Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Fordham Schools Yale

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Fordham Schools Yale: Rams 8-0 for First Time in School History BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 21- Chances are Joe Moorhead will not even dominate the topic of conver...

Fordham Schools Yale

Rams 8-0 for First Time in School History

BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 21- Chances are Joe Moorhead will not even dominate the topic of conversation at his own dinner table tonight despite the fact that he led the Fordham University football team to its eighth straight win, becoming the first Ram squad since 1923 (the first year in which dates for all games are available) to open the season 8-0. But Moorhead will not mind that his daughter will share the spotlight tonight after throwing a no-hitter for her softball team because Moorhead has the Rams firing on all cylinders as Fordham defeated Yale, 53-31, in the Yale Bowl.

“It’s been a tremendous ride and a testament to these young men,” said Moorhead. “They bought into the things we identified we needed to do in order to win, which includes preparation, effort and execution along with all the little things and making no excuses. My hat’s off to them as they are doing a phenomenal job.”

Not only did the Rams advance to 8-0 on the season, they also closed out their non-conference season with a perfect 6-0 record, the most non-conference wins ever for Fordham and the first undefeated non-conference season since the 1988 squad went 5-0. Fordham is now one of four undefeated NCAA FCS teams, the only one with eight wins.

The game featured an explosive Fordham offense and a bend-but-don’t break defense. Junior wide receiver Sam Ajala led the offense, hauling in ten passes for a school-record 282 yards and four touchdowns (which tied a school record). Junior quarterback Mike Nebrich was the one getting the ball to Ajala, finishing the game completing 19 of 26 passes for 421 yards and the four scores while also rushing for another touchdown. Nebrich, who had his second straight 400-yard passing game, finished just six yards shy of the Fordham single-game passing yards record.

The game was Fordham’s fourth 50-point game of the year, the most 50-points games in one year for the Rams, who had never had more than two in a season entering 2013.

Defensively, junior linebacker Stephen Hodge made a career-high 14 tackles for the second straight week, 13 solo, including five for loss and he forced two fumbles, while Ian Williams also made 14 stops, eleven solo and he forced a fumble as the Rams forced four Yale turnovers on the day.

The Rams did not waste much time getting on the score board as on the second play from scrimmage, Nebrich found a streaking Ajala with a 68-yard scoring strike to put the Rams up 7-0 just 35 seconds into the game.

The Bulldogs used a long kickoff return to get deep into Fordham territory but on the fourth play of the drive, Ian Williams hit Tyler Varga, forcing him to drop the ball which was recovered by Levon Williams on the Fordham 22.

Later in the first, Yale took over on the Fordham 32 following an interception and three plays later, Henry Furman took it in from the 17 to tie the game at seven with 2:18 left in the first.

But the game was not tied for long as Nebrich drove the team down field and eventually found Ajala with a 29-yard touchdown pass with 22 seconds left in the quarter.

Early in the second, Jake Dixon sacked Morgan Roberts on third down at the Fordham 35, forcing the Bulldogs to punt. The Rams got the ball to the Yale 27 where the drive stalled and Michael Marando came on to boot a 43-yard field goal to make it a 17-7 game.

The Bulldogs took the ensuing kickoff and moved to the Fordham 14 but Hodge hit Furman in the backfield forcing a fumble which was recovered by Jordan Chapman.

The game remained 17-7 until the second play of Fordham’s first possession of the second half when Nebrich found Ajala with a 68-yard touchdown pass to put the Rams up 24-7.

Yale drove down to the Fordham two on the next possession but could not punch it in on third down and had to settle for an 18-yard field goal to cut the Fordham lead to 14, 24-10, midway through the third.

The Bulldogs attempted an on-side kick but the ball went out of bounds at the Yale 47, giving the Rams a short field. Fordham covered the 47 yards on seven plays with Jared Crayton powering in from the six for the score and a 31-10 Fordham lead with 4:33 on the clock.

After Yale made it a 31-17 game, Nebrich hit Ajala with a 43-yard pass completion and, four plays later, ran it in from the seven to make it a 21-point game again, 38-17, with 1:07 left in the third.

On Fordham’s next possession, Ajala tied the school record with his fourth touchdown catch, a 33-yarder from Nebrich that pushed the Fordham lead to 45-17, 2:32 into the fourth.

A Yale touchdown made it a 45-24 game just under two minutes later, but an Austin Hancock interception set up a Crayton one-yard scoring plunge with 5:20 remaining to boost the Fordham lead to 52-24.

Carlton Koonce rushed 20 times for 102 yards for the Rams, his fifth 100-yard rushing game of the year, while Tebucky Jones, Jr. and Wetzel each caught three passes.

After a bye week the Rams will return to action on Saturday, November 2, as they host the Holy Cross Crusaders on Jack Coffey Field at 1:00 p.m. in the annual Ram-Crusader Cup game between the two Patriot League Jesuits schools.

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Chazz Palminteri Tells Bronx Tales in the Bronx To...

