By Travis Chapman
On Tuesday night, your Elementary Apaches faced off against the cross-state rival, OCS Eagles. The Apaches knew they had an uphill battle but that didn’t deter them from playing their hearts out until the final whistle. 2/3/4th Grade Apaches fell 40-0; 5/6th Grade fell 22-0.
Starting with the 2/3/4 graders, your Fab Four 4th graders that have stuck with the program since second grade, were your team captains again for the contest. The Apaches won the toss and started with the football. The oversized line of the Eagles that looked to average 5’4 and 150lbs pushed the Apaches backward and forced an early punt after just 3 plays. And on the first play from scrimmage, the giant QB of the Eagles scampered in for a TD.
The ensuing offensive possession, the Apaches showed some life as they moved the ball pretty good with two first downs led by The General-Skyler Malone and a great reception in traffic by Awesome Austin. The Apaches tried to spread the field out and a tipped pass found the arms of an Eagle. He took it to the house for a pick 6 and the score quickly became 14-0 Eagles.
The Apaches’ offense could not find anything to move the ball against the oversized Eagles the rest of the game, only picking up a few more first downs. But on defense your young Apaches stood in there and fought as hard as they could.
The Eagles all 4th grade offensive line were nearly the size of the coaches but that didn’t stop Liam Hurley from getting in the back field and making a few big tackles for loss. Awesome Austin Ramsey had several big tackles as well. Left DE-Waylon Chapman. who stands at 4’8” and 105 lbs., had a monumental task of beating an OL/DL that could eat him between two pieces of white bread as this Eagles offensive lineman was 5’6” and an easy 220 lbs., but he got in the backfield and disrupted a few plays and did not allow a sack from that big rascal the entire game.
Phenom 2nd Grader, BK Ingles had 2 big tackles in the game as he ran in there and put a lick on Eagles that could have him with their morning coffee after they finished shaving before school starts, but boy did he and the other big-hearted Apaches play hard!!
Your 2/3/4 Apaches are very young this year and numbers of players are down more than expected. They are only starting four 4th graders, but what makes us proud as coaches and parents is that even in the face of a mountain’s worth of adversity, THEY NEVER QUIT!! Your 2/3/4 Apaches fell 40-0 but look to strike that game from memory and focus on crushing FCCS next Monday, 9/16 at HOME as we Defend The Brook!!
Immediately following, the 5/6th graders took the field and the defensive battle ensued. The Apaches’ defense forced 2 fumbles early but both recovered by the Eagles that forced a 4th and long. The Eagles elected to go for it and the giant QB called his own number and outpaced the Apaches’ defenders and scored a touchdown. After a converted 2-pt try, the Eagles were up early 8-0. The Apaches’ offense took a little time to get moving and quickly swapped to defense after another punt.
This is where 6th grade stood out. Colossal Cade Smith leveled the Eagle RB for a huge tackle for loss. But on the next play the Eagle QB threw a deep pass to a wide-open receiver for a TD, converted another 2-pt play and raised the score to 16-0. Your Apaches’ offense showed some grit and started moving the ball between the tackles with great running from Hot Shot-Hayes Hanson. On the ensuing first down, Coach Rowton dialed up a beautifully-executed reverse that Hollywood Hollingsworth took for a gain of 30 yards. He was tackled by the facemask to tack on another 15-yds from the personal foul penalty of which there were 4 against the Eagles in each game. The Apaches set up on the Eagle 25-yard line with new life. QB, The Rocket Rainey executed a beautiful play action and found Hot Shot Hanson for a big gain and another first down, but the clock expired at the half leaving the Apaches stranded. The Eagles led 16-0.
The second half opened with the Apaches on defense which held strong for much of the third quarter. Three missed tackles in the backfield opened a new first down for the Eagles on a 3rd and long. On the next play, the Eagles QB found his receiver for a touchdown. “Snail” Hagan Hay jammed the Eagles’ wide receiver at the line and blocked the 2pt try. The lead grew to 22-0 in favor of the Eagles.
On the next offensive possession, the Apache offense went to work in the trenches as first time footballer, Jonah Morris, Captain, Oh My Captain, Powell, Big G-Grayson Avery, Action Jackson Lee, and Center, Murphy Durden smoked the back side Eagle Linebacker and opened holes for Hammering Hank Rowton and Hot Shot Hanson to move the ball up the field between the tackles 4-yards at a time.
The Apaches threated again in the Eagles red zone but on a crucial 4th and short, miscues prevented the Apaches from scoring and turned the ball over on downs to the Eagles. The Apaches’ defense led by Colossal Cade Smith sacked the Eagle QB (his 2nd sack and 4th tackle for loss of the game).
The Rocket Rainey had an NFL like pass breakup down the right sideline to prevent a touchdown and on the last play of the game, the Eagle wide receiver let out a sound that mimicked a professional women’s tennis event as the jolting Jackson Shipp used the hit stick from Madden and let all the air out of him on the sideline to close out the game with the Eagles topping the Apaches 22-0 in a hard fought game.
The outstanding defensive coach, Jesse Smith praised the team for outstanding defensive playing and stressed the importance of finishing the tackle as we were in great positions to make plays all night but were only 4-5 missed tackles from being tied 0-0 at the end of regulation.
Both Apaches teams played their hearts out last Tuesday night, even facing off against opponents 2-3 times their size! That is something to be proud of and grow upon in the coming weeks.
The Apaches look to fix the issues during practice this week as we get ready to steam roll FCCS next Monday, 6 p.m. at The Brook. Let’s pack the stands and support our Apaches!
IT’S A GREAT DAY TO BE AN APACHE!!!
