Rebels Give Co-op City a Rough Ride; Set A Franchise Record!!!

The Rebels Intro Team set a franchise record this weekend after dismantling the Co-Op City Rough Riders, 30-6.  The Intro’s are now 5-0, something that has never been accomplished on any level in the 20 year history of the Bronx Rebels.

On a day where high winds and steady rain made things uncomfortable for the Rebel faithful in the stands, the defense made life uncomfortable for the Rough Riders on the field.   They caused & recovered 3 fumbles on Co-Op’s first three plays from scrimmage and never looked back.  The Rebel D proved to be too aggressive for their cross-borough rivals and physically manhandled the Rough Rider’s offensive line the entire day.  Defensive linemen Robert Mervin (#34), Julian Tavaras (#87) and Johnathon Tuck (#77) would dominate the day by each recording 3 sacks and recorded quite a few tackles for loss.  OLB/SS Diego (#27) blocked a punt late in the 2nd quarter and OLB/SS Rashawn Robinson (#38) scooped it and ran it in for a touchdown.

Although the conditions were less than favorable, Coach O’Neal’s group showed everyone why they are the highest scoring offense in the league.  Once again the Rebels ripped off over 200 yards rushing.  FB Robert Mervin would lead the way with two touchdown runs and HB Quayvon Gonzalez  (#21), QB Elias Encarnacion (#7), and HB Omar B (#25) would each contribute with a touchdown or 2 point conversion run of their own.

The Rebels have now clinched the #1seed in the Grid Iron Elite and have secured home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

1…2…3….CHAMPIONSHIP BOUND!!!!

Pee Wees lose to Brooklyn Renegades

On any given Sunday, you can win, or lose. Unfortunately, the Rebel Pee Wees, led by Coach Mike Blake, lost to the same team only a week prior they defeated 28-6. The final score of this weekend’s contest was 35 to 14. At press time, there were no game highlights to report. We will speak with Coach Mike and find out what happened by Tuesday evening. 

Jr. Pros lose a heartbreaker to NYC Gators

The Rebels Jr Pro division lost a tough game this past weekend to the NYC Gators, with the final score being 14-0.  “Our offense has not executed for three games. We are explosive with our running game, but our receivers are not catching the ball. We also are defeating ourselves with nonsense penalties. We cannot win if we are not disciplined enough to win”  says Coach Baxter.  

The game was an exciting one, particulary with the noted chants of the Gators on the Rebels usual home sideline, as this was a Gator home game in ECFL play. The Gators opened with their passing game, but the Rebels countered with the sparkling defensive play of Wally Santana, who stifled the running game from the nose tacke position, and Defensive Backs Montrey Ford, Sean Kern, Danny Kern and Naheem Henry. The Gators took long shots downfield and the play of the Rebel defensive backs stymied them each time. Pressure from the Rebels Defensive Ends, notably Dominique Headley, Dexter Bello, and Jordan McPherson gave Gator quarterbacks headaches all afternoon, and finally forced Gator Coach DaRon to change to their normal I-formation running game. “You beat the spread with pressure. We will always find a way to get to spread teams” said Rebel DC Kevin Pryor. “This game was won by the team that made one less mistake”, and unfortunately for the Rebels, that was definately the case. Near the end of the first half, after many goaline stands and bad field position left by the Rebel offense, Rebel linebackers were not able to contain the Gator runners and # 20 expoded off the right side for 55 yards to the 3 yard line. Two plays later, the Gators had the first score of the game, and sealed it with an extra point kick. Halftime – Gators 7  Rebels 0.

If you like defensive football, the third and fourth quarters were a battle of great defensive execution by both teams. Both offenses had scoring opporunities, but defense was the name of the game until late in the fourth quarter.

The Rebel offense finally found its legs and were moving the ball. Sparked by a 37 yard run by Running Back # 2 George Dudley, the Rebels were at the 50 yard line with less than two minutes remaining. However, both a holding penatly, and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty by Quarterback Jason Reyes, sealed the fate of the Rebels for the evening, as the team lost all the yardage gained, and were unable to convert on the fourth down play. In garbage time, the Gators scored again with less than a minute on the clock, sealing the win.            

