Springfield SFA football bests Holy Cross

SFA JV

SFA 41

Holy Cross 12

The St. Francis of Assisi (SFA) fifth- and sixth-grade football team feasted on Holy Cross at Springfield High School on Thanksgiving Day, scoring on all but one offensive possession and holding Holy Cross scoreless until the fourth quarter.

SFA scored at least one touchdown in every quarter and accumulated 242 total yards. In the first half Kyle Long, Connor Ringwalt and Andrew Pickett struck for touchdown runs of nine, one and 38 yards, respectively. Ringwalt set up his score with a 40-yard pass completion to Andrew Paulus. David Strawley booted two extra points and also ran in an extra point.

Linemen Strawley, Nick Matty, Connor Sadoff, Joey Radico, Jared Morris, Kevin McKeon, Michael Ward and Jerry Curran controlled the line of scrimmage, and the opening half came to a close with SFA leading 23-0.

SFA tacked on two more scores in the third quarter, as Pickett rambled 10 yards off tackle for a touchdown, and Johnny Powers weaved eight yards into the end zone on a counter play. The third quarter came to an end with SFA on top 35-0.

In the fourth quarter Holy Cross broke free for a long run and scored two plays later. Both teams then exchanged kickoff returns for touchdowns, with Pickett doing the honors for SFA by racing 60 yards down the sidelines.

SFA's starting defense allowed only two first downs and nine total yards. Leading tacklers were McKeon, Sadoff, Curran, Pickett, Long, Ward, Morris, Matty, Strawley, Paulus, Greg Tamaccio and Matt Ries.

The Turkey Bowl win capped a 10-2 season that featured a playoff appearance. Members of this year's squad were Chris Alfonsi, Matt Bendyna, Ben Caggiano, Ryan Calderaro, Sean Carney, Mike Conran, Jerry Curran, Nick Cutuli, Stephen D'Amico, Chris Delaney, Patrick Devine, Chris DiRenzo, Cole Dumont, Alex Grafstrom, Connor Hoffner, Joe Kennedy, Adam Klein, Nicky Kutufaris, Tommy Kutufaris, Kyle Long, Nick Matty, Kevin McKeon, Liam McKnight, Jared Morris, Marty O'Connell, Andrew Paulus, Andrew Pickett, Johnny Powers, Joey Radico, Anthony Reginelli, Matt Ries, Connor Ringwalt, Connor Sadoff, Anthony Scarduzio, Jimmy Schneider, Alex Smith, Derek Strain, David Strawley, Gregory Tamaccio and Michael Ward.

Stan Kutufaris, Nick Kutufaris, Bob Matty, Joe Sweeney, Joe Sweeney Jr. and Pat Sweeney assisted Head coach Leon Ostrowski.