Bond farewell

Some Bok football players are sitting in the Great Valley High visitors’ locker room, their heads buried in their laps. Others are huddled in the corners, trying to deal with the pain.

It was a range of emotions that followed Saturday’s 35-0 loss to Great Valley in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association AAA subregional semifinal. The players might have known they were in for a challenge, but they didn’t expect such a lopsided debut in the state playoffs.

For the athletes, especially the seniors, dealing with the loss wasn’t as tough as accepting that this big, happy football family would no longer play together. For some, Saturday marked the last time they would wear a football uniform.

"Nothing is going to make us recover from not being able to play together anymore," senior quarterback Joe "Pepe" DeSalis said as he left the locker room. "The score doesn’t matter. It matters that we are all a family."

The Wildcats displayed their unity the week leading up to the big game with South Philly-style activities. Last Tuesday, Bok practiced under the lights at Capitolo Playground, Ninth and Wharton streets, and went for a team dinner at Geno’s Steaks. On Saturday morning, the players, coaches, school administrators and other supporters of the Bok football family enjoyed a team breakfast at the Penrose Diner, feasting on large stacks of pancakes, eggs and bacon.

Coach Tom DeFelice, who just completed his 12th season with the Wildcats, said he was especially proud of the way the players represented the school at Saturday’s breakfast.

"The kids were great walking into the Penrose Dinner," the coach said. "They felt proud, they really felt like they were someone. We were really happy for them."

The Wildcats, who finished the season 7-2 overall, still have plenty to smile about.

With 1,100 students, Edward Bok Tech has the lowest enrollment of any Philadelphia Public League school with a football team. Still, the Wildcats made Public League history by becoming the first city team to compete in the PIAA football playoffs. They earned the invite by finishing with the best record among the Public League’s AAA teams.

The highlight of the regular season was winning the Public South crown with a 6-0 mark in league play.

Bok could have easily turned down the opportunity to compete in the state tournament for a chance at the Public League (PIAA District XII) crown, but the players were eager to perform on the bigger stage. Even after the crushing loss, the Wildcats had no regrets.

"We made the right decision," said senior wide receiver-defensive back Nafis Edwards, who intercepted a pass from Great Valley quarterback Anthony Parker-Boyd. "It was a good experience for us."

Senior center-nose guard Chris Cotton also was upbeat about taking the long bus trip to Malvern.

"I am happy to be here," he said. "I am just sad that we couldn’t give them a better game."

The Great Valley Patriots, undefeated in Suburban Chester County League play, were loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. The opponents dominated Bok in every aspect of the game, racking up 339 rushing yards versus just 79 for the Wildcats, and finishing with 21 first downs against Bok’s five.

"There are no excuses," DeFelice said after the contest. "They are a better team than we were today."

The Patriots’ defense limited Bok senior Cory Moultrie to just 35 yards, marking the first time in three weeks that the offensive leader was held to under 100 yards. He spent portions of the game on the bench because he was experiencing lower back pain. DeSalis said it seemed as if Great Valley "was ready for everything."

After spending 20 minutes behind closed locker-room doors, the players collected themselves and ventured outside for hot dogs, chilidogs and hamburgers provided by the host team. Soon, they were talking and joking, and taking the game in stride.

Senior tight end-defensive end Sean Jessup even said he was pleased with his team’s effort.

"As long as we play hard, that’s what counts," Jessup said. "Everybody gave it 110 percent and that’s what counts right now. We have nothing to be mad about."