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Chazz Palminteri Tells Bronx Tales in the Bronx To...: By Howard Goldin Although renowned actor/author Chazz Palminteri lives in upstate New York and works often in Hollywood, the Bronx born st...

Chazz Palminteri Tells Bronx Tales in the Bronx Tonite, This Weekend

By Howard Goldin

Although renowned actor/author Chazz Palminteri lives in upstate New York and works often in Hollywood, the Bronx born star of stage and screen often visits the place of his birth.

One of the strongest connections between Palminteri and the borough is “A Bronx Tale”. The story is autobiographical as it relates events from his early years in the Bronx. The story, written by Palminteri a quarter of a century ago, was transformed into a one-man stage play that he performed off- Broadway and on Broadway two decades later and into a motion picture that starred the author and was directed by Robert De Niro.

Palminteri was born in the Bronx a little more than a half-century ago and spent his childhood in the Belmont section of the borough. He graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School. He is a regular visitor to his birthplace to partake of his favorite delicacies at eateries on Arthur Ave. The devoted and knowledgeable fan of the New York Yankees can also often be found at Yankee Stadium.

The Academy Award nominated actor for his performance in Woody Allen’s “Bullets over Broadway” was in the Bronx twice this week. He came not to see the Yankees, whose season ended in September, but to appear before Bronx audiences.

He will perform his one-man show, “A Bronx Tale” at the Lovinger Theatre on the campus of Lehman College to benefit the Child Reach Foundation. Although, the noted actor has been performing the show in various venues around the nation, this will be his first performance in his home borough.

His home town fans and others have already made the performance a sell-out, but anyone still interested in attending can phone the theater at 1-718-960-8731.

Those unable to obtain tickets to the show can see Palminteri two days later at another Bronx venue. Between 12-3 pm on October 19, Saturday, he will be making a special appearance at the Bronx Museum of Art on 165^th Street and the Grand Concourse. 

The event entitled “Back in the Bronx” will be the first of a series intended to encourage Bronx natives and former residents to visit the location of their formative years.

In addition to listening to Palminteri’s reminiscences of his years in the Bronx, there will be a slideshow of Bronx scenes presented by Stephen Samtur, the editor of the newsletter “Back in the Bronx”. To add to the festivities of the occasion, lunch will be provided by David Greco’s Caterers. A free shuttle bus will be provided to make the trip to the Museum easier.

For information regarding tickets to the special events, the Museum can be reached at 1-718-618-6000 or at info@bronxmuseum.org. Further information about Palminteri’s life and accomplishments can be found on his website, www.chazzpalminteri.net.

Woman Beaten for $20

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Woman Beaten for $20

Bronx News (Bxnews.net): Woman Beaten for $20: Thugs Strike Throughout Boro (Still photo from the armed robbery of the back office of a Bronx motel) (Cops are looking for this man in c...

Woman Beaten for $20

Thugs Strike Throughout Boro

(Still photo from the armed robbery of the back office of a Bronx motel)

(Cops are looking for this man in connection with the attack of a woman for $20.)

(Cops are looking for this man in connection with a chain snatching.)

By Dan Gesslein

BRONX, NEW YORK, OCTOBER 17- Police are looking for armed robbers who stuck up a Baychester motel, a mugger who beat a woman for $20, as well as other thieves who struck throughout the borough this month.

On Wednesday, a pair of gunmen stuck up the Friendly Motel on Gun Hill Road. At around 2:48 a.m., cops say the pair entered the motel and displayed a weapon. One of the men struck the clerk and forced him into the back office. There his accomplice removed $800 in cash from the register. 

The gunman is described as a black male between the ages of 20 and 30. He is 5 foot 10 and 150 pounds. He was wearing a NY Yankee cap, a dark colored hooded sweatshirt, dark colored pants and white sneakers.

The accomplice is described as a black male between the ages of 20 and 30. He is 5 foot 8 and weighs about 165 pounds. He was seen wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, gray and red underwear with "American" written on waistband and tan boots.

In another case, cops are looking for the man who viciously beat a Claremont woman for $20. The attack occurred at around 10:55 p.m. on October 10 inside Claremont Wines and Liquors at 3826 3rd Avenue. The 39-year-old woman was standing by the exit door when a man approached her and knocked her to the ground. He then began pounding on the woman and snatched her pocketbook. The thief made off with only $20.

The attacker is described as a black male who is in his 30s. He is six feet tall and weighs about 200 pounds. He was was last seen wearing a red and yellow baseball cap and brown hooded sweat shirt.

In yet another unrelated case, police are looking for a chain snatcher. At around 10:45 p.m. on October 10, a 65-year-old man was walking in the vicinity of West Fordham Road and Grand Avenue when he was attacked. The suspect knocked him to the ground and snatched his chain from around his neck.

The suspect is a male wearing a green hooded sweatshirt, grey pants and purple and black sneakers.

Anyone with information on these cases is urged to call CRIMESTOPPERS at (800) 577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto CRIMESTOPPERS website and at nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577.