YOU NEVER know which kids might be watching your football practice.
One day last week, Ben Coulibaly, junior star for Boys' Latin Charter, was informed that a prominent West Philadelphia player was on the premises at 55th and Christian.
"My cousin told me," Coulibaly said. "I saw the guy standing over there and when we started running some laps, I came around the corner right near him and he yelled to me, 'You ready, Ben!?'
"I didn't answer him. All I did was shrug my shoulders. But I was thinking on the inside, 'Of course I'm ready. That's why I'm out here practicing.' "
Practice makes perfect . . . Except for an early hiccup.
In a Public AAA semifinal held Saturday at Simon Gratz, BL not only bested the 9-0 Speedboys, they pretty much frolicked. The final score was 30-0 and, though he didn't score, the 5-11, 180-pound Coulibaly, a halfback and safety, rushed 23 times for 96 yards and posted two interceptions.
The teams had met Oct. 21 and the Warriors didn't like the 26-6 result.
"We made a lot of mistakes in the first half," Coulibaly said, "and then we made a ton in the second half. Coach [Mike] Rufo and the assistants told us we could beat them if we cut down our mistakes. And that's what we did. We were practically perfect."
Notice the word practically?
BL accepted the opening kickoff and its offense prepared to do great things. The give went to Coulibaly and . . . You kiddin' me?
"I dropped the ball," he said. "I couldn't believe it. All that talk about mistakes and I made a turnover right away. I had to forget about it. Had to keep my focus since I was going over to defense.
"I remembered what coach Carr [Harry, concentrates on defense] had told me, that their first play would be a pop pass to the tight end. That's what it was and I made the interception. Coach Carr is always right when he says what teams are going to do. I don't know how he does it."
He laughed. "He kind of freaks me out, really."
The Warriors owned a 14-0 lead by halftime, then more than doubled it through the second. Erik Lark passed 8-for-17 for 126 yards and two scores to Tahir Perlote, and added a rushing TD. Oumar Diawara hammered a 27-yard field goal and Mark Bowser returned a fumble 24 yards for a score.
Asked about the teams' first meeting, Rufo said, "I aborted the run too soon. As this one went on, we were really pounding the ball. I feel good for the boys and the program."
Said Coulibaly: "Coach Rufo loves to run the ball. We just have to show him it's effective. It's such an important aspect. If you're running the ball well, then you can do whatever you want with the pass."
In school today, Coulibaly is guessing, the students will be buzzing. Faculty members, too.
The final vs. Murrell Dobbins Tech, which topped Simon Gratz Charter, 28-12, in the other semi, will be played Saturday, 1 p.m., at Northeast (with the AAAA final, Frankford vs. George Washington, to follow at 4).
"We had a pep rally on Friday," said Coulibaly, who lives on 75th near Malvern, in Overbrook Park. "Then the whole Boys' Latin faculty and a lot of students were at the game. West Philly's fans are crazy. That's what we were saying, that there'd be a match on the field and in the stands. We had great involvement."
Online high school coverage at philly.com/rally.
