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7th-8th Grade Football Team Downs Brockway (10/01/14)

(By Coach Jesse Quinn)

The Clarion Area Jr. High 7th-8th Grade Football Team faced an undefeated opponent for the second straight week and came out on top. The Brockway Rovers came to town and were previously undefeated with a 3-0 record, but were sent home with their first loss of the year, 38-16.

JH FB vs BKW 2014 2The first thing that must be said is that from a coaching standpoint, this had to be one of the best and most exciting 7th-8th to be a part of! Both Randy Cathcart and I expressed how much fun we had as a staff and how much fun the boys had that night against Brockway.

The Bobcats opened on offense but could only manage one first down before turning the ball over on downs to the Rovers. A stout defense held the Rovers and forced a punt on their first possession. On the third play from scrimmage, Logan Schill connected with Archer Mills for a 68 yard touchdown giving the Cats a 6-0 lead. Trying our first extra-point of the year, we weren’t able to place the ball correctly on the tee and the attempt failed.

Again the defense stood tall and stopped the rovers on downs. The first play from scrimmage, Kyle Katis attempted to hook up with Drew Wrhen on a long fade route. Drew was wide open, but the pass fell short. The Brockway defender intercepted the ball and returned it to the Bobcat 25 yard line. Yet again, the Bobcat D rose to the occasion and drove the Rovers backward. On fourth and long, Brockway was shutdown and we got the ball back. The first play of offense, the boys ran play action and Wrhen was again wide open. This time Kyle’s pass hit Drew on the money and with only a few minutes left before half-time the Bobcats found pay-dirt. On his second attempt, Josh Craig split the uprights and the Cats were up 13-0.

JH FB vs BKW 2014 1The third quarter was again a good one for the young Bobcats. On a nice change of pace, Logan Minich was out in front of his twin brother Sam and made a nice block to spring him for the score. The extra-point hit the cross-bar, popped just over the edge and was good. One more time the Bobcats were able to punch another one in the end zone to end the 3rd quarter.(Forgive me, just turned 42 on Saturday and can’t remember who scored that touchdown.) With the score being 26-0, the staff was eager to get the younger boys in the game. We feel that nothing prepares them for the future like actually getting them in the game. Our boys were more than up to the task!

Brockway kept their starting team on the field and pushed the ball quickly into the end zone. But not before a great play was made! Benny Murtha was playing left cornerback. The play went to the right. The player was huge! He was rumbling down the sideline, heading for the end zone when out of nowhere come Benny Murtha! He leaps in the air and tackles the kid on the five yard line! I realize they ended up scoring on the next play, but what an effort! That is what it takes from the biggest guy starting to the smallest guy who might only get limited time, everyone in the game, mentally, physically giving it their all! Incredible to be a part of!

After a failed on-sides kick attempt our 7th grade offense took the field. Facing a much larger defense and a 4th and 11 to go, the play came in to the QB. Quarterback sneak! Yep, on 4th and 11? The Rovers rushed right past Josh Craig and then he bolted up the sideline for a 65 yard touchdown!

On the kickoff, the boys held their own, but couldn’t keep the Rover out of the end zone. Now the score was 32-16. Again the on-side kick failed as Nate Datko took a huge hit from the Rover’s starting nose tackle! It was a 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty. The very next play, Nate Datko took the ball on a dive and rambled 35 yards for the score. This ended the scoring at 38-16, but the game was not over!

When Brockway got the ball on offense, they again ran the play to the huge kid down the right sideline. He looked as if he was surely going to score when out of nowhere two Bobcat defenders hauled him to the turf. Again it was Benny Murtha and Nate Datko who saved the touchdown. The best part it, a few plays later, Billy Huffman intercepts the ball in the end zone for a touchback. I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am of the success of the younger kids! It’s not always about the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog, right Benny! It is the effort put forth by all our boys that makes me very excited about the future of Clarion Area Bobcat Football!

As a coaching staff, I can say that we are pleased with the effort we are getting from all the boys. With that said, we are never satisfied and keep pushing for the boys to be better and better, not only as a football player, but more importantly as a young man. I try to tell the boys as much as possible that I know that I lose my mind and yell during the games. But it’s all said and done to get the most out of them, all constructive. They are a great group of boys to work with.

This weekend I saw many former Clarion Area Football players: Bubba Rue, Kevin Grejda, Logan Corbett, Cody Renninger, just to name a few. These boys played for me as Junior High players. I am proud to see the young men they have become today. Makes me very proud to see them.

Our next contest will be on Wednesday, October 1, against the Redbank Valley Bulldogs.
(Thanks to Coach Quinn for this story. Good Job Cats!!!!)