North vs East
Story by Paul T. Zeien, Jr.
Blue Thunder Sophomore Struggle Again
The Blue Thunder Sophomore football team continues to struggle and get that first win of the season. The Thunder was the first to put points on the board Friday night but could not hold that lead past the 1st quarter. #38, Dustin Dussault, scored that first touchdown from 3 yards out. The offense could not convert any extra points but the 1st quarter would show the Thunder leading the E-Rabs 6-0.
East put their first points on the board at the 6:40 mark with a 60 yard run and a successful 2-point conversion. This put the E-Rabs in the lead 8-0. The Thunder received the kick-off but fumbled the ball on the next play. East recovered and had excellent field position on the Thunder 29 yard line. Four minutes later East hit the end zone again this time from only 1 yard out. They convert the 2-point and East now leads by a 10 point margin, 16-6. Both teams would have turnovers before the time would run out in the first half. :51 Thunder throws and interception, :9.7 East fumbles and the Thunder recover. Time runs out as the Thunder sits on the East 35 yard line.
The 3rd quarter starts and East expands their lead right away. This time the score comes from a 59 yards run and another successful 2-point conversion. The score was now 24-6. 5:47 East scores again this time from just 1 yard out; 2-point conversion was good making the score East 32, Thunder 6. This would be the score at the end of the 3rd.
Almost half of the clock was expired and East scored another touchdown. 5 yards and a good 2-point conversion and the E-Rabs were leading the Thunder by 34 points. Two minutes 45 seconds later and the make another long run for a score. East goes another 63 yards for the score. There was an automatic 2-point conversion and the score was now 48-6 E-Rabs.
#11, Ryan Gamble with :20.2 seconds left in the game scored a Thunder touchdown. Gamble hammered the 9 yards into the end zone. The Thunder attempt a 2-point conversion Gamble hits #13, Kurt Siemsen with a lob pass to get the 2 points. This would bring the final score of the game East 48, Thunder 14.
Do not let the scores of these games speak for this team. This sophomore team is a good football team that just has not found its way yet. Once they solve the issue of getting down on themselves after the opponent scores the first time they will be successful. We are supporting you, keep your heads held high and dig deep.
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#21, Austin Smaha flips an East running back in Friday night's victory.
Blue Thunder Wins 2 in a Row
The Blue Thunder Varsity football team was hopeful coming off of a decisive victory over the Freeport Pretzels last week. Their hopes came to fruition the Thunder would have another decisive victory against the East E-Rabs. As I watched the game I felt that the team played the best they have all season and Coach Tobin solidified that opinion in his victory talk with his team after the game.
The first possession for the Thunder came off of the opening kick-off. They returned the ball to the 32 yard line. The Thunder pounded the ball at the East defense which gave #21 Austin Smaha a chance to score. A hard hitting head down runner, Smaha takes the ball 31 yards and stretches over the line for the 6 points. #10, Ethan Hauser, is pretty much automatic on all extra points and does not falter on this one. The Thunder takes an early lead 7-0.
East tries to drive the ball back but the Thunder defense was to much for them. The clock ticked down to 2:42 and #12, Keith Larson, lobs a 5 yard pass to #22, Dylan Roberts, for a score. Hauser gets in for the PAT but a lucky East hand gets a block making the score 13-0 Thunder. East looked at the end of the 1st quarter like they were not going to give up and hit the scoreboard. With :22 seconds on the clock the E-Rabs score but cannot convert the PAT. The score now was 13-6 Thunder.
#25, Zach Stinson, the star of the game in these reporters’ eyes scores his first touchdown at 11:44 in the 2nd quarter. This score was the result of an exciting 89 yard run. He was smokin and no E-Rab was going to catch him. Larson was good on the 2-point conversion. The score now 21-6 Thunder.
The battle raged between the two teams and East was next to score. With almost 4 minutes left in the half East scores with a 10 yard run. They try a 2-point conversion and fail. Now the score is 21-12 Thunder. The game is far from over at this point. The Thunder responds by driving the ball deep into East territory only to turn the ball over on downs on the East 10 yard line. Fortunately for East the clock runs out and the teams switch sides and the chains are moved.
Smaha is a dynamic defensive player as well as a hard charging running back. The 6’01” 205 lb sophomore recovered an East fumble 5 minutes into the 3rd quarter. This stopped an East drive on the Thunder 27 yard line. The Thunder start their drive to the other end but turn the ball over via an interception on the East 36 yard line. The 3rd quarter would remain 21-12 Thunder with no additional scores.
The 4th quarter starts with East turning the ball over on downs to the Thunder. The Thunder have 1st and 10 on the East 45 yard line. The Thunder cannot move the ball either and end up turning the ball back over on downs to East on the East 46 yard line.
Stinson hits the end zone again from about 40 yards out only to have the score turned around due to a penalty flag on the Thunder. No worries, at 7:54 Stinson takes the ball 47 yards to the end zone. Hauser nails the PAT and the score is Thunder 28, East 12.
East was still not giving in and at 5:41 they score coming from 23 yards out. They get sacked on the 2-point conversion but the score closes to within 10 points 28-18 Thunder.
The Thunder seal their victory when they are forced to punt and the East back fumbles the ball and the Thunder recover on the East 19 yard line. Smaha charges his way into the end zone for the final Thunder score of the game from 7 yards. Hauser good score 35-18 Thunder. This would be the final score of a very exciting game.
As I stated earlier Coach Tobin agreed with me and told his team “this was a blue thunder football game and the best so far. On behalf of all of the coaches’ congratulations, this was a great team effort. “
Well done Thunder……
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