Rebels Run Over Renegades, 48-0!!

The Bronx Rebels Intro squad had to overcome a litany of challenges going into Saturday’s game against the Brooklyn Renegades at Boy’s & Girl’s High School.  They were coming off a tough home loss, several players were battling injuries and the flu, and had to play without Offensive Coordinator Coach O’Neal due to a scheduling conflict.  The Rebels showed what they were made of by overcoming everything going against them and destroying the Renegades 48-0 in their most lopsided victory of the season.

The day started with the news that the Rebels’ lone blur on their record was washed away when it was discovered the Invaders had violated league rules and were forced to forfeit all of their games.  “Once they found out the league did the right thing, you could see a new fire in their eyes that I’ve never seen”, said Coach J.T. Tinsdale.  That fire would not be extinguished as they would go on to score 7 touchdowns and hold the unsuspecting Renegades to less than 1 yard of total offense.

LB Elias “Red” Encarnicion (#7) returned the game’s first punt 35 yards for a touchdown and the Rebels never looked back.  FB Robert Mervin (#34) would lead the way with 3 touchdown runs on the day and RB’s Quayvon Gonzalez(#21) and Omar B. (#25) would combine for almost 200 yards rushing and 3 more touchdowns.

The Rebels were even more dominant on the defensive side of the ball.  The unit would force 3 fumbles in the opening quarter and would finish the game with 6 forced fumbles, 5 sacks and at least 10 tackles for a loss.  LB’s Quayvon Gonzalez,  Jose “Tego” Guerrera (#2) and DL’s Julian Tavaraz (#87) and Johnathon Tuck (#77) all lead the team in tackles.  Everybody contributed on a day where the defense was so stingy, they never allowed the home team to get inside the Rebels 35 yard line.

The win improves the Rebels’ record to 4-0 and sets the stage for a big homecoming game this weekend against the rival Co-Op City Rough Riders.

1. . . 2 . . . 3. . .CHAMPIONSHIP BOUND!!!

Pee Wees Win !!!

In front of a great crowd at Gridiron Elite Stadium, the Pee Wee Rebels get their first win of the 2008 season, beating the Brooklyn Renegades 28 – 6.

Led by Quarterback Shaun Tafe, the Pee Wees attacked early and often. The running talents of Malik Wilder were on display, as he ripped several long runs and scored two touchdowns. Malik ran for over 100 yards for the day.

Tafe also completed two long passes, and surprised everyone with his accuracy, and strength of this throws, as both passes were completions over 40 yards.

Defensively, big games were had by many players, David Reid, Jr. and Brandon Allende among others. But, again Shawn Tafe had the play of the game with a game ending interception.

The Pee Wees travel to Brooklyn to face the Renegaeds again this weekend. At press time, time and place of the game was not known.              

Rebels Lose in Intermediate and Jr Pro Divisions

In a weekend of unprecedented crowds at Gridiron Elite Stadium, the Rebels were beaten on both the Intermediate and Jr.Pro levels.

In the Intermediate game, the Rebels faced the Morrisainia Invaders, Coached by former Young Pro “Capt” Joe Black. The Invaders domiated the Rebels from the opening kickoff, shutting down the Rebels offensive attack and exposing the defensive attack. The final score was Invaders 20 – Rebels 0.

In the Jr. Pro game, the Rebels faced the Brooklyn Whipsticks, who beat the Rebels last season in their contest at Gridiron Elite Stadium on a last second interception and 65 return for a touchdown. This was a very competitive contest, with a tied score at halftime of 20 – 20. However,  the depth of the Whipsticks took it’s toll on an exhausted Rebel squad, and it showed on an ensuing play where Receiver Josh Williams missed a screen pass, and fumbled, with a Whipstick lineman recovering the fumble and scampering 30 yards into the endzone untouched.  The final score of this game was Whipsticks 38  Rebels 20.

