Sunday, October 28, 2012

DEC Defeats Lobos In Season Opener

Derech Etz Chaim opened its season with two big wins over defending champions Lobos 12- 7 and 20 -19 . The games were not as close as the scores indicate with DEC’s new defense never allowing a true drive by Lobos. The offense clicked with great catches and clean plays and tremendous blocking by Aron Hertz and Daniel Romero on the O-line throughout both games.
In the first game DEC kicked, held Lobos to three and out. Once Gilad Silverman took over on offense, passes to Daniel Macks and a TD pass to Avi Raskas and DEC took a quick 6-0 lead.
Lobos was able to quickly get on the board with a long Pass downfield to score and make the extra point DEC 6 Lobos 7.
DEC came right back driving downfield with a pass to Dani Eastman, a great catch by Daniel Macks and a TD to Dani Eastman to take the lead 12-7 . Lobos went three and out and a pass to Rafi Kintzer and them to Dani Eastman gained first down. DEC then ran the clock out to take a 12- 7 win in game one. The only bad news was Avi Raskas getting hurt defending the Hail Mary pass to end the game
DEC received in the second game and quickly moved the ball with a pass to Dani, then new TE Daniel Romero , then to Rafi Kintzer who took it in for the TD and a 6-0 lead.
A missed flag let Lobos get right back to tie 6- 6 . DEC came right back a quick 15 yard pass to Dani Eastman who turned it into a DEC TD when Dani outran the entire Lobos team down the field for a TD. Extra point to Romero. 13-6
Lobos went three and out and DEC came right back with passes to Daniel Macks, and Dani made it DEC 20-7.
Lobos finally put together a drive and scored to bring the score to 20-13 and DEC suffered from dropped passes to give Lobos one more shot with less then a minute left to play. Lobos QB Micha Muschal sent a Hail Mary pass to Aryeh Rudman with 18 seconds left to bring the score to DEC 20 – Lobos 19 . They went for the win and a 2 point conversion which was stopped by a great defensive effort by Dani Eastman to end the game.
DEC starts its season against one of its most difficult opponents and walks away with two wins – a great start to what will be a great season.
Highlights:

Monday, October 22, 2012

DEC begins new season against Lobos

We have been waiting months but the new season finally begins this Saturday night with the new look Derech Etz Chaim team taking on last years AFI champions Lobos. Lobos and DEC have had a friendly rivalry since DEC surprisingly defeated Lobos during the 2009 regular season then went on to trounce them in the championship game. Ever since, the two have met not only in the regular season but in the playoffs, until last year when they ended up on different sides of the playoff divide.

Lobos brings back many of its players and has bolstered its offense with QB Micha Muskal formerly of Tov Pizza who was injured in his last AFI game which just happened to be against DEC!

Derech Etz Chaim brings back veterans from last year with QB Gilad Silverman, C Aron Hertz, WR Rafi Kintzer, and CB Doni Raskas. Daniel Romero moves to TE from the D- line. Other veterans who have joined the team include WR-CB Avi Raskas, and WR Dani Eastman who is now first year at DEC but led the Israeli national team this past year. Other new players include WR Daniel Macks, CB Ben Barel and D-line Ari Silberstein. The team is filled out by a couple of DEC brothers Tuli Margolese and Ari Eastman on D-line.

DEC’s season ended disappointingly last year when the AFI official Dov Rabinowitz mis-counted the downs and gave the ball back for a 5th down with DEC leading their playoff game with 3 minutes left. The mistake turned the game around, ending DEC’s season prematurely in what looked like another DEC title run. DEC has looked very good through the preseason scrimmages and this week’s game is much anticipated by all.