Sunday, January 31, 2010

Derech Etz Chaim vs. Armitron

Derech Etz Chaim opened up their playoff drive with a statement drubbing Armitron (Netiv Aryeh) 52- 6 (this is the correct score!) The DEC defense clamped down and completely controlled the game while the offense came alive to score on almost every drive.
The game opened with Gilad Silverman hitting Avi Aryeh the length of the field on the very first play for a TD. That set the tone for the night. Levi Naiditch immediately intercepted the ball on defense and Gilad hit Kobi Shwartzbaum for a TD. Three minutes into the game DEC was leading 12- 0 .
Again Armitron threw an interception this time to Jeffrey Mally , with Gilad throwing to Levi for a diving catch and another TD. (Extra point Sam Ash)
The next drive Gilad hit Sam for a TD and extra point then another pass to Avi ending the half with the score 32-0
The second half began with DEC using the time for practice, unfortunately unsuccessfully, for the only non scoring possession of the game. Armitron finally got into the end zone for their 6 points.
DEC took the ball back down field with Levi running and on a missed snap Levi managed to shuffle the ball to Sam Ash who scrambled in for a touchdown.
Next TD drive included a pass to Gilad from Levi, then Gilad hit Pinchas Shwartzbaum to bring the ball down to the one yard line and a pass to Kobi for the TD.
DEC then successfully went for a two point conversion on a pass to Noam Silverman.
An interception by Yochi Naiditch and a pass to Pinchas finished the scoring at 52 points.
Derech Etz Chaim now moves on to the Quarterfinals next week against Klein Management, (Medrash Shmuel) having made a statement that they are back and everyone should look out as they are looking to repeat as Holyland Bowl Champions!
This weeks highlight reel is a bit more one sided then the past few weeks. (We also have been playing on South field and its a bit more difficult to see) Enjoy!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Pallorium Forfeits!

Pallorium forfeited last nights game. Playoffs begin this coming week. Stay tuned for a playoff preview.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Preview to Pallorium

This coming Motzei Shabbos DEC takes on Pallorium in a meaningless game. Derech Etz Chaim by virtue of their victories over Neveh and Karelitz own the #1 seed in Group C and will face the #2 seed in Group G next week in the opening round of the upper tier playoffs.
(Whoever wins the Karelitz vs Neve game this week will have the same record as DEC - 2 wins 1 loss but because they lost to DEC will remain the #2 seed in the group).
Because of this DEC plans on resting some starters and giving some other players a chance. QB Gilad Silverman hopes to use the opportunity to reconnect in his timing with his receivers whom he was missing in the previous weeks game vs Karelitz.
Do to the late hour of the game there may be no highlight reel this weekend as well.
Please stay with us and follow the playoffs as DEC makes another run at the Championship

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Derech Etz Chaim vs. Karelitz

Game Report;
Karelitz, the team that gave Derech Etz Chaim the most trouble in the playoffs last year once again had DEC on the ropes until the final minutes of the game when DEC’s defense stepped up and stopped Karelitz to win a close game 27 – 20. The win clinches the number one seed in the group for DEC, regardless of next week’s outcome, and once again a spot in the Holyland Bowl upper tier playoffs beginning in two weeks.
The game began with Karelitz receiving and they capitalized on their very first possession for a touchdown to take the lead 0 – 6.
Gilad Silverman lead Derech Etz Chaim right back with a touchdown pass to Kobi to tie up the score at 6-6
The next several sets both Karelitz and DEC could produce little offense until Karelitz pinned down on the 2 yard line by a beautiful punt by Josh Weisel got an incredible break with a controversial pass interference call on Efrayim Prero which put them in TD range. They took advantage and scored plus an extra point. DEC 6 Kareltiz 13
DEC got the ball with 45 seconds left in the half and Gilad led a drive downfield on a long pass to Kobi and a TD pass to Pinchas with Kobi running in the extra point to tie the game at the half 13- 13.
DEC received the ball and marched downfield only to lose it on an interception. Karelitz took advantage of the turnover to drive downfield and score to make the score DEC 13- Karelitz 20.
Once again DEC came right back a short slant to Sam Ash led to a long downfield run for a TD and an extra point caught by Pinchas to tie the game DEC 20 Karelitz 20
The Derech Etz Chaim defense took over. Jeffrey Mally intercepted a long pass but DEC could not convert the turnover and was forced to punt. Once again Efrayim Prero came up with the interception and this time DEC marched downfield and scored on a pass to Sam Ash and an extra point to Noam Silverman. In the final minutes of the game DEC’s defense held Karelitz as they approached the red zone to win the game 27 – 20

Here are the game highlights:

