News & Events 2003-2004

Blair Wins the 100th Game

The Blair football team capped its championship season with a 28-6 victory over the Peddie School in the historic 100th game played between these two rival schools. The win enabled Blair to extend its lead in the longtime series to 49-46-5.

The Peddie Falcons jumped on the scoreboard first after a Blair turnover deep in its own end of the field. After five plays, Peddie scored on an 8-yard pass in the corner of the endzone to make it 6-0. Blair answered right back three plays later with a 68-yard jaunt by Gary Thomas to even the score. Blair missed its extra point as well.

As the second quarter started, the Blair defense began to stiffen and held in-check Peddie’s outstanding tailback Myron Rolle. The Bucs swarmed around Rolle every time he got the ball and held him to just 63 yards on 21 carries. “We knew we had to stop Myron Rolle to get a win. The defense did a great job of getting a lot of players to the ball and gang tackling,” said Coach Stone.

As the defense clamped down on Peddie’s offense, the Blair Wishbone attack started rolling. On their first and second possessions of the second quarter, the Bucs scored on a 60-yard burst from fullback Zach Hammond, and a 4-yard run by Gary Thomas after a 75-yard drive. After the Hammond touchdown, quarterback Rich Doyle hit Anthony Melillo with a pass for the 2-point conversion, and Kevin Reese kicked the point after the Thomas run. Blair led 21-6 at the half.

The Bucs received the ball first in the second half and drove the ball 78 yards and scored on a Mike Gallihugh 5-yard run. The Kevin Reese kick made it 28-6. Split ends TJ Griffin and Kevin Reese made key catches from Rich Doyle to keep that drive moving. Furthermore, Stewart Buck stepped in at quarterback and ran the option well for the Bucs.

The Blair offense had a big day running the ball behind the front line of Brad Weiss, John Kane, Kyle Manley, Derek Ashmore, Jeff Hanson and Anthony Melillo as the Bucs rushed for a total of 357 yards. “It was another great effort from the guys up front for us,” said Coach Stone. “They were quick off the ball and our Backs ran hard. The defense was excellent again for us. That group has been the catalyst to our success all year.” The defensive unit led by captain linebacker John Kane and defensive ends Ben Kinerson and Anthony Melillo gave up only 87 total points on the season. “This is a great way for our season to end. These guys deserve this. I’m real happy for them.”

The Blair football team finished with a 7-1 record and captured the Mid Atlantic Prep Championship, the New Jersey State Prep “A” Championship and The Big Three Trophy.

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