All the Right Moves The nine year old white Thunder Squad is on a roll. They have shaken off the frustration of an early season tie and a loss in games that were clearly in hand until the final seconds. The newfound sense of confidence and ability as a team first manifested itself in a Wednesday night thriller at Inwood where they dominated the Warriors for a convincing win. Four days later, the Thunder unleashed their wrath by storming over Long Beach for a decisive victory. They had gained ground as a team and it was time to move inland and make it three in a row against Hicksville. Absent from the cheering squad was #1 fan and First Lady Pam Guterding, but the boys really gave the loyal friends and family fan crew something to cheer about.

Out of My Way Ref These White Thunder Nine year old players were strictly business and posted the first score early in the first quarter with a twelve yard touchdown run by Keith Danks. Justin Guterding ran for the extra point. The second Thunder touchdown was mad by Danny Jones on a three yard carry with Spencer Bais scoring the extra point. In the absence of scoring machine Scott D'Antonio who was out sick, Jones rose to the occasion and strutted his stuff!

The third Thunder touchdown was scored by Kyle Skramko on a 9 yard run who refused to be stopped by the tenacious Hicksville defense as he pounded up the middle of the field in heavy traffic making it just an inch past the goal line. Hicksville's goal line defense denied them their extra point.

Strategy Discussions Danks was responsible for the fourth Thunder touchdown on a 14 yard run as he dragged three members of the Hicksville defense with him across the goal line. The pass from Guterding to Skramko for the extra point was incomplete.

The fifth and final Thunder touch down was made by Skramko on a "cross country" thirty five yard trek. The blocking by the line was impressive that not a single Hickville player landed a glove on Skramko as he made strides to the goal line. Again, the extra point attempt failed but that gives the coaches something to work on in practice.

Stretching Out The offensive line looked better than ever as the coached gave defensive players like Matt Haeffner, Tyler Biscone, Jack O'Malley and Greg Bolte the opportunity to block for their running backs instead of taking out their opponent's backs. When Guterding alternated in as quarterback, Christian Capozzi came up with some great blocks of his own as did Tim Eschmann and Patrick Finneran.

Thunder Power The defense held Hickville to just two touchdowns and refused to allow a single extra point. Coach Haeffner's read of Hicksville's formations and communication with Danny Jones and Tyler Biscone via color coded armbands and verbal cues all but shut the home team offense down. Once again, Robert Welsh, Greg Vouzianas, Chris Donahue, Nick Diglio and Tim McDonagh contributed greatly to the defensive effort as did powerhouses Jack O'Brien and Evan Mitchell.

Watch out for the White Thunder Nines as they attempt to soar for four straight wins and make East Rockaway their next victim. Go Thunder!

Fumble Recovery