Furlong carries Audubon past Haddon Township
Brian Furlong had trouble falling asleep Wednesday night. As he lay in bed, he worried not only that it would take a while, but that he wouldn't be getting much of it, either.
Brian Furlong had trouble falling asleep Wednesday night.
As he lay in bed, he worried not only that it would take a while, but that he wouldn't be getting much of it, either.
Audubon's quarterback had a lot on his mind. He knew Thanksgiving Day was his last game wearing No. 10 for the Green Wave.
Furlong eventually got some shut-eye, but when he woke up, he was still nervous about the rivalry game against Haddon Township.
Then the senior went out and put on a great performance. He led Audubon to a 31-16 win over the Hawks to capture the first Curley Cup.
"I had a knot in my stomach," Furlong said. "All these people [watching], and it's my last game.
"Once that went away I knew we could do this, just had to let the nerves go away."
Furlong powered the Green Wave (5-5) attack, throwing for more than 200 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for another. Furlong was dynamic, especially in the second half, extending plays and drives with his legs.
"I was feeling [good] today," Furlong said. "As a quarterback, I have to be cool, I have to be calm and collected and trust every one of these guys."
Audubon led by 10-0 at the half, and neither side seemed to be able to get going offensively.
When Haddon Township (0-10) answered with a touchdown in its opening drive of the third quarter, things looked like they were going to get interesting. But on the ensuing possession, Furlong led his squad down the field to score.
"This is the game of the year," senior Zach Pergola said. "Every other game didn't matter. This is the game everyone looks forward to. It is the saddest game, but it is also the best game."
After the contest, the Audubon captains were presented with the inaugural Curley Cup.
"The best trophy I've ever received," Furlong said.
Now, sleep may be a little easier to come by.
Audubon 3 7 7 14 - 31
Haddon Township 0 0 8 8 - 16
A: FG Kelly Devlin 23
A: Brian Furlong 9 run (Devlin kick)
HT: Brandon Hopkins 28 run (Kurtis Straubmuller run)
A: Emmanuel Coleman 5 run (Devlin kick)
A: Zach Pergola 15 pass from Furlong (Devlin kick)
HT: Straubmuller 1 run (Hopkins run)
A: Coleman 1 run (Devlin kick)