Video Highlights; Photo Gallery; In-Game Thread

Heading into Saturday night's showdown between the Good Counsel Falcons and the St. John’s Cadets, all eyes were on the backfield of both teams. Charles Brown, the Cadets senior running back, came into the game with 1,088 yards and 17 touchdowns, but it was Good Counsels Wes Brown (934 yards, 11 touchdowns) who imposed his will against the Cadets, racking up 192 yards and setting up all three of his teams’ scores.

“Coming into the game, everybody was trying to compare me to Charles and figure out who was better,” said Wes Brown. “I just tried to do whatever my team needed, and I just wanted to make plays for them. I wasn’t worried about how I played.”

The Falcons' Brown may have downplayed the competition, but it was very easy to see why both runners are among the leagues best. From the get go both teams put the ball into their playmakers hands.

Scoreless after the first quarter, the Falcons would strike first with a 25-yard field goal by Kyle Hamby, but the Cadets were able to hold the Falcons from a touchdown. On the ensuing possession, the Cadets went to Brown, who carried his team into Falcons territory. As the Falcons defense stiffened and forced a punt, Brown came up big for his team again. He would take the fake punt and find his teammate for a 20-yard gain. The Cadets would have to settle for a 34-yard field goal by Matt Elsasser.

With a 3-3 tie at halftime, it seemed that Good Counsel decided to add a new punch to their running game. After a huge 25-yard run by Brown, the Falcons decide to hand it off their fullback Mike Nittoli, and he would burst through a hole for a 17-yard touchdown.

After Good Counsel's touchdown, it was the other Brown’s turn to strut his stuff. Charles Brown darted up the middle for a 15-yard gain, and then on the very next handoff, he took off up the right sideline for a 41-yard gain. Quarterback Andrew Konieczka would then find Danny Wright for a 24-yard touchdown pass, and after the extra point failed for the Falcons, the Cadets led 10-9 heading into the fourth quarter.

On the very first play of the fourth quarter, however, Falcons' quarter Zach Dancel would find a streaking Louis Young for a 36-yard touchdown. Good Counsel’s two-point conversion attempt would fail, but Young would step up big for Falcon’s defense as he intercepted a deep pass on the following possession. The Cadets' defense would force a punt, and the game's intensity would increase.

Charles Brown was determined to be the one his team counted on. On the Cadets' biggest drive of the game, Brown carried the ball six straight times, and on his seventh carry he drove his team down the 13-yard line of the Falcons. But an exhausted Charles Brown had to leave the game for a play, and the Cadets would wish he had stayed on. St. John's fumbled on the next play, turning the ball back over to Good Counsel on the 8-yard line.

“Brown sets up the plays,” said Nittoli. “The defenses get so worried about him and stopping him, and then I get the big break. He’s a great player.”

Despite the loss, the Cadets' Charles Brown carried the ball 164 yards.

Game MVP: Wes Brown and Mike Nittoli (286 yards Combined, 2 Touchdowns)
This one-two punch has gotten it done all season, and Saturday was no exception. As Brown dug away time and time again, Nittoli was able to use his speed and score two touchdowns.

Scoring Summary

Second Quarter: Good Counsel Field Goal (3-0)

25-yard field goal by Hamby 

Second Quarter: St. John’s Field Goal (3-3)

41-yard field goal by Elsasser 

Third Quarter: Good Counsel Touchdown (9-3)

17-yard run by Nittoli (kick failed) 

Third Quarter: St. John’s Touchdown (9-10)

24-yard pass by Konieczka to Wright (kick is good) 

Fourth Quarter: Good Counsel Touchdown (15-10)

36-yard pass by Dancel to Young (2pt. conversion failed) 

Fourth Quarter: Good Counsel Touchdown (22-10)

66-yard run by Nittoli (kick is good)

Game Statistics 

Passing

Good Counsel: Dancel 4-11-75

St. John’s: Konieczka 9-27-9-0 

Rushing

Good Counsel: W. Brown 23-192, Nittoli 6-94, Dancel 7-22

St. John’s: C. Brown 32-164 

Receiving

Good Counsel: Young 2-43, M. Nittoli 1-17, EJ Scott 1-15

St. John’s: C. Brown 3-32