CNBNews

By Bruce Darrow

Please understand that both the Gloucester City News and  Cleary's Notebook take pride  in the integrity of their respective outlets. Rest assured that what you are about to read is the truth. It may appear as though you have been here before but after all this is our 2007 Lion's football team, our "Cardiac Kids"...

Once again the game came down to the final 30 seconds.  Why should we expect anything less from our gang before walking off with a rain soaked 13 - 6 win against an underrated Salem football team.

You ask why we should expect anything less. Try to follow the mathematics of Lion's football. 1- at Schalick, we watched the Cougars kick a go ahead field goal with under two minutes left, then the Lion's marched 65 yards in the finals seconds before a Steve Goad pass was intercepted in the end zone on the last play to give Schalick the win. 2 – Against Penns Grove the next week the Lion's rallied in the final two minutes to beat Penns Grove when they scored 14 points in the final 1:26. 3 - The next week the Lion's traveled to Woodstown where our Lion's stopped a possible Woodies winning drive on the last play to record another cardiac win. 4 - Parents and fans have found out these Lion's have more ways of keeping us in the stands when last week visiting Pennsville staged a remarkable comeback before an incomplete Pennsville pass in the end zone on the games last play assured the Lion's victory.

So, when I tell you that with 30 seconds remaining and Salem trailing 13 -6 a Salem receiver dropped a pass at the Lion's five yard line you have to believe it is the truth. You have to believe in these kids. We now understand what Yogi Berra meant when he said "it's not over till it's over". The 2007 Lion's games are not finished until we see the hand shake at mid field.

Photo: Lions Mike Becker #25 was outstanding on defense (photo by Bruce Darrow).

Yes, after three Steve Goad first half interceptions the Lion's found answers. In the second half the outstanding play of safety Mike Becker on defense set the table for the Lion's. Slowly, runs by the courageous Adam Dick (injured sternum) and Kyle Stewart (still with cast on his wrist) seemed to bring order to the struggling offense. Suddenly the aerial attack came into the fold and this week's big help came from the weather as the rain moved out and the skies cleared. In the third quarter QB Steve Goad swept around end for the game's first score and then after a Salem turnover late in the fourth quarter Goad scored on a sneak to give the Lion's 13 – 0 lead.

BUT, you guessed it! Back came Salem with a late fourth quarter score cutting the lead 13 – 6. The Lion's will not let the story end here. No! Let's give Salem another chance and that they did. An open Salem receiver dropped a fourth down pass with less than a minute remaining at the 5 yard line and Gloucester's Goad kneeled down to preserve another thrilling win. 

If pennies are missing in our local stores, I think we found them, we must assume the Lion's players, coaches and supporters are carrying these lucky pennies. Somehow our beloved Lion's are winning and winning in thrilling fashion. You could not expect anything less. You do the math 5 and 2 record, class over.

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