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SPORTS
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WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM
Ravens quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco cheers while surrounded by teammates and media during victory celebrations for Super Bowl XLVIl on Feb. 3,2013, in New Orleans.
BY RiSHAB REVANKAR
Staff Writer
In their previous Super Bowl, the
Baltimore Ravens ousted the Giants
34-7. A similar story loomed over
Super Bowl XLVIl as the record
setting Joe Flacco and the Ravens
topped the San Francisco 49ers.
The Superdome lights blacked
out with no warning during the
third quarter. After an agonizing
34-minute delay, the 49ers fought
back to cut into their defidt.
Without a doubt, the game went
from blowout to blackout and finally
to shootout.
In a sensational 34-31 thriller,
the Baltimore Ravens fended off
the 49ers' comeback and lifted the
Lombardi trophy for the second time
in team history.
The victoiy didn't come in style
and it wasn't elegant or easy.
"How could it be any other way,"
said Head Coach John Harbaugh on
ESPN. "It's never pretty. It's never
perfect. ... It speaks to our resolve,
speaks to our determination."
Behind red-hot Joe Flacco,
the Ravens never trailed in this
game. Flacco's 287 yards and three
touchdowns lifted him to the Super
Bowl Most Valuable Player.
Jacoby Jones stunned the 49ers'
defense with arguably two of the
greatest Super Bowl plays: a 52-yard
touchdown catch and a record-tying
108-yard kickoff return.
"When he caught the ball.
you could see it in his eyes," said
Raven's sports medic Pratik Patel
during a phone interview with the
Guilfordian. 'There was only one
place he was headed."
After the sudden power outage,
49ers quarterback Colin Kaepemick
counterattacked with a 15-yard
touchdown dash.
"(Kaepemick is) like a Michael
Vide a young, explosive talent.
Only less prone to injury," said
Phillip Collier, sophomore offensive
lineman.
Kaepemick looked on par to cap
off an unbelievable season with a
Super Bowl ring. In the final two
minutes, the 49eis needed just 7
yards to seize the lead.
The Ravens once again proved
capable of finding the winning
formula just when people started to
count them out.
"It's almost like they can find a
hero, a game-changer, to deliver
them," said Marvin Wells, a Ravens
fan.
In a do-or-die defensive stand,
the Ravens came up dutch. Led by
veterans Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, the
defense denied the 49ers a score on
four consecutive attempts.
Many believe that it was
Baltimore's destiny to win. A
Super Bowl ring is due credit to
Flacco's coming of age, a welcome
homecoming for Ed Reed and a
fitting end to a 17-year career for Ray
Lewis.
Described as the epitome of
physical dominance and leadership,
Lewis has battled countless injuries
and performance-enhancing dmg
charges.
"The adversity that that man has
faced — everything from murder
charges to injuries ... there's
leadership there," said Guilford's
Head Football Coach Chris
Rusiewicz.
It was not long ago that Baltimore
appeared to be faltering out of playoff
contention. Sunday, the same lo^er
room soared atop the football world.
When Ray Lewis hangs up
his boots and sits down with his
children, he will have quite a story
to tell. And at the end of it all, he can
top it off with a cherry: his storybook
finish.
INSIDE SPORTS
Egypt explodes over soccer
tragedy
BY JAMIE LUCKHAUS
Staff Writer
Visit from Nancy Lieberman
BY KIM KLEIMEIER
Staff Writer
Basketball prepares for match-up against Virginia Wesleyan
BY CHARLOTTE HUDSON
Staff Writer
As the dog days of college basketball approach,
the Guilford Men's basketball team has one
important matchup coming up on Feb. 9 against
a very tough opponent. ^
The Virginia Wesleyan Marlins (16-6, 11-2
ODAC) will be coming into this game, second in
the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Guilford
(16-6,8-5 ODAC) is fighting for the fourth place
spot in the ODAC.
The Quakers are looking to finish off the
regular season well. Hopefully, this will include a
victory against Athletic Director and Head Coach
Tom Palombo's alma mater. This win could be a
revenge of sorts for the team's 63-49 loss on Dec.
8 at Virginia Beach. One of the Quakers' most
devastating losses came against the Marlins.
Quaker fans are optimistic about the 2012-
13 Quakers, as underlined by senior Vanessa
Johnson.
"(This year's team) has so much potential,"
Johrison said. "I expect them to be as g(^ as they
were last year."
She and most other avid fans of the Quakers
hope for something good to cheer for as the
season comes to a close and the conference
tournament gets set in motion.
"After two years of 'down' seasons following
consecutive final four appearances (in 2009 and
2010), this year's team shows promise of going
into post-season play," said Campus Ministry
Coordinator Max Carter, via email. Carter closely
follows Quaker athletics in the years he has been
at Guilford and he enjoys watching the various
student-athletes that have taken his courses.
"It is also Josh Pittman's senior year, a player I
have followed since he was in 8th grade and who
is one of (Guilford's) aU-time greatest players,"
said Carter.
Pittman is third in the ODAC with 17.2 per
game and second in assists with five per outing.
Pittman and three other seniors give the Quakers
veteran experience, as they progress through an
up-and-down season with thrilling wins and
shattering losses.
Virginia Wesleyan is led by senior forward
Chris Astorga, an offensive threat who averages
15.9 per game. At a recent game against Emory
& Henry, he dropped in 24 in a 86-63 blowout.
Three players currently average in the double
figures.
Some fans believe that this upcoming game
wiU be among the most important the team will
play, with Carter, a Hoosier native, quipping the
matchup as a 'bam-bumer."
However, the team emphasizes the importance
of playing their best, one game at a time.
"As a player and senior, we treat each game
the same," said senior guard Travis Tracy via
email. 'There isn't a real significant difference
in this game compared to the rest. We are just
going to go out and play harxi and play Guilford
College basketball.
"At this point in the season we believe we
have a go^ chance of winning the ODAC
tournament. We are taking one game at a time
(and) working (on) trying to get better as a team,
so we can fulfill our goal of winning the ODAC
"championship."
At this point of the season, the Quakers are
looking to place in the top half of the conference,
go deep in the ODAC tournament, and hopefully
make an appearance in the national tournament.
The game against Virginia Wesleyan will take
place on Feb. 9 at Ragan-Brown Field House at
3 p.m.