North vs Jefferson
Story by Paul T. Zeien, Jr.
Yes! Sophomore Thunder Wins…
Yes, it is true that continued hard work and extra effort does pay off in the long run. The Blue Thunder sophomore football team beat the Jefferson J-Hawks Friday night at Milt Brown Stadium. A wet cold slimy muddy field was no impediment to the Thunder.
The Thunder defense set the precedent with swarming tackles early in the game. On the first possession of the J-Hawks the defense shut only allowed 7 yards and forced them to make a decision on whether to punt. The J-Hawks go for it because of field position and the swarming Thunder defense forced a fumble and recovers the ball. Unable to move the ball the Thunder offense gets stalled and turns the ball over on downs. Neither team would be able to break into the end zone in the first quarter of play.
Over 7 minutes into the 2nd quarter the J-Hawks would be stopped deep in their own territory by #64, Dylan Bougher who tackled the ball carrier behind the lines to force a turn over on downs. The Thunder would be unable to advance the ball again and turn the ball back over to the J-Hawks on their own 38 yard line. The first half of play would end scoreless for both teams. The field continued to become a muddy sloppy mess which did not help either team offensively.
During the 3rd quarter the mud and wet continued to cause the offenses of both teams to struggle. Each team took turns advancing the ball and fumbling with the other recovering. The J-Hawks was the closest threat to scoring in the 3rd when a fumble recovery by #24, Justin Powers, stopped the J-Hawk drive. The 3rd quarter would end scoreless.
The 4th quarter is when the Thunder turned on the heat. With 7:57 #11, QB, Ryan Gamble hits #13, Kurt Siemsen for 46 yard TD reception. #1, Miguel Andrade hit the PAT and the score was Thunder 7, J-Hawks 0. The Thunder kicks off with a line drive kick right at a J-Hawk lineman. He bobbles the ball and #27, Lucas Howell for the Thunder recovers the ball at the 49 yard line. The Thunder was unable to score with this fumble recovery. The last key play of the game came with just 52.9 seconds left. #35, Joseph Litt, sealed the victory with a fumble recovery. Gamble would be taking a knee to let the time run off of the clock for the first victory of the season.
I was confident that this team had a win coming and they showed tonight that they were ready, willing, and able. Congrats on your first win of the season.
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Thunder Steps on and over Jefferson
The field at Milt Brown stadium Friday night following the sophomore victory was absolutely a disaster. Between the center hash marks there was nothing but churned up grass and mud. For the players this makes offense very difficult but nothing makes a defensive player happier than making a tackle and splashing mud all over your opponent.
#13, Alex Tripp and #22, Dylan Roberts were back to receive the opening kickoff from the Jefferson J-Hawks. Trip gets it and returns the ball out to the 38 yard line. The Thunder would take and drive the ball to the 34 yard line of the J-Hawks where Tripp would make the first score of the game. #10, Ethan Hauser was good with the extra point and the Thunder pulled out ahead early 7-0. This would end up being the final score at the end of the 1st quarter.
The Thunder would enter the 2nd quarter with very good field position. #21, Austin Smaha, who was absolutely on fire Friday night, would score from 8 yards out. Hauser was good on the PAT and the Thunder increases their lead by another 7 points. Smaha played both ways Friday night and proved that he will be a team leader for the coming next two years. At 9:35 Smaha blocks a J-Hawk punt allowing Tripp to pick up the ball and sprint into the end zone for 17ish yard touchdown. Hauser’s kick was blocked and the Thunder now had 20 unanswered points on the board. The defense continued to pound away on the J-Hawk offense. With the field conditions and the hard hitting Thunder defense they were unable to move the ball. The final highlight of the 1st half of the game came when #33, Garret Thresher intercepted the J-Hawk QB on the Thunder 23 yard line.
Early in the 3rd period Jefferson continues to be unable to handle the slippery conditions with the ball. They fumble again and this time #22, Dylan Roberts recovers the ball giving the Thunder 1st and 10 on their own 41 yard line. Then the Thunder fumbles the ball and J-Hawks recover. The Thunder defense shuts them down when Thresher gets his 2nd interception of the night. The interception came at a good time since the J-Hawks were threatening on the Thunder 16 yard line. With 29.9 seconds left in the 3rd period Smaha forces a J-Hawk fumble by smacking the ball carrier into next week. When the ball flies out of the ball carrier’s hands Smaha ends up sitting upright with it between his legs securing the turnover. I am telling you that this 6’1” 205 lb sophomore will be the one to watch. He will not be done for the night. The time was ticking off of the clock which was kind of nice since it was cold out. The actual time was 4:20 left in the game and guess who, yes, Smaha takes the ball 11 yards for the score. Hauser was good for the PAT and the score was now Thunder 27, Jefferson 0. This would end up being the final score of the game. It was very well played and the Thunder executed very well. Just two more victories should buy this team a playoff spot. Go for it Thunder.
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Thanks Paul
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