The Mastodons Are No More

Following recent kerfuffles, departures, absences and preoccupations, the Cherry Valley Mastodons will disband. It was an excellent run and I'm sure we are all proud to have once been a Mastodon. Thanks for the memories!








Also, April Fool's!

Joe is the 2012 Mastodon MVP

Joe attempted five passes this season and completed three of them for 25 yards. He also rushed for a team-high 460 yards and three touchdowns on only fifteen attempts. Then, Joe decided to throw in 62 receptions for 837 receiving yards and nine touchdowns! He was pretty much as dominant on offense as he was on the defensive end. His defense was off the charts. He ranked first in SIX different defensive categories in the 2012 season. He made 76 unassisted tackles, which contributed to his 111 total tackles. Three of these were for a loss. He also recorded a whopping 10 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, and 10 fumble recoveries! A classic football triple double. CONGRATULATIONS JOE!

Injury Reports

Look at your own risk. It's pretty brutal. Nick Young's knee was dislocated. He will likely be out for two months. He will probably return when the summer kicks up. Also, Joe tweaked a muscle in his leg, but he should be fine shortly.

Mastodon Team Photo

Yes, Dave is photo-shopped in. Someone had to take the picture, right?

(From left to right): Dave Mello, Alex Lach, Paul Pepin, James Allen, Tyler Spaulding, Nick Young, Harry Cocker, Joe Cicero, Alex Bahnan, Kyle Petit, Kyle Splaine

Mastodon Practice 3/14 Stats

FINAL SCORE: Nick, Joe, Alex, Dave, Paul and James Defeat Harry, Kyle, Kyle, Lach, and Tyler, 24-18.

Alex Bahnan:

• Passing: 16-23 for 69.6%, 220 yards, Long of 80, 9.6 per, 3 TD, 0 INT, 139.4 QBR
• Defense: 8 tackles, 2 pancakes, 1 forced fumble

Alex Lach:

• Rushing: 1 attempt, 2 yards, 1 fumble
• Receiving: 1 reception, 5 yards, 1 fumble
• Defense: 3 tackles, 0 pancakes

Harry Cocker:

• Receiving: 2 receptions, 58 yards, Long of 40, 0 TDs
• Returning: 1 return, 75 yards, 1 TD
• Defense: 9 tackles, 7 pancakes

Kyle Petit:

• Rushing: 4 attempts, 56 yards, 14 per, Long of 30, 0 TDs
• Receiving: 4 receptions, 130 yards, 32.5 per, Long of 50, 2 TDs
• Defense: 3 tackles, 1 pancake

Kyle Splaine:

• Passing: 7-16 for 43.8%, 193 yards, Long of 55, 12.1 per, 2 TD, 0 INT, 128.3 QBR
• Rushing: 2 attempts, 27 yards, 13.5 per, 15 long, 0 TD
• Defense: 11 tackles, 8 pancakes, 1 tackle for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery

Nick Young:

• Rushing: 3 attempts, 46 yards, 15.3 per, 25 long, 1 TD
• Receiving: 7 receptions, 105 yards, 15 per, 70 long, 1 TD
• Defense: 14 tackles, 10 pancakes

Paul Pepin:

• Rushing: 2 attempts, 30 yards, 15 per, 23 long, 0 TDs
• Receiving: 1 reception, 17 yards, 1 TD
• Defense: 10 tackles, 9 pancakes, 1 fumble recovery

Joe Cicero:

• Receiving: 1 reception, 20 yards, 0 TDs
• Defense: 8 tackles, 8 pancakes, 1 forced fumble

Dave Mello:

• Rushing: 1 attempt, 15 yards, 0 TDs
• Receiving: 5 receptions, 22 yards, 4.4 per, 10 long, 0 TDs
• Defense: 4 tackles, 2 pancakes, 1 fumble recovery

James Allen:

• Receiving: 2 receptions, 56 yards, 28 per, 50 long, 1 TD, 1 fumble
• Defense: 1 tackle, 1 pancake

FANTASTIC NUMBERS, SQUAD!

