Linemen for Life move into the world always knowing the snap count

Old King Cole - It was the working ranch on Cave Neck Road rolling into Milton. I’m pretty sure there were cowboys horsing around a hybrid animal known as a beefalo grazing by the split-rail fence. The beefalo is a cross between a male cattle (bull) and a female bison. It always seemed flattering to me to call an offense line The Beefalo Brigade. I've tried to sell it to the Cape crew, but they look at me like I have a Size 8 Fred head. But I caught a candid photo of them Friday night.

Inclusion Kid at Champions Stadium - Davey Fred is Cape’s Inclusion Kid, now 21 years old. I snapped his photo at Saturday's home field hockey game versus Tower Hill. Davey has attended 28 state title handshake lines going back to the 2009 title won by girls’ lacrosse. There have been 14 state titles for the girls' laxers. Another 11 have come from field hockey, two from wrestling and one from boys’ lacrosse. I don’t know if he’s a good luck charm, but he’s certainly a jewel. 

Fredman Players of the Game - I have a social media presence on Facebook, the only site we older people understand. And don’t call me Instagramps. Sometimes I pick Players of the Game, representing no one but myself. On Friday night, I was like roping the wind trying to corral Jayden Messick, Jameson Tingle, Quardell Richards and Amari Jackson. Jayden rushed for 66 yards on 16 carries with two touchdowns and 43 yards receiving. He also plays defense. Jameson was 18-for-26 for 251 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 33 yards and a touchdown, and had an interception on the defensive side. Quardell had 26 yards rushing and 90 yards in receptions, including a touchdown. Amari caught five balls for 56 yards, including a touchdown on the last play of the first half. All four players were eager to get to the locker room, where it sounded like there was a party going on.

You just never know - But speaking of sports wagering for entertainment purposes, the lower you go, the more you know. That’s why writers who predict high school sports generally are correct more than 80% of the time. Move up to college and the prediction rate is lower. In the pros, it’s a roll of the dice. Being a lifelong Philadelphia sports fan, I find that when the Eagles or Phillies play badly, I question whether millionaires who live in mansions ever level up to the sports cliche, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” 

Logistics - The first Friday night home football game was packed on the Cape side while Lake Forest didn’t travel well. It’s hard to say what was going on in Harrington and Felton that night. On Oct. 4, it’s Saint Mark’s for Homecoming. Then Sussex Central is at Cape Oct. 11. It’s guaranteed Central’s fans are showing up. Parking is problematic, but whatever goes wrong, we can all blame it on the new Rehoboth city manager who gets blamed for everything else.   

Snippets - The Power 2 Parkinson’s 5K held April 7, 2019, at Sussex Academy was a student-centered race organized by Lindsey Guida and Mackenzie Cummings as part of the International Baccalaureate Program. Lindsey’s grandfather Turk Despard, who has Parkinson’s, participated with his granddaughters Lindsey and Natalie. Turk died last week. He was just a great guy. Late-afternoon middle school sports are the best ticket in town, and admission is free. By 5 p.m., you are heading home. And the “B” game is the best! My dogs are barking, but I’m still walking, even if I’m walking slowly. The Shady Grady crew along the fence railing was busting on me Friday night at the football game, but we shared history. I knew them all, and it was all about love. Go on now, git!