THE NOSE

In its final tune-up before the Mid-Atlantic playoffs, Old Gaelic dispatched visiting Winchester on March 31, 78-0.

The Griffins set the tone early when they kicked off to the Cannons, stole the ball and worked it out to the backs.  John Kroesen, who tied a team record for assists in a game by an outside center with three, pinned and passed to a streaking Brian Ogle, leaving a vapor trail behind him.  Scores followed in quick succession as the Black & Gold rolled to a 40-0 halftime advantage.  Kroesen (from Mark Cooley), Skipper Dan Roth (from Justin Stefanon), a hustling Dego Dimitrovich all found the hallowed zone and Scott Lindsey, who filled in admirably at scrum half, found it twice (the second on a feed from Travis Smith).  Roth drilled five of six conversion attempts in the frame.

Winchester had little respite in the second half.  Brian Clements took a dish from Roth and sailed in, followed by a Roth tap-and-go, a Ken Ivey try (Kroesen) and Ogle (Kroesen), a weak side foray by ageless wonder Tom Maracuillo (from Curtis Brillhart) and a Wes Beard try off a kick-and-chase.

Eight of Old Gaelic’s 12 tries were assisted, exemplary of team play.

The playoffs loom with the first round at Western Suburbs on Saturday.  Will you be ready?

Whatever we accomplish, let’s do it as a team!

T:  Brian Ogle 2, Scott Lindsey 2, Dan Roth 2, John Kroesen, Ken Ivey, Dave Dimitrovich, Tom Marascuillo, Wes Beard, Brian Clements.

Assists:  Kroesen 3, Mark Cooley, Justin Stefanon, Travis Smith, Roth, Curtis Brillhart.

C:  Roth 9.

Old Gaelic’s “B” side finished off a sweep with a 27-5 win over the newly re-formulated Chambersburg Turtleheads.  Brian Ogle scored two first-half tries to set the tone and Justin Stefanon, Wes Beard and Randy Smith (from Tom Marascuillo) each dotted down in the final frame.

There will be a “B” game at Western Suburbs.  All are urged to attend.

T:  Ogle 2, J Stefanon, Beard, R Smith

A:  Marascuillo

C:  Tunis