LEGENDARY Mastodon Practice

Today, one of, if not the, greatest Mastodon practice IN HISTORY occurred. We rediscovered how much fun going down to the field could be. There was the return of old friends and surprises like only the Mastodons could pull off. We couldn't wait for the practice to begin. It began with Lach bringing a couplet of barbecue sauce. That was only the beginning. Soon after, a car pulled up in the parking lot and who stepped out, but Nick Young. The Mastodon with the retired number who embarked to Canada long ago. He returned for another practice! After heading down to the field, it was noticed that conditions were slippery. Basically, the field was covered in snow and ice. Nothing Mastodons can't handle, though. The scrimmage was well underway when who else, but Paul Pepin showed up. It was the first full-strength Mastodon practice in history. Everyone was there! The teams were divided into Joe, Alex, Nick, Dave, Paul and James against Harry, the two Kyles, Lach and Tyler Spaulding. Joe even toughed out a leg injury! Eventually, the former team proved victorious and a team photo was finally snapped. It truly was a day to remember.

Vote for the 2012 Mastodon Offensive Player of the Year

Offense is essentially what has made football what it is. Sure, defense wins championships, but where would teams be without offense? The greatest of the greats played offense. Joe Montana. Tom Brady. Walter Payton. Barry Sanders. Jerry Rice. It's true. Every great team had an offensive superstar. This rings true for the Mastodons. However, what will have to be decided is exactly who is their offensive superstar. Here are the nominees for the 2012 Mastodon Offensive Player of the Year:


Alex Bahnan. Primarily the quarterback, most of his offensive statistics will be passing. He had a 64.9 completion percentage and threw for 28 touchdowns, but only four interceptions. He totaled up 1813 passing yards on the season. In addition to this, he rushed for 254 yards and three touchdowns. He also made eleven receptions for 127 yards. An offensive staple!

Kyle Splaine. The backup quarterback was never short on numbers. He had a 62.2 completion percentage while throwing for 471 yards, eight touchdowns and only five interceptions. Kyle also rushed for 124 yards and four touchdowns and added one receiving touchdowns off eleven receptions and 122 receiving yards. Where would we be without him?

Nick Young. Nick may have not had many passing or rushing stats, but his receiving numbers were off the charts! He rushed for 22 yards, but he had as many receptions as rushing yards, also 22. Those 22 receptions led to 233 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, all of these numbers came in one explosive game, but they're incredible, nonetheless!

Joe Cicero. Joe attempted five passes this season and completed three of them for 25 yards. He also rushed for a team-high 460 yards and three touchdowns on only fifteen attempts. Then, Joe decided to throw in 62 receptions for 837 receiving yards and nine touchdowns! He was pretty much as dominant on offense as he was on the defensive end.

Dave Mello. He had the top completion percentage on the team with 92.3%, this resulted in 129 passing yards. He also added 324 rushing yards out of the quarterback/wildcat slot. It resulted in three touchdowns. To top it all off, Dave caught 48 passes for 580 receiving yards and ten total touchdowns. The numbers put up are crazily well-balanced!


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Joe is the 2012 Mastodon Defensive Player of the Year

111 tackles. 10 sacks. 10 forced fumbles. 10 fumbles recovered. Could it have been a more defensively dominating year for Joe? He easily takes home the hardware, deservedly so. Congratulations!

Vote for the 2012 Mastodon Defensive Player of the Year

It's often said that defense wins championships. The defense is often referred to as the most important part and unit of a football team. With the Mastodons, there is no exception. Every Mastodon player stepped up on defense one time or another. However, together as a unit, they gelled to perfection and the Mastodon defense was like none other. Here are the nominees for the 2012 Mastodon Defensive Player of the Year.

Alex Bahnan. His 70 tackles ranked second on the team. A whopping 44 of these tackles were completely unassisted! One of these tackles was, in fact, a tackle for a loss. He was able to force three fumbles and then recover two of them. To top it all off, he was tied for the most interceptions on the team, with four!

Harry Cocker. He may of only made seven tackles, but five of them were unassisted! He also was tied for second in the ranks of the team with his three interceptions. Here's the astonishing part of those stats, though. Those three picks came in only two games!

