High school football playoffs begin Nov. 18

Medulla Oblongata - I was watching a high school state tournament basketball game years ago with a professor of science. A player flashed across the midcourt line, jumped and caught a pass with his back to his offensive end. He twisted in the air, looked away and hit his streaking teammate with a perfect pass; that player finished with a two-hand slam exclamation dunk. “That all happened in real time - continuous action time - do you know how smart you have to be to process all that and make snap decisions?” I blurted out. My friend started talking gross motor and medulla oblongata. He said real abstract thought occurred in the cerebral cortex and that there was no academic transference. I went Philly Boy, “I’ve got your medulla oblongata; you’re just mad someone smacked you in the back of the head when you were a child.”

Lost in Space - Athletic intelligence and academic intelligence quite often do not match up, and every coach knows that, even if they don’t know they know it. Some athletes just see it in real time and others don’t. “Talk about why the backside post is usually open at 5 o’clock on play action to the front side and why the coordinator never goes there.”  

Ain’t crying about it - My granddaughter Katie tore her ACL in the first half of a field hockey game on a night I was honored at Champions Stadium for induction into Legends Stadium. I stood with Katie on my arm, a highlight in the sports career of a lifetime sports guy who peaked in eighth grade. I really missed her on the field the remainder of the season - she will have her surgery Nov. 21. She is cool - we all are cool. I have always had great empathy for the injured athlete. I know it’s part of the game, but when you’re standing outside the lines, you don’t feel a part of it. Part of the journey and life lessons for sure.   

Happy either way - Delmar has never won a state title in a girls’ sport, and once again Friday night they are in the show at the University of Delaware, playing a Tower Hill team that has come from nowhere to look pretty formidable. It’s certainly even money in the title game. I’m happy either way. I must root for Robin Adair and our 35-year friendship, but the Delmar story is a great one – the entire town will turn out for the game and freak out if they win.

Snippets - Lakeland High School of New York state won its eighth consecutive state title in field hockey last week. Former Cape Superintendent George Stone “Stoneman” is the super at Lakeland. Eight in a row is a New York state record. Team rosters for the Crown Indoor Lacrosse league in Fruitland, Md., are taking shape; the cost is $88. If you are not networked, plug your phone charger into the wall and text somebody. Greg Mack polar bears, plays in bands and does taxes. On Nov. 13, Greg led Karen Carlson, Tom Gusmer, Wendy Gusmer, Kevin Rough and some dude named James into the ocean to start the Lewes Polar Bear season. The Lewes Bears began in 1982. A few years ago I blew out a quad muscle simply jogging into the water and now I’m polar p-word, but my body just won’t run in that direction or run at all really. Winter sports practices are up and running, and storylines are already developing. Sussex Central football (7-3) plays at William Penn (9-1) at 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 19. The winner plays Middletown. In the Division II tournament (eight teams, no byes), Woodbridge (10-0) hosts Howard (6-4) at 7:30 p.m., Friday Nov. 18. Milford (9-1) will host Friends (9-1) at 7:30 p.m., Nov 19. St. Georges (8-2) plays host to Delaware Military (8-2) at 11 a.m., Nov. 19. Happy 56th birthday to my buddy Iron Mike DeStasio. If you ever dream you’re half as tough as Mike, wake up and punch yourself in the face. Cape gave out two game balls after the final win over Sussex Tech. One went to coach John Parker, who is retiring, the other to Dr. Dave Robinson, who put the Collick staff together and is recovering from a bike accident at the Magee Rehab center in Philly. I had a third ball in my camera bag to give to Tech kicker Anthony Hitchcock when the Ravens led 21-20 - he is Robinson’s nephew. It would have been funny if Anthony and Dave each had a game ball. Grand Mom Rose said years ago: “White people don’t front a posse, except in Westerns.” LeBron James didn’t like coach Phil Jackson using the word posse when referring to his entourage, but Zen Master Phil was given the old out-of-touch white guy pass. Man, it’s tough out here. Go on now, git!