Northeast feasts on Central in Thanksgiving Day game
Northeast football coach Phil Gormley challenged senior running back Daniel Scott to find the end zone, so he obliged.
Northeast football coach Phil Gormley asked politely and senior running back Daniel Scott obliged.
It was Thanksgiving, after all.
In the second quarter of a 28-0 route of rival Central, Gormley pleaded for his somewhat lackluster offense to make a play.
"Will you please put the ball in the end zone," Gormley yelled as his Vikings took the field.
Seven plays later, Scott responded with a 63-yard sojourn down the right sideline with about 3 minutes, 38 seconds left before halftime.
"This was very important for us seniors," Scott said. "We never lost to Central and we didn't want to start losing now."
Scott, a 5-5, 180-pounder, finished with 126 yards and two touchdowns on 17 punishing carries.
"My [dad] always said, 'don't let one man tackle you,'" Scott said. "That's just how I run. I never want one man to bring me down. I want it to be a group of guys, and I want them to feel it every time."
Scott, who broke his collarbone as a freshman and dislocated his hip as a sophomore, added a 46-yard score in the third quarter.
Fellow senior Sameen Thompson added 141 yards and a score on 11 tries. Central managed just 111 total yards, punted seven times, and turned the ball over on downs twice.
Thompson's tally came on a 15-yard sprint in the first quarter. The Vikings, however, fumbled on their next possession, hence, Gormley's plea for points.
Senior linebacker Kyle Morasch led the team with at least 11 tackles, while junior 'backer Marlon White often cleaned up the leftovers.
Just don't expect much food to be left at the Scott family home in Germantown, where Daniel's father, Frederick, is traditionally the cook but will hand the Thanksgiving Day honors to Daniel's grandmother, Carrie Royal.
Her macaroni and cheese is her grandson's favorite dish, Daniel said, but it's the time spent with loved ones that he'll cherish the most.
"It's always a wonderful environment," he said. "Family, that's all you got. When I was down with the injuries, they were all there supporting me, so I'm forever grateful for my family. I always want to be around them. When I go off to college I'm going to miss them."
Northeast 7 7 14 0 28
Central 0 0 0 0 0
NE: Sameen Thompson 15 run. Andre Cunha kick
NE: Daniel Scott 63 run. Cunha kick
NE: Scott 46 run. Cunha kick
NE: Kyle Morasch 1 run. Cunha kick