Kyle Splaine. His 44 tackles were the fourth-most on the team. Almost half, 21, of them were unassisted. Kyle also picked off three passes throughout the season. In addition to all of this, Kyle added a forced fumble and a blocked field goal!

Joe Cicero. He ranked first in SIX different defensive categories in the 2012 season. He made 76 unassisted tackles, which contributed to his 111 total tackles. Three of these were for a loss. He also recorded a whopping 10 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, and 10 fumble recoveries! A classic football triple double.

Dave Mello. He made 64 tackles on the season and made sure that 36 of them were unassisted. The rest of his stats were balanced as he recorded two sacks, four interceptions, six forced fumbles with three fumble recoveries and he threw in a blocked field goal. He recorded at least one of each defensive stat!

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Paul is the 2012 Mastodon Coach of the Year

Making all of those playbooks payed off, Paul! Paul was the unanimous choice for the 2012 Mastodon Coach of the Year! All three votes went to him, deservedly-so. Congrats!

Vote for the 2012 Mastodon Coach of the Year

The coach is the true leader of the team. He has a vast knowledge of the game of football and is able to finagle his way around a situation, which will not only benefit the team, but put him and his team in a fantastic position to win the game. Every decision the coach makes affects his players and his team as a whole greatly. So much rides on him and yet, they don't always receive all of the glory. Here are your nominees for the 2012 Mastodon Coach of the Year:


Joe Cicero. Not only was this man the owner of the Mastodons, but he's also the co-head coach. He organized drills and was always instrumental in gathering players and signing deals and wheeling and dealing.

Dave Mello. Not only was this man the general manager of the Mastodons, but he's also the co-head coach. He, along with Joe, led the team to a 5-1 record in the first season. He also is responsible for many of the plays in the first page of the Mastodon playbook.

Paul Pepin. This man serves as both the offensive and defensive coordinator for the Mastodons. Every defensive play has come from Paul and the new wave of offensive plays will also come from Paul. He is a dedicated coordinator for the team.


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Dave Catching Four Touchdowns is the 2012 Mastodon Moment of the Year

It wasn't just four touchdowns, it was four touchdowns following the birth of his niece. His focus was elsewhere, but he was able to have the frame of mind to catch FOUR touchdowns and lead his team to victory. Congrats!

Test Your Mastodon Knowledge!

Think you're a die-hard Cherry Valley Mastodon fan? Think you know everything that there is to know about the team? Test your knowledge with the new Mastodon quiz! It features forty different questions about various facts about the Mastodons! Neat! Just click on this sentence to go to it. Or you can go to the bottom of the page and on the bottom right, the link's there again! I scored 100, how about YOU?

Vote for the 2012 Mastodon Moment of the Year

Moments are what define a football team. They are what define any type of sports or even, life related activity. Moments are more than the game. They mean so much more. That is why we celebrate them because without them the game and it's motivation and attractiveness would not be what it is. The following three moments all went deeper than the game or the players themselves. Here are your nominees for the 2012 Mastodon Moment of the Year.


Nick's Farewell Send-Off. It was the final game of Nick's Mastodon career as we knew it. The Mastodons made their way up to the field and they all knew what this game meant to one of their best players and friends. Before the game, a ceremony was held, in which we retired Nick's number 99. It still hangs in the rafters today. We gave him a true Mastodon send-off. Then he went out and had the game of his life, with nine touchdowns and 233 yards. To this day, nothing is the same without Nick.

Dave Catches Five Touchdowns Following Niece's Birth. Dave's mind was elsewhere before the game, knowing that at any moment, his niece could be born. When the game came around, his niece, Sophie, had already entered the world. His focus was elsewhere, but he still managed to play tough and he caught five touchdowns to lead his team to victory.

Mastodon Rain Game Turns Season Around. The Mastodons were sitting at .500 on the season with a 1-1 record. Dave, Joe, Alex and Kyle all found themselves on the same team and they were struggling. It was looking like 1-2 was inevitable. Suddenly, a storm cloud rolled in and rain started to befall the game. In many dramatic sports films, rain makes for the pivotal point. It no doubt did that for the Mastodons. They came back to win and never lost again in 2012.


