By Travis Chapman
3rd & 4th Grade: Apaches 26, Warriors 0
The Little Apaches traveled to Lakeside and came out on top in the season finale.
Liam Hulk Hurley, Cruisin Cash Roden, Joltin Jett Jones, Captain Case Parker, and Brooks Lightening Lewis helped set the tone with tackles for loss before Lewis found Nasty Nash Leonard for a 55-yard touchdown strike. Nash Leonard followed with a perfectly executed 30-yard reverse to pay dirt, and Lewis later called his own number to punch in another score. By halftime, Glenbrook had built a commanding 20-0 lead.
The second half brought more Apache fireworks, including a 60-yard pitch-and-catch from Hammering Hayes McCollough to Winnie Winston McCain. Mega-Man-Noah Minter added an interception, while the defense kept the Warriors searching for answers.
The Apaches cruised to a 26-0 victory, and the younger players got valuable snaps in the fifth quarter. Big tackles, big runs, and plenty of smiles from both sides showed that the future is bright.
5th & 6th Grade: Apaches 24, Warriors 8
If the 3rd and 4th graders brought the fireworks, the older Apaches brought demolition equipment—and the Wrecking Crew clocked in to do work.
Waylon Chapman, Maddox Tibbitt, and Miles McCullough opened holes so enormous that the Israelites could have crossed the Red Sea through them with room for traffic in both directions! Awesome Austin Ramsey took advantage, running for a touchdown, while Jackson Shipp turned on the jets for a 30-yard scoring run that left all 11 Warriors wondering if somebody had pulled the fire alarm. It was shake and bake and Shipp helped!!
The Apache defense was equally nasty. Sky Man Skyler Malone made his presence felt, Wild Wes Campbell delivered back-to-back tackles for loss, and Titan Tate Mandino nearly turned an interception into six points. Ice Cold Cullen Adkins took a handoff and cruised untouched into the end zone behind—you guessed it—the Wrecking Crew.
Then came the bittersweet part.
For the sixth graders, this was their final ride together in the elementary Apache uniform. And what a way to finish. Action Jackson Shipp ran like the cops were chasing him, delivered punishing tackles, and spent the evening turning the highlight reel into his personal property. Meanwhile, the offensive line kept opening holes big enough to require their own zip codes.
The Warriors managed a late score with stellar running from the blistering Carter White, but the Apaches answered the challenge and closed out a hard-fought 24-8 victory. If you were in attendance Thursday night in Sibley, you witnessed two future PHENOMS at running back and defensive back in Carter White and Jackson Shipp. These boys punch way above their weight. Their speed, agility, and ability to change directions mirrors that of Barry Sanders running the ball, and Primetime Deon Sanders on defense. It would be wise to keep your eyes on both of these stellar young men as their careers grow and prosper!
For the sixth graders, the final whistle meant more than a win. It marked the end of tons of practices on the hill, battles, big hits, jukes and memories made wearing the Elementary Apache jersey. Most of these boys we’ve had since second grade and they’ve grown leaps and bounds, and while the scoreboard will eventually fade, the brotherhood built along the way never will.
Signing off for this season, but fear not we will be back on the hill the first week of August to train and work hard for the next up and coming group of Apaches!
FAMILY ON THREE!!