Middle School Football Opens This Afternoon

[1987alum]

Game 3 and, well, boy is this going to be a long, long season.

The final score: Bad Guys 19, Noah's team 0

But it wasn't even that close. Our first 10 offensive plays went like this:

Fumbled snap.
Run for no gain.
Run for 4-yard loss.
Punt
Fumbled snap.
False start.
False start.
Fumbled snap.
Run for 3-yard gain
Punt.

Noah played well on offense - they ran behind him most of the only drive that took us near the goal line - and OK on defense. They went to a 4-4 today, which doesn't play to his strength and, frankly, didn't look good at all. The other team ran to the corners at will. We only stopped them once the whole game and that was because the first half ended with them in the red zone.

So we're 0-3. The offense has yet to score in the first half. They have yet to score on a first-string defense. And the two easiest games on the schedule are now behind us.

Ug. Lee.

[footballguy51]

It's Middle School. It's not so much about winning as it is about learning to play.

[1987alum]

It's Middle School. It's not so much about winning as it is about learning to play.

Sadly, that's the worst part about it. The kids aren't learning. They aren't learning fundamental techniques on blocking, tackling, pursuit, running, throwing, anything. Most of the kids aren't even capable of a half-decent three-point stance.

The cherry on the sundae is that we are the only one of the three middle schools in our district that do NOT run the same offensive and defensive packages as the high school. So the kids will get to the high school next year at a distinct disadvantage, having to learn on the fly.

I really don't care if they win or lose, but they aren't learning how to play the game and they're not getting any leadership from their coaches. As a parent (and former coach) that's a real disappointment.

[footballguy51]

It's Middle School. It's not so much about winning as it is about learning to play.

Sadly, that's the worst part about it. The kids aren't learning. They aren't learning fundamental techniques on blocking, tackling, pursuit, running, throwing, anything. Most of the kids aren't even capable of a half-decent three-point stance.

The cherry on the sundae is that we are the only one of the three middle schools in our district that do NOT run the same offensive and defensive packages as the high school. So the kids will get to the high school next year at a distinct disadvantage, having to learn on the fly.

I really don't care if they win or lose, but they aren't learning how to play the game and they're not getting any leadership from their coaches. As a parent (and former coach) that's a real disappointment.

Hearing stuff like this makes me wish I had the time to coach. Unfortunately, my job ends at 5:00 and I can't get out there to coach anything (although I bet I could ask to adjust my schedule). I played football for years, always on the line. I'd love to go out there and coach some kids on the finer points of being on the line. I have coached throwing events for track and field, and that was a blast!

[1987alum]

At least they won't go 0-fer.

Noah's team played one of the worst middle school teams I've seen in a long, long time. They raced out to a 26-0 lead but quick scores at the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth put everyone on edge. They hung on, though, as Noah and our big DT made big plays on third and fourth down to squash the opponents final drive. The offense ran out the clock and - ta da! - a 26-16 victory.

The final three games look to be the toughest, including two rivalry games against the other middle schools in our district.

The win was big, though. Getting that monkey off their backs was quite a relief.

Noah did his part - he blocked very well on offense and we were able to carve out big runs on a consistent basis. His push in the middle disrupted the offense to the point where they couldn't get any rhythm going.

I was working the sticks on the opponent's sideline and the one coach yelled to one of his lineman - "Hey, 75 (Noah) is your guy. Why is he getting through untouched?" I laughed and told him that was my son. He smiled and said, "your son is kicking our ass!"

[Falcon Fanatic]

I was working the sticks on the opponent's sideline and the one coach yelled to one of his lineman - "Hey, 75 (Noah) is your guy. Why is he getting through untouched?" I laughed and told him that was my son. He smiled and said, "your son is kicking our ass!"

AWESOME!!
GO NOAH GO!!!

[1987alum]

We lost our best player on Tuesday and a good defensive player on Wednesday. By the time today came, the rain started falling and it got gloomy - fast. Five plays into the game, we were down 14-0 and it just went downhill from there. The final was 41-0.