The Intermediates are now 2 – 1 in the Gridiron Elite, and still in first place. The Jr. Pros are now 1 – 1 in the East Coast Football League. The Intermediates travel to Brooklyn to face the Brooklyn Renegades. The Jr. Pros will face their old rival, the New York City Gators. At press time, the time and place of the game is still to be determined.

Editor’s Note:

The Invaders were caught violating league rules and on October 18th, were forced to forfeit all wins.  It turned out that they used illegal players in the game against the Rebels and as a result, the intro’s are still undefeated in Grid Iron Elite play.

What a game!! Jr Pros are victorious!

In a game of many highs and lows, the Rebel Jr. Pros came from behind and squeezed out a last second victory over the new Brooklyn Wolverines in East Coast Football League play @ Gridiron Elite Stadium, Saturday night.

“This is why I coach, just for games like this” said Coach Ray Baxter, Head Coach of the Jr Pros.  The game began with with a 73 yd touchdown run by the Wolverines, making excellent blocks and sealing the Rebels from the Running Back as he scampered untouched into the end zone. The Rebels came right back with a specatcular kick return by Marcus Seignieous to the Wolverine 30, but  but Seignieous fumbled and the Wolverines recovered the ball. The Rebel defense held, and then it was the Rebels turn on offense.  With the return of Jason Reyes at Quarterback the Rebels went on the attack right away, with a blend of run and pass, scoring on a five minute drive.

Late in the first half, the Rebel defense began to take the game in it’s own hands. Linebackers Towan Stewart, Raidin Arias, Terrane Hicks began smacking Wolverine runners into submission. Defensive Lineman Wally Santana had several key stops, and let not forget the defensive backfield of Danny and Sean Kern, Montrey Ford. The Wolverines tried to test the Rebels revamped defensive backfied all night, and found that they could not complete a deep pass all night.

It was then the Rebel offense that took control of the game. George Dudley, Marcus Siegnious, and Jeremiah Sanchez displayed rushing talents that moved the ball and kept the Wolverines off balance. However Reyes tried to stretch the field with passes to Kevin Dukes, with no success as Dukes dropped three touchdown passes. With the score tied at 12 with less than 5 seconds left in the game, Reyes completed a 40 yard pass to George Dudley to for the win. 

Other standouts were Dominique Headley,  Jordan McPherson, Carlos Henriquez.
                

Intermediates Undefeated in Gridiron Elite Play

The Rebels Intermediate team is off to it’s best start ever, now with two wins and no loses in Gridiron Elite Youth Football League Play after demolishing the upstart Brooklyn Wolverines 26-0.

The Rebels were in control of the game from the opening kick off, scoring a touchdown and completing the 2 point conversion on the very frist drive of the game.  The defense forced a fumble on the Wolverines first play from scrimmage and the visiting team was never able to recover.    The Rebels had rushing touchdowns from QB Elias Encarncion, HB Quayvon Gonzalez and FB Robert Mervin. WR Charles Edmon put the final nail in Brooklyn’s coffin in the 4th quarter after he turned a 10 yard reception into a  55 yard touchdown.

The  stingy Rebels defense never allowed the Wolverines to get anything going and kept the pressure on for the entire game.  The defensive unit, anchored by MLB Rashawan Robinson and  DE’s Johnathon Tuck & Julian Serrano, would register 4 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 6 tackles for losses.  The Wolverines had 1st and Goal inside the 2 yard line in the closing seconds of the first half, but dug in their heels and made a monumental statement when they refused to give up another inch.  That goal line stand seemed to take all of the wind out of their opponents sails, as they were held to an anemic 40 yards of offense in the 2nd half.

If the Rebels continue to dominate their opponents on both sides of the ball, they will certainly be a force to be reckoned with in the Gridiron Elite -

1….2…3…CHAMPIONSHIP BOUND!!!!!