The potential three-way tie for the conference championship forty years ago never materialized. Yes, the Flanagan Falcons beat Gridley and earned sole possession of the title. But had the outcome gone the other way, Gridley would have earned the title due to a Woodland upset of Dee-Mack. Thats right, the team the Falcons beat two weeks prior by a 68-6 margin turned the tables on conference contender Dee-Mack in a game played at Woodland. A fired up Gridley defense stifled the Falcon offense for the better part of 20 minutes in the first half, but the Redskins were turned away on offensive drives twice by the Flanagan defense, once to the 20 yard line and once to the six of the Falcons. The latter Gridley drive ended when a 23 yard field goal attempt went wide to the left with just over four minutes left in the second quarter. The Falcons took over at their 20 yard line after the missed field goal, and the offense finally came alive. But Flanagan coach Roger Zehr had a decision to make 13 plays later when his team faced a fourth and one from the Redskin 16 yard line. He opted for a running play to fullback Gregg Gundy who not only picked up the first down but picked his way through the Redskin defense and scored with just 42 seconds left in the half. Kent Schwerins extra point kick made it 7-0 for the halftime score. Flanagan held Gridley on it first set of downs in the third quarter, and a Gridley punt gave the Falcons the ball at their own 46 yard line. It took the offense six plays to go the 54 yards, and again it was Gundy who scored on a ten yard rush around the left end to make it 14-0 after the Schwerin kick. On Gridleys first play after the kick-off, the Flanagan defensive line charged at quarterback Phil Hayes and created a sack which caused a fumble. Gundy was the man on the scene as he performed the scoop and scamper for a 30 yard TD return. Again, Schwerins kick was good and the Falcon lead was extended to 21-0. But Gridleys Doug Nafziger returned the Flanagan kick-off 35 yards to mid-field, and from there the Redskins were finally able to complete an offensive drive, scoring on a 14 yard pass play from QB Phil Hayes to end Pat Hayes. With the score 21-7 with 5:57 left in the third quarter, the Redskins saw a glimmer of hope on their thoughts of a comeback. That glimmer glowed greater when Gundy allowed the kickoff to slip through his hands at the 20 yard line. But he quickly showed Gridley players and fans that the glimmer of hope was actually the beacon on a train that was Flanagan Falcon football. He retreated to the 15 to recover the ball and then spun around to survey the Redskin pursuers. Gundy momentarily froze at the 15 in assessing the situation and then spotted his opening. He may or may not have said, Beep, beep, but he did his best roadrunner imitation as he churned his legs and zipped 85 yards and the final Falcon touchdown of the game. Jim Braksick ran for the two point conversion and the score stood at 29-7. Gridley got a final score in the fourth quarter when it recovered a Falcon fumble at the Flanagan ten yard line and then scored three plays later to make the final score 29-15. In addition to Gundys heroic efforts -- four touchdowns and 173 yards on 27 carries -- Coach Zehr once again praised his offensive line, We completely changed our blocking assignments at halftime. The linemen came out in the second half and really did a job of opening holes for our backs. You have to give them the credit. The Flanagan Falcons would enter the first football playoffs in the state of Illinois. Playoff and tournament teams generally consider such games to be a second season since what occurred in the regular season doesnt matter anymore. If Coach Zehr wanted this to be his message to the team as he prepared them for the first playoff game, all he had to do was point to the song about to be number one on the charts by Stevie Wonder... You Havent Done Nothin... As they thought ahead to what November could have in store, the Falcon players might have had another message in mind for their coaches and fans, coming from the title of another song about to top the charts a week later. That tune, by Bachman-Turner Overdrive, was titled You Aint Seen Nothing Yet. B-b-baby, you just aint seen n-n-nothing yet Heres something that you are never gonna forget B-b-baby, you just aint seen n-n-nothing yet
Posted on: Sun, 02 Nov 2014 03:49:04 +0000
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