27154557
Review Sports Writer
Winning is a new feeling for the Furness High football team.
Technically, the squad won two contests during the 2007 season with both coming via forfeit as a result of William Penn and FitzSimons using ineligible players. Vut the thrill of victory is much more exciting when outscoring the opposition, like their 20-6 win over Fels last week.
"They worked real hard and it was nice to get that monkey off our back and learn how to win," coach Anthony Pastore said of the Aug. 29 game. "I think it will definitely help us during this year."
Rookie running back Sharif Smith had a breakout performance, rushing for 130 yards on 25 carries. Victor Pastore — the coach’s son — tallied two of the three touchdowns, while quarterback Anthony Ings also found the end zone.
"I look at my son as any other football player on this team," the coach said. "It was nice for anyone to score."
Furness completed just one pass the entire match thanks to the offensive line providing strong blocking and opening up running lanes. Greg Harris, a former coach at Southern and Communications Tech, is a new addition to the Falcons staff, serving as line coach.
"He is doing a great job with the offensive line," Pastore said of Harris.
Defensively, Furness got a strong effort from inside linebacker David Metz, who led the Falcons with six tackles.
Factor in a full year of varsity experience for Ings and the other returnees, and the coach is finding his players better equipped for Public League competition. There is still a long way to go as the 2008 schedule is just getting started. If Furness manages wins over Class AA foes Bok, Esperanza, FitzSimons, Franklin and Imhotep, the program will truly be heading in a winning direction. The first league test comes 6 p.m. Sept. 18 versus Mifflin-Street neighbor Bok. The top four schools qualify for the District 12 Class AA tournament.
"Basically we are just taking it one game at a time," Pastore said. "If we could be in the playoff mix with the third or fourth spot that would be a tremendous accomplishment for us."
In other opening week action, Bok maintained neighborhood bragging rights with a 22-0, non-league victory over Southern Friday morning. It was the first game to be played at the 10th-and-Bigler-streets super site. Faison Perry scored two of the Wildcats three touchdowns, while backfield mate Ray Tucker led the ground game with 102 yards.
Prep Charter opened their second season with a 56-6 defeat to Lower Merion.
It also was a rough weekend for Neumann-Goretti, who was dealt a 41-0 loss by Upper Merion.
This week’s games
Sept. 5
Dobbins at Bok, 3 p.m.
Esperanza at Prep Charter, 6 p.m.
Sept. 6
Wyomissing at Neumann-Goretti, 7 p.m.
All games played at 10th and Bigler streets
