Brian Haffner and Dominick Avitabile hold up the runner as Ian Guarino closes in the finishing blow. It's tough to learn some of life's realities when you're only 7 years old, especially the one that goes, "You can't win 'em all." The Thunder 7 Maroon boys went into Sunday's home game 5-and-0 . . . but came out of it 5-and-1, with a 12-0 loss to a very tough and talented Farmingdale team. They played very well, however, so they defer to another popular saying, "It's not whether you win or lose; it's how you play the game."

Thunder captains for the day were Marc Prevete and Patrick Plunkett, with injured Brendan Schick lending support. The game began with a heartwarming display of sportsmanship and compassion, which are actually THE main life lessons we want our boys to learn and practice at this young age. Ryan Odabasi, an honorary member of the Hawks, is a special needs boy with autism. In full uniform, pads and helmet, Ryan "helped" his Farmingdale teammates defend the line on the first Thunder offensive "play," encouraged by cheers from both teams and all of the spectators.

John Simmons breaks one for long gain. For most of the first half, the end-zones were unexplored territory, with both teams mostly going down 1-2-3-"punt" or 1-2-3-4. Thunder's first drive proved fruitless, despite a Timmy Schmelzinger 1st down and a nice run by Luke McDaid. Farmingdale fared no better, as hard tackling by John Wotczak and the strong defensive line of Andrew Wood, Michael Goulard, Dominick Avitabile, and Matt Muscarella held them back.

Coach Schick with son Brendon. Bendon has been on the injured reserve list but is looking forward to being back before the last game. Subsequent Thunder drives featured strong blocking by Ian Guarino, Tom Casciano, Chris Halka, Christian Coppola, and Patrick Plunkett, and great running efforts by Max Webster, Marc Prevete, John Simmons, McDaid and Schmelzinger, but no one could get through. On Defense, Brian Haeffner, Andrew Wood, Bobby McLoughlin, and John Wotczak continued to make some hard hits, including Woods' QB sack, for Farmingdale loss.

The Hawks then completed back-to-back first downs, and an unstoppable 20-yard touchdown run gave them a 6-0 lead; a Thunder gang tackle stopped the extra point.

Thunder got right back in the game as Schmelzinger got off a huge run, stopped at the 4 yard line. Prevete run gained 2 more yards, but, just when Thunder was assured a touchdown, the halftime clock beckoned. Farmingdale was "saved by the bell," (or, rather, the whistle.)

In the beginning of the second half, halfback John Simmons and his motor legs made 2 big runs in the same drive, each for a first down. Thunder's excitement was mounting, but the fantastic Farmingdale defense stepped up, shutting them down on 1-2-3-4.

Despite strong GC tackling, the Farmingdale offense broke through to the outside once again, to score on a 20-yard run. John Simmons saved the extra point. 12-0 Farmingdale. The great Thunder runners, while fun to watch, were not able to score a touchdown this game.

Thunder 7 Maroon plans on keeping just "1" in their loss column for the season, as they travel to Inwood next Sunday, Oct. 23rd, for their seventh game.