JACOB HANNAH / WATERTOWN DAILY TIMES

Watertown's Joe Brennan carries the ball against Massena on Saturday night at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds.

The Watertown Red and Black rookie running back took a second quarter handoff and rumbled about 8 yards before he met a Massena Silver and Black tackler head on. The collision echoed Saturday night at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds, and at first made Brennan woozy. But he did manage a smile as he returned to the huddle.

"He hit me good, but usually that just motivates to want to do it again," said Brennan, who rushed for 67 yards in the Red and Black's 30-8 exhibition triumph over Massena. "I said, 'All right. Let's do this.'"

The 2006 Sandy Creek graduate averaged 5.2 yards on his 13 carries in the game and scored his first Red and Black touchdown on a 10-yard jaunt midway through the first quarter.

Brennan spent time after graduation attending Jefferson Community College, and he was a SUNY Cortland student this spring. But he hadn't played the game since his final high school season, when he was selected the Times' All-North MVP.

He said he wanted to make sure he was strong enough — mentally and physically — to play the game against grown men.

"This definitely isn't high school anymore," he said.

Regular starter Anthony Noel's knee injury allowed Brennan to draw the starting role against Massena. But he has caught enough of the coaching staff's attention to become an important part of Watertown's attack — even when Noel comes back.

"I didn't know him before he got here, but he's impressed me with his work ethic," offensive coordinator Jerry Levine said. "He has great vision, makes good cuts, and follows his blocks well. And he's a great kid."

The Red and Black couldn't have scripted a better start to the year, especially considering the team is sporting over 40 new faces.

First-year quarterback Brian Green connected with Lester Cole for a 50-yard touchdown strike on the game's first play from scrimmage. Green, who went 5-for-8 for 90 yards, also threw a touchdown toss to Paul Blouin in the second quarter to give the Red and Black a 23-0 halftime edge.

"Our game plan was to come out big, and score on the first drive. Coach said the first play will set the momentum for the year," Green said. "I saw (Cole) get a step on the outside, and put it up there."

Watertown's defense looked as tough as last year, when it was the top-ranked unit in the Empire Football League. The Red and Black intercepted three passes, capped by Brian Williams's 85-yard return in the final quarter. Demitric White had six tackles, while Michael Hicks added five. Brady Nix notched a safety.

"I couldn't be happier," head coach George Ashcraft said. "I give all the credit right now to the coaching staff."

Massena's most productive play was a 40-yard pass to Mark Wiltshire, and Anthony McClary scored the Silver and Black's first-ever touchdown from a yard out with 44 seconds remaining.

Brennan knows and accepts that Noel's absence isn't expected to be long term, and his own starting opportunities could become limited. He added, however, "The coaches will do what they feel is right. Whatever they do I'll support."

He said he is looking forward to Noel's return as a promising opportunity for the team's rushing attack.

"I hear he's a good back, so it could be a good tandem," Brennan said. "We'll see."

Loftus helped R&B claim EFL title in '80

GREATEST ATHLETE NO. 29 RUNNING HARD: Former WHS athlete spent time with New England Patriots

MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2008

As a key member of Watertown's lone Empire Football League championship team, Mark Loftus holds a special place in the Red and Black's storied history.

Loftus, a 1972 Watertown High School graduate, was on the WHS field on Oct. 18, 1980, when the Red and Black posted a 30-10 victory over the Troy Uncle Sams in the EFL title game. Loftus rushed for a team-high 65 yards that night and scored a touchdown.

A week earlier, in a 30-13 semifinal win over Glens Falls, Loftus stood out even more, with 19 carries for 180 yards and three touchdowns.

Loftus's contributions in those games — the final two of his Red and Black career — came just months after he'd chased a loftier sports dream: making it to the National Football League.

Loftus signed a free-agent deal with the New England Patriots and attended the team's training camp, which began in July. Though initially confident about his chances of earning a roster spot, Loftus soon accepted the fact that he was facing long odds.

"You don't realize how competitive it is, especially at running back, until you're part of the situation," Loftus told the Times during his stay at the Patriots' camp. "So many guys seem equal that you have to be really outstanding to get a second look."

New England cut Loftus a short time later. The release, however, led Loftus back to the Red and Black for its championship run.

In 1977, Loftus led the EFL in rushing, finishing the season with 889 yards on 122 carries. He opened that season with 264 yards and two touchdowns in Watertown's 21-14 victory over the Hudson Vikings.

Loftus, who participated in football and track and field for WHS, graduated from Syracuse University in 1980. He briefly played as a defensive back for the SU football team.

Loftus, 52, formerly coached varsity track and field at WHS and varsity baseball at Indian River. He is employed as a line foreman for National Grid.

His sons, Brendan and Jordan, were standout lacrosse players at Immaculate Heart Central. Brendan played lacrosse at Syracuse University and currently plays for the San Francisco Dragons of Major League Lacrosse. Jordan played at Georgetown University before moving on to Onondaga Community College. He will attend Siena College later this year.

Southern Vt. falls in a battle of the Storms

Ronald J. Real 1937 ~ 2008

Hockey, football fan a real leader

Elmhurst man began 75,000-member sports association

By Joan Giangrasse Kates | Special to the Tribune

June 20, 2008

Hockey was always Ronald J. Real's first love, but football never trailed far behind.

Mr. Real was a longtime publisher from the western suburbs who for years created newsletters for members of Chicago-area semi-pro mens hockey teams. But he asked himself why there weren't similar mens football leagues.

So the father of seven organized a small league of semi-professional football players, known then as the Minor Professional Football Association, which he headed for the last 29 years.

"The league was originally made up of former high school football players, guys whose college football careers never took off, and just about anyone who had enough heart and girth to play the game," said his son Rory.

Mr. Real, 70, a longtime Elmhurst resident, died of lymphoma Tuesday, June 10, in his Sarasota, Fla., home.

The group, now called the American Football Association, has about 75,000 active members and includes football players, coaches, administrators, trainers, officials and cheerleaders. It is recognized as the national association for semi-pro and minor league football organizations and provides services to about 800 teams in 62 leagues, covering 47 states and the District of Columbia.

"Ron had enormous respect and appreciation for the talent found in semi-pro football leagues," said Roman Strzala, a longtime association member and former football coach at Addison Trail High School. "If you'd ever met him, he'd overwhelm you with his enthusiasm, not only for the game, but for the players themselves."

Born in Chicago, Mr. Real grew up in Blue Island and surrounding suburbs. He was a graduate of Bremen High School in Midlothian, where he met his wife of 51 years, Cecilia. As a young man, Mr. Real owned a landscaping business and was later self-employed in various marketing jobs. He then started his own publishing company, Creative Business Services. Initially it was a home business, but he later ran it out of an Elmhurst office. He retired in 1996 and soon after moved with his wife to Sarasota.

"He always wanted to be his own boss," said his son, who now runs the family business with his two brothers in Bensenville.

Mr. Real was president of the football association until his death, family members said.

"Ron was an amazing leader," said Dave Burch, president of the association. "Certain times of the year we'd have championship games going on all over the country, but he never got rattled. No matter what happened, or how much work there was to do, he always made it fun."

In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Real is survived by two other sons, Mike and Russ; four daughters, Sherry Davies, Ronda, Roxanne Knapp and Rae Ellen Pugliese, and 12 grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday in Pedersen-Ryberg Mortuary, 435 N. York St. Elmhurst. Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Saturday in Immaculate Conception Parish, 134 Arthur St., Elmhurst.

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