The Polar Express, Angelo LaRose, Rumbles for 6TD's leading South High to important win.

What a season. With 30 Touchdowns, 2100+ Yards, South High Running Back Angelo LaRose is poised to smash records. We find out today at Noon where and who South High will face in the Playoffs. They walked into this game against a 4-2 Clinton Team that has been working on a decent season of their own. I showed up to the game at 4pm Friday and both teams looked ready to go.

To be honest I don't think South High has gotten a fair spotlight for what's going on there. Haven't seen much coverage from Worcester's Talking heads, Kevin Shea or Andy Lacombe. We never have. That is now on them and can stay on them. Not that I would expect anything different but the Telegram has basically been zero. Think about this. Angelo LaRose is about to break the state yardage record, and the central mass TD record and you have heard zip about it. This is the way the city sports have always been covered. Their loss honestly, because just being at these games has been excitement enough for me. To be able to capture some highlights of my own, and interact with the players and coaches, I'm in my element. I believe the Spectrum camera guy stayed for the first half of this one and just seemed uninterested overall. I encountered this when I covered the Rivera Promotions boxing event in August. I sat next to the T and G ringside, and I couldn't believe how uninterested these guys were. I know some of these guys have all the writing credentials but a little heart goes a long way. I've been like a kid at Christmas at these things and I don't think that feeling will ever go away.

The Clinton Gaels showed up but seemingly forgot to bring an answer to stop The Polar Express. 28 carries for 368 plus a 50 yard punt return touchdown. 9 tackles and a sack. Not a bad day...This kid is just flatout a smart runner. He is pretty fast, but there's alot of fast runners in sports. The X and O knowledge has to be there to pull off what he's doing. He follows his blocks and knows exactly where the hole for him is going to be. He bounces to the outside, knows when to cut back in. One of the videos I got, he seemingly appears from no where out the scrum. I reran the video 100 times and it's still some supernatural stuff to watch. To add to it, this kid is a superb natural athlete that works hard in the weight room and his gears legitimately don't stop. Keeps the legs trucking with incredible balance even though he's carrying defenders. Amazingly gives that effort on both sides of the ball and has accrued some serious tackle numbers as well. He's a leader.

Now this is where it gets realer. Angelo has carved out a pretty decent spotlight for him with the South High fanbase. This team is more that just him however and he would be the first one to tell you that. The defense showed up and showed resilience that hopefully will spark this team to playoff greatness. On one of the first plays of the games the Colonels put the ball on the ground deep in their own territory. They dug deep and held the Gaels off for a bit until a seemingly hail mary dropped into the Gaels hands for an early lead, 7-0. Pretty deflating, but they regrouped and responded nicely. As I was watching this, the usual suspects were showing up, making plays. South has had some issues defending the long pass this year, but it finally came together. They always seem to be in the right spots to defend these passes and the only way I could explain it, is they have been unlucky. #30, Ayden Pugliese, had a monster day in the secondary. #55, Lexi Estrada has been catching my eye all year. Linebacker, always on his toes, has some pretty decent hands for a linebacker too. Watched him toe tap the sidelines in an almost interception at North Middlesex, and since then the kid has been everywhere. Strong play from Mussa Kabunde all year as well, #14. Chris Winfield, Davante Dunn, Anderson Amparo....I could honestly name off the entire roster. They came together Friday afternoon and got each others backs. It's easy to watch what Angelo does week to week, but keep in mind, most of these kids are playing both ways if not all. Overall they romped a respectable Clinton team 45-14. Special Teams, Defense and Offense showed up. They managed the small mistakes, and capitalized where they needed to. Great season still rolling guys! Still work to be done. GIVE ME TWO CLAPS, TWO BEATS AND KNOCK THEY SHIT LOOSE! Keep the foot on the gas and stay together! Wooooooooooooooo! Colonel Pride!