanding. How am I supposed to adapt to your girl running late in Maryland? My steelo already changed for you.”

1. This is the classic crazy-talk rouse.  It gives the appearance of giving a fuck without actually changing the scenario one bit.

8:56 PM SillyGirl texts “No I’m not. We honestly do whatever you want. I think I seriously want to just deal with you platonically. Its bigger than tonight. You are on [DIC] mode. Good night.”

8:58 PM DIC texts “Ok.”

And just like that people, DIC is gone.  Nights like this is the reason that 18-year-old scotch was invented.  Glenlivet Scotch, Davidoff cigars, PlayStation football, and steak is a much better short term deal than conversations about feelings, entertaining silliness, and suspect mental states.

Congratulations to Good Counsel on an amazing game, and a sold win. The game was never in any doubt. It was still exciting to watch because Caleb Porzel put on a dazzling display of athleticism and Jelani Jenkins' play-making ability is absolutely pure.  The dynamic duo was too much for Tommy Chroniger.

I don’t think that the Stags had an answer for that. DeMatha will have their work cut out for them if they want to salvage this season. This was evident by the fact that Good Counsel doubled-up the Stags, 42-21, on national television.  A record of 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the WCAC isn't a good look for the Stags.  In reality, there is now going to be a dog fight for second and third place in the league because there is a new favorite in town.

The Falcons are giving me the same feeling that I got from Gonzaga basketball last year, only the Stags might not get a second chance to knock-off the undefeated team.  It hurts to say it, but DeMatha is probably going to need some help from an unlikely source or two in the WCAC.  It is extremely unlikely, but the Stags need someone good enough to surprise Good Counsel and yet still able to get lost in the DeMatha mystique.

DeMatha @ O'Connell suddenly became important.

About this time, some of you really should examine why we're paying all this attention to high school football.  Some of you read Highlight of the Season and thought that I went way too far.

I'm hoping that this post will justify some of the hype.  This post is about a look back on the battles of previous years between DeMatha Catholic High School and Our Lady of Good Counsel High School on the football field so you can put the big game tomorrow into perspective. 

For our purposes here, I'm going to recap the drama from the time that Good Counsel actually got on the proverbial WCAC football map, so to speak, until today.  Already known throughout the world for basketball, DeMatha started to  enjoy a good amount of success on the football field beginning with the arrival of Coach Bill McGregor in the early 1980's and culminating in a five year league championship run from 92-97.  The following blocked quote passage is adapted and paraphrased from a blog that "Redskins" wrote on the site DC Sportsfan.  I had to put a more DeMatha slant on it because he claims to be Drew Gloster a former Good Counsel football player.  Anyway, see what you missed so far...

Regular Season Game ’96 - The birth of the discontentment between the schools was way too new to be considered even a modest rivalry until Good Counsel managed to win a regular season game against the Stags.  The Falcons were led by freshman QB Scott McBrien (Maryland, Green Bay Packers), who after an epiphany transferred to DeMatha after the season, thus further fueling the bad blood.   DeMatha had never lost a game to Good Counsel in football prior to this season, although they still managed to win the conference title against Gonzaga.  Of course Good Counsel was really pissed that their star QB knew what was best for him, and transferred in time to win a title at another school.  ( Quietly, Scott went on to lead the Stags to a 13-0 season and a No. 13 national ranking by USA Today as a senior in 1999 while completing 90-of-131 passes (.687) for 1,878 yards and 25 touchdowns with no interceptions).  Feelings about both losses (the game and a two-time All Met) would fester for 7 more years!

Fall 2001 Maryland football legend Bob Milloy, flush with more second tier public school state titles than any other coach in Maryland history, takes over as head coach of a struggling Good Counsel team.

Regular Season  Game ’04 - DeMatha and Good Counsel were ranked #1 and #2 in the state, respectively.  Good Counsel pulled the upset 31-21 at their home field in Wheaton on a game filled with spectacular plays in the pouring rain.  If the game in '96 was a fluke, this Falcon win was official notice along with the arrival of legendary coach Bob Milloy three years earlier, that this team was serious.

