Philly scores big in opening-round win
By By Steve Swogetinsky / special to The Star
Nov. 6, 2004
PHILADELPHIA For the Philadelphia Tornadoes, it was a night for big yardage totals.
The Tornadoes crushed Madison St. Joseph 54-6 in the first round of the state 2A playoffs Friday night. In doing so, the Tornadoes produced 714 total yards, with 598 yards coming on the ground and 116 coming through the air.
Leading the way was senior running back Talmer Burnside with 241 yards rushing on 21 carries and one pass reception for 18 yards. Burnside would have had more, but several of his runs, including one touchdown, were called back by penalties.
Penalties could have been a problem for the Tornadoes had they not been so dominant. Philadelphia was called for 166 yards in penalties, while St. Joseph had three penalties for 45 yards.
Jeremy Holmes broke loose for a 50-yard run to put Philadelphia on the scoreboard with 5:05 left in the first quarter. Porter Jordan kicked the extra point and the Tornadoes led 7-0.
That's how it stood in the second quarter when Jordan connected with Cameron Gates on a 60-yard touchdown pass play. Jordan's kick was good and Philadelphia led 14-0 with 8:44 left in the half.
St. Joseph responded with a score of its own. Quarterback Joseph Shirley, who spent most of the night on the run as the Tornadoes defense pounded him again and again, got a pass off to Bryndan Blasingame who had a wall of Bruin blockers in front of him. Blasingame lumbered into the end zone for a 57-yard TD pass play. The extra point try failed and the Tornadoes led 14-6 with 8:02 remaining in the half.
The Tornadoes responded quickly. Three plays after the kickoff, Burnside bolted for a 48-yard TD rush. Jordan kicked the extra point and Philadelphia led 21-6 with 6:55 left in the half.
Jordan would later hook up with Landon Gilmer for a 10-yard touchdown pass, capping a seven-play, 57-yard drive. Jordan's kick was good and the Tornadoes would lead 28-6 at the half.
It was more of the same in the second half. Jordan found Gates for a 13-yard TD pass play with 8:13 left in the period. The score capped a nine play, 79-yard drive. The extra point try failed and Philadelphia led 34-6.
Philadelphia added two more touchdowns in the third quarter. Burnside scored on a 57-yard run with 4:46 left. And then on the Tornadoes' next possession, Tuntdrick Burnside rambled 57 yards for another touchdown. Jordan kicked both extra points and Philadelphia led 48-6 heading into the final quarter.
Tuntdrick Burnside scored the Tornadoes' final points in the fourth quarter on a seven-yard run. The extra point failed, ending the scoring.
Though disappointed with the loss, St. Joseph coach Eric Guerrero was proud of his team's 5-5 season. It was the first time the Bruins have been in the playoffs since 1987.
Philadelphia, now 10-1 on the season, faces East Marion in the second round of the playoffs. East Marion slipped past Taylorsville, 21-20.
