Parkway Pop Warner Falcons Come Out Flying in Season Opener

The 2012 Pop Warner football season opened on Labor Day, as the Parkway Falcons took on their crosstown rivals, the Dedham Marauders, at Barnes Memorial Field in Dedham. 

Dave Susisch wrote this article.

D Team Comes Back to Win

The D team contest featured players ages 9 to 11 and was a hard fought battle in the midday sun. Both offenses battered their opposing defenses in the first half with long, grueling drives. The Marauders landed the game’s first score, but Parkway defenders Nathan Fitzgerald and Jimmy Sullivan combined to thwart the conversion and hold the score to 6-0.  

The Parkway defense, led by Sam Wright and Justin Siri, rallied in the second half and stifled the Marauders’ offense. After the Falcons offense turned the ball over on downs inside the Dedham 5-yard line following an impressive third quarter drive, the Parkway defense cut the lead to, 6-2, when Kristian Rosario fell on a Marauder back in the Dedham endzone for a safety. 

The Falcon offense then took over. Behind gritty offensive line play from Thomas Stone, Pat Creavin, and Justin Rivas, Falcon backs Cam Kewley and James Lomuscio alternated pounding the ball down field. Matt Susich ended the drive with a touchdown on a 4-yard dive behind center Eddie Conroy and tackle Luke Bortolotto, and Cam Kewley ran in the conversion. The Falcon defense did not yield a single first down on the ensuing Dedham drive, allowing the Parkway offense to run out the clock for a thrilling 9-6 win.

Falcons D Team Scores First and Soared

The E team game by contrast was a high scoring affair in which the young Falcons (ages 7 to 9) prevailed with a score of 20-13.

After the E team defense recovered a fumble on Dedham’s opening drive, Parkway half back Kevin Prendergast promptly rambled 60 yards for a score behind Shamus Drury and a tough offensive line that included guards Alex Andino and Lamar Beaton, tackles Jacob Rivas and Kevin Pumphret, and tightends John Earley and Matt Morris. 

The Falcons never surrendered the lead. Parkway quarterback James Gillespie led the Falcons’ spirited offensive play, and Connor Kewley had an interception and a rushing touchdown. Running back Julian Llopiz contributed with a 16-yard reception and a rushing touchdown, and key tackles were made by Colin Kelly, Connor Kirraine, and Kevin Pumphret. 

The C, D, and E cheer teams also looked sharp in their debuts, firing up the Falcon faithful and entertaining the crowd with their half-time routines. The Falcon boys and girls will be back in action again on Sunday, Sept. 9 when they visit Randolph-Holbrook.