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About to enter the prime of their lives, the players from Ss. Neumann-Goretti High School, 1736 S. 10th St., and South Philadelphia High School, 2101 S. Broad St., already have mastered persistence. Entering their annual Thanksgiving encounter, they will conclude their seasons short on wins but long on pride. From today’s 10 a.m. opening kickoff at the South Philadelphia super site, 10th and Bigler streets, the two rivals will display 60 minutes of gratitude for being able to secure area bragging rights.
Neither team’s season included a playoff appearance, so the clash will give the victor’s campaign partial redemption. It also will provide hundreds of fans with the 76th meeting between the teams since 1934. Neumann-Goretti, a member of the Catholic League’s AA Division, seeks its 54th win and fifth straight. Southern, a member of the Public League’s AAAA Silver Division, will go for their 20th series triumph. The schools have played three scoreless ties, the most recent being in 1956.
Second-year Neumann-Goretti coach Rich “Moose” Carfagno has described the game to his players as a life-or-death clash.
“I know it’s very important to the older generation of South Philly. You can see it in the older folks’ eyes that it means a lot. The younger kids might not get it because the game doesn’t have as many fans in the stands as in years past. It’s not like it was years ago,” Carfagno, who learned firsthand of the classic game’s importance during a six-year stint as defensive coordinator for the Passyunk Square-based Saints.
Spearheading the Neumann-Goretti attack is senior quarterback Mark Stinsman, who will be responsible for executing the game-specific schemes his team has spent weeks practicing. Considering his squads’ talent since his ascension, Carfagno noted he has leaned more on the passing game because of the confidence he has in his quarterbacks, especially Stinsman, who has launched 128 passes in nine games.
As for the signal caller, the praise and pressure he receives are just motivating elements of his job. The resident of the 100 block of Durfor Street believes the day will be all about not letting each other down in a game they will reminisce about for years to come.
“I know what is riding on this game. I’ve known about it since I was a kid, when my family and everybody around me would tell me about it,” Stinsman, who has passed for 601 yards and four touchdowns, said.
As a team leader, he also makes sure his teammates know about it.
“I have told them to treat it as a championship game. Losing just isn’t an option. Everybody is preparing like it’s the last time they’re going to play regardless if they’re seniors or freshmen,” he said.
On defense, senior defensive end Chad McPherson, a Southwest Philadelphia product, shares Stinsman’s sentiment.
Having allowed 306 points this season, McPherson and his mates are taking to heart what people have thought about their mediocre season. The standout defensive end has gone as far as to predict a win along with an individual contribution of three sacks.
“We kind of got stomped on all year and we want to show people we can hold [Southern] and end things right,” McPherson said.
Because Carfagno believes momentum will be the key throughout, his 3-6 Saints will be instructed to strike quickly.
“The first score will go a long way and although momentum is a fickle thing, I think our confidence will carry us through,” he said.
Stanley “Stosh” Tunney’s Rams lost 16 players from last season’s divisio-winning 6-5 team. This year’s edition features many athletes in their first year of organized competition. Various circumstances have dwindled the roster to the point that most of the players huddle up on both sides of the ball.
“It’s a rebuilding year, but these boys are hard workers. They’re out there banging, win, lose or draw,” Tunney, in his seventh year with the school and third as head coach, said of his Lower Moyamensing bunch.
His 3-8 team has posted three shutouts, but its offense has endured five whitewashings.
“We have a good defense and are eager to match up with a solid team,” Tunney said.
The holiday battle will be the Rams’ first game this year against a non-Public foe. The Saints contested three non-league games, picking up two wins. Though not used to the same competition, the players are familiar with one another off the field.
“Many of our guys know their guys,” Tunney said. “This game will be a chance to extend friendships.”
For Rams’ senior quarterback Shakor McClery, it will be the culmination of expectations he has built since September.
“I’m really motivated,” the resident of the 2300 block of South Hemberger Streets said of his first brush with the Saints. “I’ll try to get everybody hyped up and to get a victory.”
When McClery is not launching left-handed passes, he will play defensive end. At middle linebacker, he will find fellow senior Henry Anhalt, an All-Public selection also psyched for his initial Thanksgiving tussle.
“They’re a good team. It should be fun,” the Mayfair resident, who plays for Southern through a cooperative sponsorship with Parkway Center City High School, said of Neumann-Goretti.
Anhalt also serves as a fullback and minds neither playing two positions nor traveling for practices and games.
“It’s worth it for football,” he said.
“Henry is great; he would sell tickets for us if we needed him to,” Tunney said.
Seeking his first win against the Saints as head coach, he cannot understate the day’s importance.
“This is our Super Bowl,” he said. “Turkey tastes a lot better when you win.” ■
Review Intern Alvaro Balderas contributed to this article.
Recent game history
Here is a look back at the last decade of the Southern/Neumann-Goretti Turkey Bowl which has included two cancellations. The Catholic League school leads the Thanksgiving Day battle, which dates back to 1934, 53-19-3.
2000 61 6
2001 Southern forfeit
2002 68 0
2003 40 8
2004 26 30
2005 53 8
2006 26 0
2007 Game canceled
2008 7 6
2009 12 8
*Southeast Catholic changed its name to Bishop Neumann in 1955 and then to St. John Neumann in 1978. The school merged with St. Maria Goretti High School in 2004 and is now known as Neumann-Goretti High School. SPR
*Southeast Catholic/Neumann/ Neumann-Goretti
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