Monday, January 11, 2010

Derech Etz Chaim vs Neve Tziyon

In one of the most exciting games of the season, Derech Etz Chaim held on to defeat Neve Tziyon 40 – 26 in the opening game of the group round. At the end of the next two weeks two teams from each group will advance to the Holyland Bowl playoffs.
DEC’s defense had trouble most of the night containing Neve’s physical and talented offense but the DEC offense was just too much for Neve only twice giving the ball back without a score.
Levi Naiditch last years championship QB filled in for Gilad Silverman showed no rust, and led a tremendous game taking DEC downfield over and over utilizing all of his talent and creativity at QB against a strong Neve defensive line.
Derech Etz Chaim kicked off and Neve drove downfield and scored on their very first possession. DEC came back with passes to Kobi, Pinchas and after a short run for first down and a TD pass to Kobi finished the drive.
DEC held Neve on their next possession forcing Neve to punt but with the game tied failed to capitalize as Levi on a long throw to Kobi gave up an interception.
Neve was held again turning the ball over on downs with the DEC defense holding them on 4rth and short. Levi attacked with passes to Avi, Sam and a TD pass to Sam again plus a beautiful diving catch for the extra point.
DEC now leading by 7 Neve drove all the way down to the DEC 10 but failed to punch it in turning over the ball. Levi led another drive with passes to Pinchas, Kobi, Sam and finally a short TD pass to Pinchas with Kobi making an acrobatic catch for the extra point. DEC leads 20 – 6 with less then a minute left in the half.
Neve not giving up before the half, throws a long bomb which is caught on the two yard line and this time they punch it in to bring the score to 20- 13 at the half.

The second half began with Neve Tziyon kicking off and Efrayim Prero making a huge return bringing the ball down to the 30 yard line. Three plays later Levi passes to Sam Ash for the TD and Kobi for the extra point. DEC 26- Neve 13
Neve began another drive down but just as they were stalling Yakov Hill was called for tackling with the penalty bringing the ball down to the 5 yard line. Neve utilized the opportunity to score bringing the DEC lead back to one TD. DEC 26 Neve 19
But DEC came back with a pass to Pinchas who out ran the entire Neve backfield for a 40 yard run to score. DEC 33 – Neve 19
Neve came right back with a quick slant pass and a number of DEC defenders missing flags to score bringing it back to a one TD game. DEC 33 – Neve 26
Here the DEC offense stalled with a dropped pass on third forcing the team to punt but the Derech Etz Chaim defense held Neve in their own territory forcing them to punt.
On the punt from Neve’s 20 yard line there was a penalty on the kicker and DEC got the ball back deep in Neve territory. After a few short runs Levi passed to Pinchas who hauled in the ball to give DEC a two touchdown lead with a few minutes remaining in the game.
Neve tried again for the long ball and Jeffrey Mally intercepted the pass to essentially end the exciting game.
Here are the game highlights:

Sunday, January 03, 2010

Regular Season ends with DEC ranked #3

Derech Etz Chaim finished the regular season last night with 12 wins and 2 losses in the first 7 weeks of the season for the number 3 spot in the rankings. It is the best record in DEC history!
Next week begins the group play with DEC in the C grouping together with #6 Pallorium, #27 Karelitz and #30 Neve Tziyon.
During the next three weeks the 4 teams in each group will play each other with the two top teams advancing to the final 16 Holyland Bowl playoffs. From this point on the games are a full 50 minutes (two 25 minute halves as opposed to the previous weeks each game was 25 minutes). Each first and second place team will be assigned a predetermined slot in the playoffs.
The C1 will play the second seed from the G group and the C2 will play the top seed from the G group.
For more information go to www.israelfootball.net

Saturday, January 02, 2010

Derech Etz Chaim vs Canaan Studios

Game Report- The last game of the regular season was another DEC rout. Canaan Studios (Rabbi Center's Yeshiva) entered the game with 9 wins and a spot in the top eight teams but DEC was way to much for them knocking them down to the second rung by defeating them in both games.
The DEC defense showed itself in full form with Jeffrey Mally returning and making an immediate impact with two interceptions on the night. Efrayim Prero pulled in two interceptions as well and the Defensive line with Yakov Hill back in the line up gave the Canaan Studio QB no time to throw.
On offense the first game was QB'd by Gilad Silverman though playing without Kobi Shwartzbaum who missed the game, hit his other receivers to lead DEC to a 20- 0 victory in the first game. In the second game Levi Naiditch, a bit rusty this year but last year's championship QB led the team to a 20 - 6 victory. Sam Ash had a run for the entire length of the field for a touchdown.
Normally reliable TE Pinchas Shwartzbaum missed a number of passes and left the game injured after jamming his thumb.
Next week begins the group round of the AFI season we hope to have an intro on the blog some time this week as well as highlights from this weeks game