Frankford rolls over Furness in Public AAAA playoff game

THE PRICE isn't always right.

Sometimes, it needs to be altered or, when it's a person, it needs to zip the lips.

Take Friday, for instance, moments before the kickoff in a Public League AAAA first-round playoff featuring Frankford and visiting Horace Furness.

One of Frankford's deep men was Marc Price, a 5-11, 170-pound senior who tends toward feisty, and has been known to chirp. At a reasonably high volume, he noted, "Somebody's phone is ringin'! Time for a house call!"

Translation: He intended to take the ball to the other end zone.

Standing nearby was assistant Warren Cosby.

"Knock that stupid stuff off!" he bellowed. "Just play ball!"

"He was right," Price said much later, smiling. "Since our return team was the first group onto the field, and since this was a playoff, I was just trying to get us going, to set a tone."

The kickoff did not go to Price. And the guy who did return it, Kelly Johnson, settled for only a 12-yard return. But the Pioneers' first play produced a 60-yard burst for star rusher Jeffione Thomas and, well, that set the tone.

Frankford wound up rollin', 35-0. Price did his part with two interceptions, raising his season total to six.

Savoy Martin also posted a pilfer, Martin and Geoffrey Phillippe notched fumble recoveries (Martin returned his for a 30-yard touchdown) and the Pioneers held Furness to 64 yards total offense.

As impressive as the defense was, an asterisk is necessary. Furness had to go without star rusher Sharif Smith, whose season totals show 141 carries, 988 yards and 15 TDs. Due to an infection above his knee, he spent much of the week at Children's Hospital, according to coach Anthony Pastore. Additionally, his backup was unavailable due to excessive absences.

Forced to throw early and often, and facing heavy pressure throughout, Maurice Harris connected on just three of 17 attempts. The yield? Two measly yards.

"I had no clue No. 1 [Smith] wasn't going to be out here," Price said. "But when you're looking and looking and you realize he's not playing, the focus goes to No. 15 [Harris] because you know they'll have to be throwing. He's a good athlete, too. You have to key in.

"That was rough for them. I would have preferred to have [Smith] out there. What good is a playoff game if you can't go against the best?"

Once you find out more about Price, it's easier to understand his bubbly ways.

A year ago, he played his football for Jules Mastbaum Tech and the season did not go particularly well. Not only did the Panthers go 2-9, but Price lost his job as the starting quarterback after Week 8 (and was in/out beforehand).

He still attends the same small public school he did in 2009-10, Charles Carroll, at Edgemont and Auburn, in Port Richmond. But Carroll is now involved in a cooperative sponsorship with Frankford. It's not exactly thriving. Price is the only Carroll kid on Frankford's varsity.

"Coming over here, to a school with a much better program, I didn't even know how much I'd play," said Price, who lives near 16th and Ruscomb, in Logan, and desires a long career in football as a player and then a coach. "I thought it'd be a real challenge. I worked hard all summer and after the first scrimmage or so, the coaches recognized the talent and said I'd be out there.

"I love playing d-back. The whole aspect. From tackling to defending passes. My favorite player is a defensive guy, [the Packers'] Charles Woodson. Aside from the fact he plays for my college team, Michigan, I love the fact he was the first d-back to win the Heisman in '97."

That was 13 years ago. Price loved him at age 5?

"Nah, but I know my football history," he cracked. "I've watched some of his old highlight tapes on YouTube."

On offense, Thomas and quarterback Michael McGroarty accounted for two scores apiece. Thomas finished with 18 carries for 186 yards. McGroarty passed 5-for-8 for 72 yards and a score to Aaron Allison (2-43), and burrowed 1 yard for a tally of his own. Marcellus Little, Tommy Gooden, Martin and Price deflected passes and/or uncorked vicious hits to prevent catches.

Furness experienced some pilfering pride of its own. Borbor Kesselly recorded three picks, two against McGroarty and one vs. his backup, Mike Brown.

Frankford now boasts 19 interceptions for the season.

Price explained his half-dozen by saying, "I just play the receivers the best I can. I watch the guy's hips. When he makes his break, I make mine. Sometimes I'm lucky enough to wind up with the ball."

And smart enough to stop talking, when ordered to. *