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Joe's Power Run is the 2012 Mastodon Play of the Year

He was rumblin' and bumblin' for a 99 yard touchdown in which every defender made a run at Joe, but he threw them down. Let's see if he can make more plays like that in the coming season. It was an electrifying play and he most definitely deserved it!

Vote for the 2012 Mastodon Play of the Year

One play can turn a game, nay, a season around. They can electrify the crowd, stun the world and give a huge rush of adrenaline throughout your body. Some of the greatest plays in the history of sports have occurred in the game of football. The Immaculate Reception, Doug Flutie's Hail Mary, the list can go on forever. Some of the greatest plays in the history of sports have also occurred in Mastodon games. Here are the nominees for the 2012 Mastodon Play of the Year.


Dave's Whirlwind Scramble. Trailing by 17 just before halftime, Dave knew that a big play was needed to swing the momentum in the game around. It was fourth down and he persuaded his team to go for it with him standing in the shotgun on a wildcat play. He pump faked to Joe and then scrambled to his left. He rushed for about ten yards before he slipped and fell. Untouched, he hopped to his feet, and juked defenders out before taking it down the right sideline for a 54 yard touchdown.

Joe's Power Run. Pinned at their own one yard line, Joe suggested that the team execute a short, inside run. What happened next was incredible. Joe found a hole and rushed down the right sideline. A defender came at him, but Joe dropped a shoulder and sent him back to the ground. Another defender was shot out of bounds. By now, Joe was at midfield and he then stiff-armed a defender right in his neck. Continuing this all the way, Joe soon found himself in the end zone on a 99 yard touchdown.

Kyle's Touchdown Spectacle. In the early beginnings of the Mastodon season, Kyle Petit was already showing how great of a receiver he could really be. He lined up on the left and bolted deep down the field. The ball was snapped and Alex scrambled to the outside. He heaved it down the field to Kyle. It seemed too long though, as it carried to the back of the end zone. However, Kyle sped down and dove and tipped the ball with one hand into his chest. Kyle had himself a 70 yard amazing touchdown reception.

Nick's Final Touchdown. Nick was already having himself a career game in his last game as a Mastodon with eight touchdown receptions. He decided to go for one more. On the opposing eleven yard line, Alex was immediately in trouble, following the snap. He threw it up to Nick with confidence that the receiver would find a way to come down with it. With three defenders covering him closely, Nick jumped up and overpowered the defenders and caught the ball in the end zone for an amazing swan song catch.


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October 5 Blowout is the 2012 Mastodon Game of the Year

It was the blowout heard 'round the world! Amazing games from Dave, Joe and Alex propelled them to a victory over Anthony Cicero, Lach, Tuna and Kyle Splaine. Some of the greatest statistics ever put up in a football game caused the score to be 102-27 and caused this game to win the award! It was a truly amazing one!

Vote for the 2012 Mastodon Game of the Year

It's more than just a game. It's a moment. It's an experience. The feeling of playing in an incredible game is unparalleled. Whether it be exciting or a blowout, a great game is enticing for everyone present. They can make us gasp, cheer, jeer, jump up and down, or cry. It takes an emotional toll on everyone involved, but when it's a win, you know that it's the best game you've ever played. Until the next one, of course. Here are the nominees for the 2012 Mastodon Game of the Year.


September 8. It was the very first Mastodon game of the season. Autumn was fast approaching and the smell of football was in the air. Kyle Petit started it off with an 85 yard touchdown run. Alex Bahnan and the two Kyles all caught an interception in the game, however, it was a late drive which culminated in an 11 yard touchdown pass to Dave Mello, which led the team consisting of Alex, Dave, and Joe to a 49-21 victory.

September 23. It was the final Mastodon game of Nick's career. Every player was playing for Nick. It was all Nick. All game. He caught nine touchdowns off of 233 yards receiving and 22 receptions. It was a receiver fest. Nick had the best day, but Harry didn't do too bad. 8 of his 9 receptions were touchdowns! It was an impressive day for both, but in the end, Nick had the upper hand, as he won with Dave, Alex and Joe, 58-56.

