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- Aug 2, 2009
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Last week I regaled you all with the story of my football team's second game this season and the adventures surrounding that. Well, this week was pretty much just as eventful, though for different reasons.
For those of you who have been living under a rock, I coach defense for the local community college's football team, in the very first year of the program. We started the season 2-0 but this Sunday (yesterday) we were scheduled to take on a team called the Tacoma Knights, who surprised everybody by starting the season with a huge 35-0 upset win. Preseason rankings had us in the following order:
1. Green River
2. Columbia Basin
3. South Sound
4. Tacoma
5. EVERETT
Anyways, Sunday morning...5:30am...I get awaken by the house phone ringing nonstop until finally somebody answered it. It turns out my Aunt was losing her battle with breast cancer and was admitted to the hospital the previous night. Her condition was getting worse, so calls were starting to be made. My family started heading over to Spokane, WA--completely on the other side of the state, right away. I was going to go with them, but I just plain couldn't miss the game because it would have left the defense completely isolated with nobody to run them or call in plays or anything, so my family knew it would be a disaster there without me.
To keep this long story from getting becoming a "very long" story, let's jump ahead to the game. I am going to show you drive-by-drive so you can understand the futility our offense showed, as well as the mettle my defense displayed.
-We start with the ball, but then have to punt after 5 plays gaining just 10 yards.
-THEM: 14 plays, 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 6-0 them. We stopped their 2-point conversion attempt.
-US: 6 plays, 60 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 7-6 after we make the PAT.
-THEM: 12 plays, 50 yards, we intercepted the ball.
-US: 4 plays, 23 yards, threw an interception.
-THEM: 6 plays, 17 yards, punted to us.
-US: 3 plays, 2 yards, punted to them.
-THEM: 3 plays, gained 6 yards, fumbled. We recovered.
-US: 7 plays, 24 yards, turnover on downs.
-THEM: 6 plays, 17 yards, punted to us.
-US: 3 plays, 6 yards, punted to them.
-THEM: 10 plays, 61 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 12-7 them. We managed to cause a fumble (we recovered) on the 2-point conversion.
---HALFTIME---
So by this point, of the first 30 in-game minutes, our defense had spent about 23 of them on the field, so they were getting pretty tired by the time--especially since (due to injuries and various other things) we only had a total of 15 defensive players--aka 4 subs--and my defensive guys also play all of the special teams.
So...I do my usual yelling and hollering, but it was only half-hearted because I hadn't heard anything about my Aunt since about 11 that morning and I was more than curious, now that I had a little time to think about it, being halftime.
They get the ball to start the second half...
-THEM: 8 plays, 22 yards, we intercepted the ball.
-US: 4 plays, 28 yards, we fumbled the ball and lost it.
-THEM: We caused a fumble on the first play and recovered it (now, by this point you might be thinking, "What the heck, is this pee wee football or something? Nobody can hang on to the ball?" First off, they were slick as it was raining all day, but my guys lay some serious hits on people and they also go for the ball a lot, so it wasn't just some Ringling Brothers Circus stuff).
-US: First play, tried to go deep, threw an interception. Yes, there were turnovers on three straight plays...
-THEM: 7 plays, 3 yards, they punted to us.
-US: I'd like to note that, following the punt return (they punted out of their own endzone), the offense started on the other team's 35. Therefore, they went 7 plays, 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN and we were up again, 14-12.
-THEM: 3 plays, 0 yards, they punted to us.
-US: 2 plays, 11 yards, we...fumbled and lost it.
-THEM: 7 plays, 38 yards, we intercepted the ball.
-US: Offense got the ball on their 33 this time. 6 plays into the drive, having gained just 14 yards, our quarterback got hurt. In comes out backup QB--our Free Safety (he's also the punter lol), who just got that last interception. He ignores the playcall, fakes one way, keeps it and heads the other and flies into the endzone, TOUCHDOWN, 20-12. By this point we feel like defense is having to do everything, as they're actually spending MORE time on the field than in the first half (by this point, halfway through the 4th quarter, they had spent roughly 19 of 23 minutes on the field.
-THEM: 3 plays, -2 yards, they punt to us.
-US: The starting QB is ok, so he comes back in. 4 plays, 2 yards gained, he throws another interception.
-THEM: First play, we intercept the ball.
-US: Check this one out. 15 plays...94 yards...and our QB fumbles on the opposing 3-yard line (after starting on our own 3-yard line)...and loses it...
-THEM: Time is running down, just under two minutes left. Their first play there is broken coverage and the take it 85 yards all of the way down to our 12-yard line. We stop them once, then twice. 3rd down. It still feels like deja vu from last week though, so I almost expect them to score and get the 2-point conversion to send it to overtime, which would stink with the offensive problems.
Just as the next play is about to go, I get a text message. "Aunt LaVerne just passed away at 8:40pm." As I am trying to take that in, I hear the crowd get suddenly loud and wild from the other team scoring the inevitable touchdown...
I look up and see one of our outside linebackers crossing the fifty full speed with five opposing players in tow. I later find out that what I missed was the other team completed a pass and at about the 4-yard line our safety nailed the guy so hard the ball shot into the air and nearly across the field laterally, where our linebacker picked it up and took off about 90 yards for the touchdown.
We ended up winning 27-13 and we're now 3-0, but it was kinda hard to find the enthusiasm to celebrate...
