Northeast's win has a happy ending

ANTHONY PULLIAM likes to think of himself as someone whose temper is always under control.

Thrice on Thursday morning, however, as Northeast High hosted its almost-forever Thanksgiving rival, Central, in weather that started off semi-chilly but later became borderline balmy, Pulliam got involved in postplay chippiness.

Finally, referee Tom McClain, working the final game of his 52-year career, sent Pulliam to the sideline for a cool-your-heels stint.

In time, the coaches caught McClain's attention with the hope of getting him to allow Pulliam to return to action. Not yet, they were told, in no uncertain terms.

If ever someone deserved a free pass . . .

Anthony Pulliam, a 6-3, 260-pound junior, lines up for the Vikings at defensive tackle. His brother, David, a 6-2, 200-pound senior, is considered the team's best player, because of his exploits at wideout and outside linebacker.

David wasn't on hand as the Vikings celebrated a 14-12 victory, upping their edge in the series to 61-51-10 (holiday portion hazy; probably began in early 1940s; Central won this fall's regular-season meeting) by dousing coach Jim Adams with water, then racing to the west end zone to hoist the wooden horse trophy that goes to each year's winner.

He was at Albert Einstein Medical Center, having suffered what was feared to be a serious injury 3 minutes, 32 seconds before halftime.

The play featured a 12-yard completion from Central's Jon Henderson to Walt Pegues. David Pulliam and teammate Harold Alexander, a defensive back, banged heads while converging to make the tackle and the former, having been immobilized, was placed on a gurney, wheeled across the field toward Central's side and loaded into an ambulance out on Summerdale Avenue.

Like his teammates, Anthony Pulliam could only stand and watch. Until the very end, when everyone stepped forward to clap and wish David well, Anthony wasn't permitted to provide his brother with close-up support as medical personnel performed their duties.

That part alone was rough. Then, he had to keep playing, not knowing for sure what his brother's future would hold.

"I've never been through something like this," Anthony, standing outside Northeast's locker room, said quietly after the game. "This was hard. Seeing my brother laying there, I couldn't hold back the emotion. I had tears in my eyes. I'm sure my brother felt my pain. I did see him moving a little, so I knew [he wasn't paralyzed], but still . . .

"I had to win this for Dave, not just for my team, and to make sure the horse stayed where it belongs. I kept thinking about a sign we have in the locker room: 'Give it all you have.' That's what I was doing."

Anthony Pulliam involved himself in three tackles for losses and, fittingly, one of his regular stops came on Central's last drive, after he'd been permitted to return to action. That thrust began with 4:02 remaining and reached the Vikings' 39 before Shimeek Carter defended a fourth-down pass to Pegues at Northeast's 17 with 53.2 seconds left.

Kneeldowns ended it and when Adams gathered his squad, he told them with passion, "This game was just like our season, up and down! But you didn't give up and" - he waved the horse trophy - "it's stayin' here! Thank you! Thank you! . . . "

Much later, Adams and others were offering thanks to a higher being.

David Pulliam was released from Einstein just before 6:30. He said by phone that the only aftereffects were soreness in his neck and shoulder area. His father, James, confirmed that the doctors had found nothing wrong.

"When I was on the ground, my arms were numb," David said. "I kept trying to get up, but the trainer said to stay down."

Said his father: "To see something like that happen to your son, in his last game in his last season, it was very traumatic. We were holding our breath. But except for the soreness, everything's fine and we want to thank all the medical people."

Adams also spent time with David at Einstein.

"He was like a caged lion," Adams said. "He wanted to get up and walk around."

David Pulliam, momentarily lined up in the backfield, scored Northeast's first touchdown on a 1-yard run 4:24 before halftime. He then made a key block as Carter swept around the left side for two points.

But thanks to scoring runs of 1 yard by Jesse Gillis and 41 yards by Pegues (wildcat formation; first play of third quarter), Central owned a 12-8 lead when Northeast started a drive at the Lancers' 48 with 8:30 remaining.

Lined up at tight end, and not the biggest guy in that position's history, was Devon Dillard, a 5-8, 170-pound senior. His mind was swirling, too.

"I felt the injuries were my fault," he said. "Like if I'd been there to make the tackle earlier, David and Harold wouldn't have gotten hurt. I take full responsibility. That's how I am. It was really bothering me. I had to do something to make up for it."

A 24-burst by Carter was huge. But then, five plays later, right after a procedure call, Brian Moseley and Wesley De La Rosa combined to smother Carter for a 6-yard loss, bringing up third-and-17 from the 18.

Daquan Bohannan dropped back. Dillard ran a perfect post-corner. The throw, lofted over a defender, featured touch and accuracy. Touchdown!

"As I was going out there, I was thinking, 'This is my chance to help my team,' " Dillard said. "Came right to me. People underrate Daquan. Underrate our team, really. We proved today what kind of heart we have.

"Seeing David laying there, that was so sad. I was scared because I didn't really see him moving. Later I was thinking of how things were going for him in the hospital."

He wasn't alone. And, thankfully, everyone's fears proved to be unfounded.