October 5. It was the blowout heard 'round the world. Dave, Alex and Joe were pitted against Kyle, Lach, Tuna and Anthony Cicero. Alex completed 35 passes for 10 touchdowns and 532 yards. Dave ran for 111 yards and received 233 yards, en route to his six touchdowns on the day. Joe rushed for 56 yards and caught 299 yards for seven touchdowns. In the end, they crushed and won 102-27!

October 14. It was the final Mastodon game of the season. Once again, Dave, Alex and Joe found themselves on the same team. Joe caught two touchdowns off of 167 receiving yards and he rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns. Kyle made a late run at them when he rushed for two touchdowns. Then, Lach caught a touchdown pass. In the end, Alex's 18 of 22 passing was too much and his team won 42-24.


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Nick is the Winner of the 2012 Single Game Performance of the Year

Just before Nick's final game as a Mastodon, he said the he didn't want to be given the Player of the Week, he wanted to earn it. Earn it he did. 433 total yards and NINE total touchdowns. He was completely dominant and departed the United States on a very high note. Congratulations! It could not have been more deserved!

Vote for the 2012 Mastodon Single-Game Performance of the Year

One game can have an incredibly lasting impact on a player's season. It could be the game that everyone looks to when considering important award selections. It could be the game that turns the season around, sparks a rally or motivates and inspires the team to excel to new levels. Some of the greatest single game performances in sports history have occurred in the NFL. Steve Young once threw for 325 yards and six touchdowns. Adrian Peterson once ran for 296 yards and three touchdowns. Derick Thomas once recorded seven sacks in a game, an NFL record. It's no secret that some of football's greatest single-game performances came during this past Mastodon season. Here are the nominees:


Alex Bahnan. On October 5, Alex smashed passing records all over the place. 76.1% completion percentage and a 153.2 passer rating were his best of the season. He came 22 yards short of breaking the NFL's record (Norm van Brocklin) with 532 yards. He also threw for 10 touchdowns, no biggie, with no interceptions. A passing day to remember!

Joe Cicero. On October 7, Joe was in on every play. He racked up 78 rushing yards on only two carries, which would have been impressive in itself. But then he went on and caught 18 passes for 211 yards, two of which were for touchdowns. Then, he returned a kick for a touchdown after going 91 yards. Still wasn't done. On defense, he made 27 tackles and forced five fumbles! It earned him Player of the Week.

Dave Mello. On October 5, he started the game with a passing completion. Who knew what would escalate? He ran for one touchdown on four carries with 111 yards. On the receiving end of things, five of his 16 receptions were touchdowns along with that 233 receiving yards stat. He also made 29 tackles, forced three fumbles and had an interception. What a game!

Nick Young. On the last game of his Mastodon career, September 23, Nick was a beast. His 22 rushing yards were nothing compared to his 233 receiving yards on 22 receptions! What sets him apart are his NINE receiving touchdowns! Then he went on and made 11 tackles and then threw in a 99 yard touchdown on a kick return. It earned him the Player of the Week and a special nook in our hearts.


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Alex is the 2012 Mastodon Quarterback of the Year

Of course! It was pretty much expected that the starting quarterback would prove victorious. It is most definitely well-deserved. Congratulations, Alex! Keep those numbers rolling towards April.

Vote for the 2012 Mastodon Quarterback of the Year

Ah, quarterback. The dream of every young football aficionado. The star of the team. The star of the sporting world. There's no position bigger than it. Some of the world's all-time greatest athletes have passed through the position. Guys like Joe Montana, Tom Brady and Johnny Unitas. There's never just one guy vying for the position. The dimes they place in the hands of their must trusted teammates. That is only one trait of a quarterback. They also have pocket presence, the ability to scramble, the skill of reading defenses, accuracy, deep throws, leading a team down the field in about thirty-one seconds when necessary. They are electrifying and incredible. Here are your nominees for the 2012 Mastodon Quarterback of the Year:


Alex Bahnan. He was the team's starting quarterback. First string. Number one guy. He completed 64.9% percent of his passes over the season, going 144 for 222. His 1,813 yards led the team's passers with a long of 98. He threw for 28 touchdowns with only 4 interceptions in the process. His passer rating was an astounding 122.2.