For those of you who have been living under a rock, I coach defense for the local community college's football team, in the very first year of the program. We started the season 2-0 but this Sunday (yesterday) we were scheduled to take on a team called the Tacoma Knights, who surprised everybody by starting the season with a huge 35-0 upset win. Preseason rankings had us in the following order:
1. Green River
2. Columbia Basin
3. South Sound
4. Tacoma
5. EVERETT
Anyways, Sunday morning...5:30am...I get awaken by the house phone ringing nonstop until finally somebody answered it. It turns out my Aunt was losing her battle with breast cancer and was admitted to the hospital the previous night. Her condition was getting worse, so calls were starting to be made. My family started heading over to Spokane, WA--completely on the other side of the state, right away. I was going to go with them, but I just plain couldn't miss the game because it would have left the defense completely isolated with nobody to run them or call in plays or anything, so my family knew it would be a disaster there without me.
To keep this long story from getting becoming a "very long" story, let's jump ahead to the game. I am going to show you drive-by-drive so you can understand the futility our offense showed, as well as the mettle my defense displayed.
-We start with the ball, but then have to punt after 5 plays gaining just 10 yards.
-THEM: 14 plays, 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 6-0 them. We stopped their 2-point conversion attempt.
-US: 6 plays, 60 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 7-6 after we make the PAT.
-THEM: 12 plays, 50 yards, we intercepted the ball.
-US: 4 plays, 23 yards, threw an interception.
-THEM: 6 plays, 17 yards, punted to us.
-US: 3 plays, 2 yards, punted to them.
-THEM: 3 plays, gained 6 yards, fumbled. We recovered.
-US: 7 plays, 24 yards, turnover on downs.
-THEM: 6 plays, 17 yards, punted to us.
-US: 3 plays, 6 yards, punted to them.
-THEM: 10 plays, 61 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 12-7 them. We managed to cause a fumble (we recovered) on the 2-point conversion.
---HALFTIME---
So by this point, of the first 30 in-game minutes, our defense had spent about 23 of them on the field, so they were getting pretty tired by the time--especially since (due to injuries and various other things) we only had a total of 15 defensive players--aka 4 subs--and my defensive guys also play all of the special teams.
So...I do my usual yelling and hollering, but it was only half-hearted because I hadn't heard anything about my Aunt since about 11 that morning and I was more than curious, now that I had a little time to think about it, being halftime.
They get the ball to start the second half...
-THEM: 8 plays, 22 yards, we intercepted the ball.
-US: 4 plays, 28 yards, we fumbled the ball and lost it.
-THEM: We caused a fumble on the first play and recovered it (now, by this point you might be thinking, "What the heck, is this pee wee football or something? Nobody can hang on to the ball?" First off, they were slick as it was raining all day, but my guys lay some serious hits on people and they also go for the ball a lot, so it wasn't just some Ringling Brothers Circus stuff).
-US: First play, tried to go deep, threw an interception. Yes, there were turnovers on three straight plays...
-THEM: 7 plays, 3 yards, they punted to us.
-US: I'd like to note that, following the punt return (they punted out of their own endzone), the offense started on the other team's 35. Therefore, they went 7 plays, 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN and we were up again, 14-12.
-THEM: 3 plays, 0 yards, they punted to us.
-US: 2 plays, 11 yards, we...fumbled and lost it.
-THEM: 7 plays, 38 yards, we intercepted the ball.
-US: Offense got the ball on their 33 this time. 6 plays into the drive, having gained just 14 yards, our quarterback got hurt. In comes out backup QB--our Free Safety (he's also the punter lol), who just got that last interception. He ignores the playcall, fakes one way, keeps it and heads the other and flies into the endzone, TOUCHDOWN, 20-12. By this point we feel like defense is having to do everything, as they're actually spending MORE time on the field than in the first half (by this point, halfway through the 4th quarter, they had spent roughly 19 of 23 minutes on the field.
-THEM: 3 plays, -2 yards, they punt to us.
-US: The starting QB is ok, so he comes back in. 4 plays, 2 yards gained, he throws another interception.
-THEM: First play, we intercept the ball.
-US: Check this one out. 15 plays...94 yards...and our QB fumbles on the opposing 3-yard line (after starting on our own 3-yard line)...and loses it...
-THEM: Time is running down, just under two minutes left. Their first play there is broken coverage and the take it 85 yards all of the way down to our 12-yard line. We stop them once, then twice. 3rd down. It still feels like deja vu from last week though, so I almost expect them to score and get the 2-point conversion to send it to overtime, which would stink with the offensive problems.
Just as the next play is about to go, I get a text message. "Aunt LaVerne just passed away at 8:40pm." As I am trying to take that in, I hear the crowd get suddenly loud and wild from the other team scoring the inevitable touchdown...
I look up and see one of our outside linebackers crossing the fifty full speed with five opposing players in tow. I later find out that what I missed was the other team completed a pass and at about the 4-yard line our safety nailed the guy so hard the ball shot into the air and nearly across the field laterally, where our linebacker picked it up and took off about 90 yards for the touchdown.
We ended up winning 27-13 and we're now 3-0, but it was kinda hard to find the enthusiasm to celebrate...
"Hold on, I want to hear the rest of Joel's story. Just call whatever." (J.C.) "Alright." (Joel) "...in the hot tub, so we start busting up laughing and she's freaking out and then Kyle wakes up and he's thrashing about..." (J.C.) "What the hell are you guys talking about?" (Joel) "Oh just last week after the game."
