This was supposed to be our home opener in our newly renovated stadium. Instead, we had to "borrow" (with compensation) Deer Park's Clyde Abshier Stadium. We played West Orange Stark. I'm sure WOS was grateful for the change in venue. Deer Park is closer to Orange than Friendswood.
I'd read several predictions about this game, ranging from "Expect a close game" to "This should be a blow out for Friendswood." WOS is a 3A school, but a football power house in 3A. Both sports reports for the Galveston County Daily News predicted Friendswood would win by quiet a large margin (http://galvestondailynews.com/story/173594 ). I think some of the players made have read that article.
West Orange Stark came ready to play, and ready to win. They had a few tricks up their sleeve and waited to see which would work the best.
On our first possession, we had to punt. Not a good showing - Maetzold was sacked the first time he touched the ball. Did someone miss an assignment?
After our first defensive play, there was a Friendswood Mustang who didn't get up. It turned out to be Will Fitzpatrick who left the game. He never returned. It was tweeted that he was icing his knee. At this point, I have no other news on him.
WOS was given a penalty for a personal foul and play resumed after Fitzpatrick was helped off the field.
After our second defensive play, there was a Friendswood Mustang who didn't get up. This time it was R. Brown. Brown also had to be helped off the field and never returned. Again, three was a tweet later in the game that he was icing his knee, and I have no other news on him.
I began to wonder if this was West Orange Stark's game plan - take out our starters so they wouldn't have to work as hard. I've heard of teams doing that, but I never imagined it would happen to us because we don't play like that.
That was the last injury - for a while at least.
Halfway through the first quarter, Friendswood was the first to get on the board. Jonathon Johnson ran the ball in for a touch down. With 7:29 left in the 1st quarter, the score was WSO 0 -FWD 7
Once WOS gets their hands on the ball, they marched right on down the field to score. They went for the 2 point conversion and got it. New score WSO 8 FWD 7.
After they kick off, I realize why they went for the 2. Their place kicker can't get the ball in the air.
At the end of the 1st quarter, the score is 8-7, Maetzold had been sacked once and intercepted once.
It doesn't take WOS long after the second quarter began to get into the end zone again. This time, they did not get the 2 point conversion. So the score goes to 14 - 7.
We drive down the field, sure that we're going to score. . . . and Maetzold over throws his receiver, who was in the end zone. They again. This time Maetzold has JJ in his sights, they seem lined up for the perfect play to even the score, but instead Maetzold is picked off. This play began the penalties against us. This one was for a late hit. At this point I posted on twitter and facebook, "Come on boys! I KNOW the coaches taught you better than that!"
We earn another penalty (offsides) before WOS scores again. Again they go for the 2 point conversion, this time they are denied when Kennemer intercepts the ball in the end zone! About half way through the 2nd quarter and the score is WOS 20 - FWD 7.
7 plays and 66 yards later, after using a no huddle offense, JJ falls into the end zone (stumbles is more like it) for a Friendswood touch down. The extra point is good. WOS 20 - FWD 14 with 5 minutes left in the half.
WOS fumbles right after the kick off, but we can't capitalize on it and have to punt it away.
Maetzold is sacked 2 more times before the end of the quarter. But, at least this week the ref were calling pass interference. They were actually watching for it. WOS was called several times for this penalty. Just before the end of the half, Canada was thrown out of bounds and tackled so hard that his helmet came off. He had to leave the game for a bit because his helmet was actually broken. It was repaired or replaced during half time.
Friendswood scored early in the 3rd quarter, bringing the score to 20 - 21!
During the 3rd quarter, WOS scored again after their offensive line was able to give their quarterback all the time in the world to make a decision, then execute. New score 28 - 21
The score remains the same through the rest of the quarter. When the 4th quarter begins, we begin to march down the field, 2 steps forward, then a step or two backward. Maetzold is sacked, again. Making this number 5 for the night. The next two plays result in two more injuries, one for each team. Neither appears to be serious. 2 plays later (maybe 3) instead of the trainers running to help an injured player, they are running to an official who appears to be unconscious, face down on the field. After a few tense minutes, the official gets up and begins to walk around under his own power. Somehow, he had managed to get himself knocked out.
Our drive looked great, but we were unable to get into the end zone. The injuries took our rhythm away from us. Hardy made a 37 (27?) yard field goal attempt, but the kick was wide (actually, it was straight when it should have gone to the right). So, WOS got the ball back.
Again, we were unable to stop their run, and they marched right on down into the end zone. New score, 34 - 28 with 1:58 left in the game.
This time, we march right on down the field and score (thanks to a few penalties against WOS). New score 35 - 34 with 30 seconds left in the game.
They made a serious run, but ran out of time. The final score was West Orange Stark 34 - Friendswood 35.
So, once again we get one in the win column. But, isn't it all we hoped it would be. The people who warned that West Orange Stark was fast did not lie. What they didn't say was the the WOS Mustangs play dirty. Not only were the players ill behaved, but even one of the coaches had to be drug back after the game when he went charging across the field toward the officials. Thankfully, some of his staff and players were able to control him before the police who were on the field had to get involved and before anyone got hurt.
I'm curious if the game would have been the blow out it was supposed to be had 2 defensive starters not been hurt so early in the game.
Our offense looked good most of the time, and Maetzold had plenty of time to throw the ball, most of the time. But, there were some mistakes in his protection and I'm sure he'll be sore tomorrow because of it. But, another good thing I can say about Maetzold, he's not afraid to take a hit. I've seen plenty of other quarterbacks take a dive, rather than be sacked or tackled. If you're going to take him down, be prepared to work for it.
Our defense still has work to do. For the last 2 years, at least, our boys have had a problem missing tackles that shouldn't be missed. I wonder if our boys play touch football during practice? They are doing alot of arm tackling that is ineffective on Friday nights.
Something else I've noticed, and I'm sure others have as well, is that our entire team seem to be good sportsman. It seems that the character education that FISD starts in kindergarten and teaches all the way through high school is effective. It's nice to see our boys helping up the players from both teams after a play. It's good to see that our team doesn't take the cheap shots that so many other teams take. It gives me hope for future generations to see our team play to win, and still play with respect. Even when we lose, rather than saying "We were robbed" or it wasn't fair, our team loses with good grace and complements the other team on a game well played. See that makes me proud to live in Friendswood.
So, for next week's game . . . We will play Statford at Tully Stadium. GOOOOOO MUSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAANGS!!
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