Kyle Splaine. It's always great to have an outstanding backup quarterback. Kyle had all the qualities of a true starter and he actually did start from time to time. His completion percentage was at 62.2% behind completing 51 of 82. He threw for 471 yards and 8 touchdowns, with only 5 picks. His passer rating was a highly respectable 84.9.

Dave Mello. He was never one to throw, but he was more of a rushing, wildcat quarterback. He had the highest completion percentage at 92.3% with 12 of 13 completed. He threw for 129 yards, but no touchdowns or picks. However, when rushing at QB, he went for 324 yards and three touchdowns. His QBR was 158.3, a perfect score, when factoring in rushing yards.


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Joe is the 2012 Mastodon Rusher of the Year

Joe led the team in rushing yards and was tied for second in touchdowns. Those stats led to him being the unanimous choice for the Mastodon Rusher of the Year! All four votes went to him! Congratulations!

Vote for the 2012 Mastodon Rusher of the Year

Running backs were once the strong base and foundation of a championship-caliber team. While still being a critical part of a football team's success, they might not be as prevalent anymore. However, with a stellar rushing season from Adrian Peterson, they just might be on the rise again. That is no secret to the three nominees as they ran their hearts out to get all the yards they possibly could. They gave a boost to the team, as every team needs a rushing attack to balance the offense. Here are your nominees for the 2012 Mastodon Rusher of the Year:


Kyle Petit. Most likely the fastest on the team, Kyle blew the defenders away with his punishingly speedy runs and bursts up the middle, down the sidelines, straight ahead, or to the outside. He may have only rushed three times, but one of those rushes was good for an 85 yard touchdown. He had 96 total rushing yards.

Kyle Splaine. His ability to scramble was like none other. He dominated the team in that category. Splaine racked up 127 total yards on 12 rushes. He had a long of 27 yards, but he also led the team in rushing touchdowns with four.

Joe Cicero. He averaged 30.7 yards per carry. Speaking of carries, he had 15 of them for 460 total yards, the most on the team. Primarily a fullback, that doesn't mean they don't run either. His three touchdowns were tied for the second most on the team. By far, he had the longest single run with 99 yards. He was a dominating force with his ground game.


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Nick is the 2012 Mastodon Receiver of the Year

Congratulations Nick! He received 60% of the vote and was able to beat out Dave by a single vote. It's a well-deserved honor for our Mastodon brethren who has since left us. Congratulations #99!

Vote For the 2012 Mastodon Receiver of the Year

Receivers don't get nearly enough credit. Quarterbacks rack up the yards, even though the majority of them come through what the receivers do after the catch. They fight for yards, they get open, they haul in touchdowns. If it wasn't for receivers, the passing game would be shot. They are integral to the offense. Often considered the hoodlums of the team, they wouldn't gel without them. They're just as vital as the rest. Here are your nominees for the 2012 Mastodon Receiver of the Year. Vote at the bottom of the page.


Harry Cocker. With thirteen receptions on the season, it ranked fifth on the team. However, he racked up 163 yards out of those thirteen catches, which was good for fourth best on the team. He was tied for second with nine touchdown catches. His longest catch was good for 72 yards. He was a looming figure on the field.

Dave Mello. His 48 receptions was the second most on the team. With those catches, he boasted 580 total yards, good for a 12.1 average on each catch. He had the longest catch of the entire receiving core at 87 yards. His ten touchdowns led the team and he was a pest to cover.

Nick Young. The majority of his statistics may have come from one game, but that doesn't matter because they were still monster numbers. He caught twenty-two passes for 233 yards, his longest being 80 yards. His nine touchdowns all came in ONE GAME. He was truly the team's best tight end.

Joe is the 2012 Mastodon Offensive Lineman of the Year

His pancakes stood above all. The vote was unanimous and Joe was chosen as the 2012 Mastodon Offensive Lineman of the Year! Keep it up, Joe, congrats!