"Veni, Vidi, Vici."
The Year of Coach Joe and the Power Posse

In 47 BC, three years after crossing the Rubicon, following a swift and decisive war against Pharnaces II of Pontus, Gaius Julius Caesar remarked to his friend Amantius in Rome, “Veni, vidi, vici” ("I came, I saw, I conquered"). The Battle of Zela was a turning point in the Roman civil war, and soon the Roman Republic became the Roman Empire.

Fast-forward 2058 years, to November 12, 2011. Coach Joe Nicholas and his eleven-year old Brookline Knights had just overwhelmed the West Allegheny Indians, 60-12, to capture the SSYFL Super Bowl title. After the battle, standing amongst his Legion of gridiron warriors, the triumphant coach raised the championship trophy like a conquering ruler. As did Caesar and the soldiers of Rome, he and his Knights came, they saw and they conquered.

The story of the 2011 Brookline Knights began one year ago, in November 2010. The upstart Knights, then ten years of age, emerged as a title contender. They brought an 8-1 record and high hopes into the semi-final round of the playoffs, and were turned away in a crushing 28-0 loss to Montour. The bitter defeat became a rallying point. The Knights returned with renewed confidence and a firm resolve. This season they would right the wrongs of the past and capture the prize that eluded them last season, the Super Bowl championship.

Led by Coach Joe, the 2011 campaign began with resounding victories over Thomas-Jefferson and South Park. A bitter battle followed against Southside. In a close contest, the Knights prevailed over the Sabres. The hard fought win catapulted Brookline to consecutive wins over Moon, Carlynton, Brentwood and Baldwin. With a 7-0 record, the Knights headed to Montour for a rematch against the Spartans in the final regular season game.

Although the Knights fell once more in a bitterly-contested overtime loss, the setback was temporary, and may have been a blessing in disguise. It strengthened their determination. They doubled their efforts, tightened their armor, and prepared for the playoffs. Their hungry eyes said they were primed and ready for battle. This time, nothing would stand in their way.

The post-season began with a rematch against Southside. Brookline crushed them, 50-12. Then came a final shot at Montour. It was another fierce engagement, but this time the Knights came out on top. The 20-12 win positioned Brookline one step from their ultimate goal.

When Coach Joe and his Knights met West Allegheny in the Super Bowl, it was a slaughter. The 60-12 destruction of the Indians left no doubt as to who was the best team in the SSYFL. Brookline had overcome all opposition and were crowned champions. As the Knights rallied around Coach Joe and celebrated their title triumph, the prolific words of Caesar seemed a fitting caption to immortalize the moment, "We came, We saw, We conquered."

The 2011 Brookline Knights eleven year olds, affectionately known as Coach Joe and his Deputies, were a team formed around a nucleus of skilled players that included Brent Ivory, Trevor Hazen, Josh Gmys, Quran Powe, Will Rupert, Daejon Brentley, Branden Wysong, Darryl Daniels, Lamar Lewis, Khalil Weathers and Jeremy Jenkins. Each brought his own unique talents to the group, and together they formed the Power Posse. Whether on offense or defense, these warriors left a trail of tears in their wake. They have completed one of the brightest chapters in the history of Brookline Knights football.

A cadre of skilled players is only as good as the coach who leads them. The accomplishments of this season are a direct result of the man who took charge last year and molded a rag-tag group of kids into a formidable football machine. Joe Nicholas, a nineteen-year veteran of the Prep League Wars, was just the coach to accomplish the task. No stranger to winning ways, Coach Joe and his staff taught the value of hard work and dedication. He turned boys into young men and brought out the best qualities in each of his players. The result was the fifth championship in his legendary career and the first for his new Legion of Knights.

In addition to the glory of a Super Bowl championship, this team also featured another interesting sub-chapter, one of individual drive and achievement. Running back Quran Powe set the all-time Brookline Knights scoring record with 228 points. His thirty-five touchdowns shattered the previous record of twenty-seven set in 1996 by Raymond Ventrone and equalled in 1998 by JoJo Lamonde. Quran's exceptional abilities and acute endzone awareness were major contributors to Brookline's super success.

Now that the smoke has cleared and the battlefields are silent, the eleven-year old Knights can sit back and bask in the glory of their 2011 championship season. Next year they will move up to the 13-year old division and set out to defend their title. It will be another difficult challenge, but with Coach Joe leading the way, his Deputies in Green and Black should once again be a powerful force in the ranks of the SSYFL. Could this be the start of another Brookline Gridiron Empire? ... Only time will tell.