Noah played well, though he got lit up by his buddy Luke - who played with us for the last two season of Pop Warner. They both had a good laugh about it, which was fun to see.

Late in the game, both teams were playing second string. The second team fullback was screwing around and our coach was calling for him, finally Noah stepped up and said, "Coach, coach! I can play fullback."

So the coach sent him in. He carried the ball on the next three plays, racking up about 20 yards and a pair of first downs, including our only penetration across the 50 or the day. On the fourth play, he was the lead blocker and paved the way for another nice gain. For reasons I'll never understand, the coach then promptly took him out and, three plays later, we lost the ball on downs. Game over.

Two more games left and not a win in sight.

On the upside, I saw the high school coach at the game - his son is the one who lit Noah up. He asked about Noah and said he was looking forward to seeing him play. Before he left for his own team's practice, he made a point of stopping by to shake hands and say Noah had played a great game.

So even on a rainy day, a ray of hope!

[Tech83]

Excellent post game activity.

Hey.... you write very well. You should be a journalist.

[1987alum]

Well, here's an odd twist. Noah came home from school and said the coach told him to be ready to play running back for the last two games.

I'll reserve judgment for now, I guess ...

[Tech83]

Well, here's an odd twist. Noah came home from school and said the coach told him to be ready to play running back for the last two games.

I'll reserve judgment for now, I guess ...

Lets expect the worst..... and enjoy our surprise if/when Coach walks the walk.

[1987alum]

Quite an interesting game, I must say.

Noah played a lot of fullback. Did well blocking, carried the ball 5 times for about 30 yards or so. Was back at nose tackle on defense. Got utterly blown off the ball on the second play from scrimmage and his loud-mouth father got in his ear about it. He spent the rest of the game in the opponent's backfield.

They took a 6-0 lead then, on the last play of the first half, scored again on a reverse, during which, the backside cornerback landed three feet off the field of play after Noah circled back to block him. So they're up 12-0 at the half. Honestly, I can't believe what I'm seeing.

Well, the other team gets the ball the start the second half and starts running a crossbuck, which exposes our weakness at DE and OLB. They pound it into the end zone, making it 12-6. On the extra point, they abandon the play (they literally ran it six consecutive times on the TD drive) and run a roll out. Noah burst through the line and sacks the QB to thwart the PAT.

There was a lot of back-and-forth, then Noah's team makes a stop and gets the ball deep in their own territory in the fourth quarter. The first play to the halfback loses three yards. Noah takes a handoff and pushes the pile ahead for an 8-yard-gain, third and 5. Their halfback gains 4, leaving them with fourth and a long 1 at their own 25 right at the four-minute warning.

Easy decision, right? Punt. I mean, your offense has been struggling the whole half (in part because their only QB was injured). Punt, give yourself another 20 yards or so and let your defense, which has been solid aside from one drive, seal the win.

Nope, not this guy. He tries, and fails, to draw them offside with a long count, then runs a halfback dive to the weakside - away from his 3 strongest blockers on the line and away from his FB (who happens to actually be a lineman). No gain. Turnover on downs.

Now it's up to the defense. First down, Noah shoots the gap and sacks the QB for a 7-yard loss. Second down, the QB rolls left, Noah chases him down for a 3-yard loss. Third down, the QB executes a three-step drop and completes a pass for a 1-yard gain.

So it's simple now, right? I mean, 4th and 19 and 44. Just make sure no one gets behind the DBs, right?

Sure thing. QB drops back, Noah is double-teamed, but fights through, only to be met by the FB who is back in protection. Noah runs through him and a moment after the QB releases the ball, flattens him. Too late. The WR is a full 5 yards behind the defender, who somehow catches him and pushes him out at the 3.

Here's where it gets really weird. The official tells our coach there's 2:38 left in the game and the other team runs a sweep and scores a TD. They run that damn crossbuck for the PAT, taking a 13-12 lead. Then officials say, "game over."

And you thought MAC officials were bad!

You just can't make up this stuff and I'm going to have to blame Gregg Brandon for this one.