Thunder White 7's Take Down Baldwin

Offensive line goes to work as Liam Muldoon revs up the engines

The Thunder White 7's won their biggest game of the season last Sunday, taking down the Baldwin Bombers 19-12 in a nail-biter that had the GC coaches and parents on their toes for the entire game. The Bombers brought a formidable mix of size and speed to Stewart School field, but the Thunder 7's were not the least bit intimidated, and in fact, brought the one secret ingredient that no large or fast player can compete with - teamwork. The boys worked seamlessly on both sides of the field, continually backing each other up and operating as a cohesive unit on every defensive stop, and each offensive drive.

The Thunder defense was tough as nails throughout the game. Cornerbacks Liam Curtin, Michael Handal, and Liam Joyce patrolled the perimeters with abandon, consistently pounding any bomber running back that even thought about making a break for the outside lines. Garden City came up with two big stops on extra point attempts, with Ryan Walsh recovering a fumble on Baldwin's first effort, and John McDonald and Michael Handal together taking down the Baldwin big man on the opponent's second attempt at tying the game late in the first half. The defensive line of Liam Glynn, Ryan Ferryo, Casey Noonan, Chris Michel, Tommy Poole and Kevin Tierney left the bomber backfield feeling bewildered, battered, and brushed, while defensive backs Thomas Rice and Alex Sutherland provided an effective insurance policy in the event in any Baldwin runners got past the line. The boy's tenacity was duly noted by the Thunder coaching squad. "Our boys just kept hammering away, no matter how hard Baldwin came at them" commented defensive coordinators Jeremy Walsh and Ed Joyce.

Aidan Byrnes finds a hole

The breadth, speed and power of the Thunder offense was on full display against the large Baldwin front line. Aidan Byrnes broke things open on the first offensive drive with a powerful burst up the middle. Coach Curtin then ran a successful "47 dive" for Michael Handal, which left the bombers dazed and confused and put Liam "the closer" Muldoon in position for his first of two touchdowns on the day. In the second half, GC running backs Luke Connolly, Muldoon, and Handal, as well as tight ends Liam Curtin and Aidan Byrnes, repeatedly slugged it out play-after-play, with each player making positive contributions to the Thunder's steady advance down the field. QB Tyler Wuchte ran the offensive efficiently, and as usual, advanced the ball himself on several plays, including a quarterback sneak for a first down, and a 30-yard sweep left in which Wuchte weaved and dodged his way through enemy territory for the winning touchdown. Assistant coaches Jim Connelly and Vinny Muldoon noted "the offensive line was outstanding today-Matt Flanagan, Sean Rode, Liam Ferris, John McDonald and Ryan Walsh did a tremendous job keeping the aisles clear for our running backs and making our offensive campaign a success."

McDonald, Walsh, and Handal stop the extra point

Coach Matt Curtin noted after the game "The boys' collective effort today was simply over the top"-these guys literally 'ground it out' every play. Our hats go off to them. We look forward to practicing hard this week as we prepare to face Bellmore." The Thunder White 7's play their final game of the season next Sunday at Newbridge Road Park, in Bellmore at 11.00am.

Wuchte takes it home

"Miller time": coaches Walsh, Curtin, Joyce, Muldoon, and Connolly Group takedown