The Players and Coaches

The Brookline Knights 11-Under Team
2011 SSYFL Champions!

Brent Ivory (5), Jeremy Jenkins (8), Jakob Richardson (13), Alexyah Naylor (18), Darryl Daniels (20), Khalil Weathers (21), Lamar Lewis (23), Branden Wysong (25), Randy Roscoe (26), Dominic Emma (30), Quran Powe (32), Brad Jones (40), Will Rupert (42), Jacob Graham (43), Joseph Grimes (49), Josh Gmys (57), Daejon Brentley (59), Trevor Hazen (62), Dylan Hennel (66), Zackary Liddle (70), Christian Vollberg (71), Ernest Howard (72), Dean O'Toole (74), Hunter Richie (79), Derian King, Taire Daniel (81), Noa Nickles (86) and Cameron Donnelly (89). The Head Coach is Joe Nicholas. The assistants are Joey Nicholas, Will Rupert and Randy Roscoe. Coaches Eric Zilch, Russell Page and Scott Hazen are missing from the photo.

Game Results

Game 1 - Brookline 56 <> T-Jefferson 8
Game 2 - Brookline 40 <> South Park 6
Game 3 - Brookline 26 <> Southside 14
Game 4 - Brookline 20 <> Moon 6

Game 5 - Brookline 28 <> Carlynton 14
Game 6 - Brookline 36 <> Brentwood 12
Game 7 - Brookline 50 <> Baldwin 8
Game 8 - Montour 20 <> Brookline 18 (OT)

<Photos - Brookline vs South Park - September 3, 2011>

<Photos - Brookline vs Moon - September 18, 2011>

<Photos - Brookline vs Brentwood - October 1, 2011>

<Knights News and Game-By-Game Scoring Summaries>

SSYFL Opening Round Playoffs

Brookline 50 <> Southside 12

<Photos - Brookline vs Southside - October 30, 2011>

SSYFL Semi-Finals

Brookline 20 <> Montour 12 (DOUBLE OT)

SSYFL Super Bowl

Brookline 60 <> West Allegheny 12

<Photos from the Super Bowl - November 12, 2011>

The Cheerleaders

Brooke Ammer, Tyler Grimes, Gia Phillips, Tania Bennett, Vivienne Johnson, Haylee Phillips, Alexis Beveridge, Lindsey Maiorano, Dominique Rullo, Hayli Davis, Maureen Marchese, Kayla Sanders, Kaitlyn Falce, Noel Marchese, Rachel Vichie, Danielle Maxwell, Mya Mirabelli and Hannah Wareham. The coach is Nicole Nicholas.

Coach Joe and his Deputies in Green and Black
2011 SSYFL Super Bowl Champions

Building a Championship Team

Original players from 2007 (age 7): Brent Ivory, Lamar Lewis, Will Rupert, Trevor Hazen, Jacob Graham, Joey Grimes and Zackary Liddle. (Record: 3-6. Opening Round Playoff Loss).

Added in 2008: Jakob Richardson, Jeremy Jenkins, Branden Wysong, Darryl Daniels, Randy Roscoe and Dean O'Toole. (Record: 3-6. Missed Playoffs).

Added in 2009: Dylan Hennel and Brad Jones. (Record: 3-5. Missed Playoffs).

Added in 2010: Coach Joe Nicholas, Khalil Weathers, Quran Powe, Dominic Emma, Daejon Brentley and Hunter Richie. (Record: 8-2. Semi-Final Playoff Loss).

Added in 2011: Trevor Hazen (returned after two years playing up), Josh Gmys, Cameron Donnelly, Christian Vollberg, Ernest Howard, Alexyah Naylor, Noa Nickles, Derian King and Taire Daniel. (Record: 10-1. Super Bowl Champions).

Year-End Banquet - December 4, 2011

The 11-Under team gathered one last time at the 2011 Banquet to celebrate their super season.

  
I've worked with Joe and Lisa Nicholas since 1998. They are the heart and soul of the Knights
organization. Joe is an excellent football coach. The Brookline players, coaches, parents
and myself are fortunate to have a friend and mentor like Lisa and Coach Joe.