Championship Game ’04 - With two minutes to go in the fourth quarter Good Counsel's QB Reggie Gooch pitches the wrong way (to absolutely nobody) on the Stags' 4-yard line to end the Falcons drive that could have tied (at 30) with a short field goal or taken the lead outright with touchdown.  Instead DeMatha recovered the fumble, used three downs to run out the clock and gave up two points by taking a safety.  Good Counsel doesn't have time to mount another drive in the final moments and the Stags hang on to win by 1 point, 30-29.  The "Gooch" will be forever remembered as the Good Counsel curse and synonymous with choking that would ensue during the coming years.

Regular Season Game ’05 - Another tough regular season match-up played at substitute DeMatha home field, Parkdale High School, proved to be too close for comfort.  The game winning field goal was blocked by Good Counsel in the final seconds, but due to an injury of one of the Falcons, the clock stopped. Gooch!  This afforded DeMatha the opportunity to kick again much to the chagrin of Good Counsel faithful that thought they were robbed.  The Stags did kick again, and later went on to win 22-21.

Championship game ’05 – Facing an improbable 3rd and 22 deep in their own territory, Good Counsel’s star LB Akeem Hebron lines up at RB, and takes the draw 25 yards.  After gaining the first down on the DeMatha 1 yard line, the Falcons’ Anthony Davis reaches towards the end zone and fumbles to give away a potential score for Good Counsel. Gooch!  Good Counsel’s sideline was penalized 3 separate times for 45 yards, as one Good Counsel coach was even ejected, Gooch!, including one penalty that helped to sustain DeMatha’s game-tying drive.  In overtime Good Counsel’s Drew Gloster scores on an amazing 38 yard reception on the opening drive, only to have the extra point attempt bounce off the uprights. (Gooch!) Legend has it that the posts were built incorrectly 5 inches narrower than regulation high school uprights should have been.  DeMatha Super-Sophomore Kenny Tate scores on a run during DeMatha’s first possession in overtime and Matt Campbell converts the extra point to win 21-20, the third straight 1-point victory over Good Counsel.

Regular Season Game ’06 – Coming in as the USA Today’s game of the week for the nation, the Stags embarrass the Falcons 42-13 for Good Counsel’s final regular season game at their Wheaton Campus.  Good Counsel had recently begun the admission of girls and outgrown the campus and headed to Olney for a change of scenery.  

Championship Game ’06 – A grind-it-out game with the Falcons up while the clock was winding down in regulation saw the momentum shift when Good Counsel’s punter’s knee hit the ground while trying to handle a low snap.  DeMatha took over at the Good Counsel 3-yard line.  This miscue (Gooch!) led to a Stag touchdown.  After losing big during the regular season, Good Counsel takes the championship game into overtime.  The opening play of overtime is a touchdown reception by DeMatha on an amazing juggling catch by WR Rodney McLeod, however the Stags missed the point after attempt.  Good Counsel found themselves in the same position DeMatha was in the year before: the Falcons needed a touchdown and an extra point to win.  Unfortunately a fumbled snap (Gooch!) on fourth down during their overtime possession ended Good Counsel's hopes.  The Falcons suffered their 5th straight loss to the Stags, and their 2nd overtime championship loss in a row.

Regular Season Game ’07 – A surprising 28-24 Good Counsel win after they were down 10 at halftime, marked by Good Counsel's Jelani Jenkins's outstanding defensive play of catching up to Rodney McLeod after 35 yards, who appeared to be headed for a sure score.

Championship Game ’07 – Caleb Porzel sprinted for a 70 yard run on the second play after DeMatha scored on their opening drive to tie the game at 7.  The defensive battle would prove to once again be the focus of the evening at Navy Marine Corps Memorial stadium in Annapolis.  However when Good Counsel fumbled out of their end zone (Gooch!) in the final minutes for a safety, it all but secured a 12-7 DeMatha lead.  Thanks to Gooch! yet another stellar effort by the defense, DeMatha won a 12-7 defensive battle to capture their fifth consecutive WCAC championship, and their fourth straight against Good Counsel, despite committing 4 first-half turnovers of their own!

No wonder that the Regular Season Game '08 between these exciting teams will be played on ESPN2!  Tune in tomorrow (October 2) at 6:30 PM EST to see the next installment!