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Great gains can come from humbling hindrances as long as one is willing to learn from losses and continues to try to excel. Playing the inaugural football game in the eight-year history of The Academy at Palumbo, 1100 Catharine St., nearly three dozen teenagers received a reminder of that sentiment Friday, falling 40-0 to Boys’ Latin at the South Philadelphia super site, 10th and Bigler streets.
Holders of 2A Public League distinction, the Griffins essentially exist as a new version of the defunct program at Horace Furness High School, 1900 S. Third St. For years, the latter, through a School District of Philadelphia sponsorship agreement, allowed Palumbo and Furness athletes to suit up for the same club, but, as head coach Scott Pitzner noted, since most of the roster members hailed from Palumbo, league overseers decided to have Furness participants join the unit at South Philadelphia High School, 2101 S. Broad St. Based on a recommendation from former Furness leader and 2010 South Philly Review Difference Maker Anthony Pastore, Pitzner met with Palumbo personnel to explore how to make the Griffins great.
“I always wanted to be a part of a new program,” the resident of the 1800 block of South Sartain Street said. “We worked hard in the offseason. I have a good group of kids, and we’re all expecting a good year.”
Having also helmed the Southern Rams, the East Passyunk Crossing dweller prides himself on presenting well-prepared squads, especially on the defensive side, and called on junior linebacker Paul Johnson and his mates to “make history,” which the Griffins are using as their season’s theme.
“Let’s set the tone today,” the Southwest Philly inhabitant said as their guests waited for the opening kickoff. “Let’s go hard on every play.”
With a supportive pre-Labor Day Weekend crowd to mark every team “first,” the Griffins soon began to spend the morning mourning lost opportunities and missed tackles. Only 65 seconds in, the Warriors validated their name by scoring on a 12-yard rush, yet Palumbo, whom Pitzner relayed features few newcomers and thus knows how to counter pressure with its own variety, carved out a commendable premier possession, the highlight of which came courtesy of a 15-yard run by junior Ian Barrett.
Trailing only 6-0 heading into the second quarter, the Griffins again needed to negotiate defensive consistency right away, as the visitors, in a display that would repeat itself far too often, showed amazing versatility in notching another touchdown on a 23-yard pass play. With the two-point conversion, they had Pitzner encouraging his troops to stay focused. A quick drive placed the defenders right back on the field, but Boys’ Latin gave them little time to ponder a stop, as a 67-yard touchdown scamper and another deuce made the deficit 22 points. A couple offsides penalties to start the next series hurt the hosts when senior Tyreese Clark, who would muster a team-high 37 yards, tallied an eight-yard run and Johnson caught a seven-yard heave from senior Dontez Jolly. Yielding a fourth-and-2 conversion on their next defensive stand, the Griffins headed to the locker room down 28-0 following a nine-yard touchdown pass.
“There have to be adjustments,” Pitzner said following senior defensive lineman Deon Slocum’s advice for his peers not to become discouraged. “Defensively, hit someone. We’re too proud just to roll over for anyone.”
Seeking more seams to start the second half, the offense seemed ready to respond, as three straight rushes helped the Griffins to approach Warrior territory, but nothing materialized, and for the third-straight frame, the day’s spoilers scored a touchdown on their first possession, this time off a 30-yard run. Buried in their own turf, the underdogs put together a lengthy, run-heavy series, with the only non-rushing success coming on a 29-yard grab by Johnson.
“The mental aspect of our game is there,” the upperclassman, who played under Pastore for two years, said. “We really have to work on bringing the physical element the next time.”
He and his contemporaries again discovered that the Warriors possess both qualities in abundance, as a six-yard scurry built the margin to 34-0. A relatively uneventful fourth quarter saw another Warriors score on a seven-yard touchdown pass and what appeared to be a surefire Palumbo scoring drive end with an interception.
“I’m upset but I know you are, too,” Pitzner said to his squad after the game. “You got all the jitters out, I hope, so let’s work on improving. Let’s work on our conditioning and never go out there looking confused and lost again.”
“We didn’t seem to have much going for us,” Johnson, who registered seven tackles, said. “However, nobody was crying. We kept playing and didn’t give up regardless of the score. Winning or losing, that’s who we’re going to be.”
The Griffins will travel to Roxborough tomorrow for a 3 p.m. non-league contest.
Contact Managing Editor Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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