Highs and Lows from the weekend

First, the Low:

My 8th grade team lost their championship game 20-21. Very hard to lose that way. As I mentioned before the team we were playing owns the record for the longest winning streak of any team in this league (38 games straight). They average around 35-40 points per game and usually pitch a shut-out. They've NEVER had 3 TD's scored on them in one game before. We lost to them earlier in the season 7-6.

Here are some frustrating facets of the game:

1. We moved the ball on them at will. It took us a couple of series to figure it out, but we got it down.

2. Our defense shut them down (for the most part). It took them a botched punt (snapper snapped the ball over our punters head, Judge recovers on our own two yard line and scores on the next play), a Play-action pass that went for 40 yards, and a trick play (more on that later) to beat us.

3. The Trick play: Their players all get set, but the center doesn't put his hands on the ball. His linemen just stand in their position, but not with their hands down (so they look like they're resting). The center yells back to his QB that they have the wrong ball, the QB tells the center to give him the ball, so the center, takes the ball and slowly turns around and hands it to the QB. The QB starts lightly jogging to the sidelines saying "we have the wrong ball", then once he get's outside our defenders, he takes off down-field for a 60 yard TD run.

4. We get the ball back with 4 minutes left and drive down to their end zone (at this point, we're down 14-21. With 50 seconds left, we have a 4th and goal from the 7 yard line. We run a toss sweep to our best player and he scores (barely). As he get's up and runs to hand the ball to the ref, he holds the ball high and the refs flag him for unsportsmanlike conduct. 10 yard penalty. This puts us at the 12 yard line to go for one, so I say screw it, we're going for two points and went for it from the 15 yard line. We run a pass play where our best WR runs a corner route, the pass is perfect, our WR turns at the goal line with tight coverage on him, and he drops the ball. If we score, we go up by one and the game is over (becuase no way judge was going to get the ball back and score on us with less than 50 seconds left). Our onside attempt failed and the game was over.

5. Our players worked so hard to get to this point. We've had 4 losses this season, all by one point. We've never been blown out, we've only beaten ourselves in our losses.

Anyway, can't look back. I have these kids for one more year, then they move onto Sophmore football. I love working with these kids so much. They all have such great personalities and have made my work with them feel important. I really hope these kids know how much I love them.

The High: BYU beat Wyoming and Utah lost to New Mexico. I'm not a big "cheer for Utah to lose" person, because I sincerely think that them winning is good for the conference and for the state of Utah, but I find it very hard to cheer for them. When they play and lose, I feel nothing, when they play and win, I feel nothing, but sometimes have a feeling of joy knowing their fanbase is about to collectively slit their wrists. Utah lost to New Mexico, but that isn't all; they also lost their starting QB and starting WR to season-ending injuries. Utah's season is in turmoil while BYU is on the rise. (sorry to any of my "Utah fan" friends that read my blog; you know I love you and am only concerned for your well-being as Utah fans) :-).

BYU beat Wyoming AT Wyoming, which is nothing but a bunch of overly drunken college students mixed with a bunch of in-bread hicks that never finished Jr. High School. They are famous for such things as "piss bombs", breaking vehicle windows that display BYU stickers on them, and starting fights with the other team's fans (and this time, players).

One funny story coming out of the weekend was BYU's 6'1" 210 lbs Safety, KC Bills, getting a concussion toward the end of the game. As he was being helped off the field when the game was over, a group of drunken students came over and started heckling him, raising their middle fingers right in his face. Being in a concussed state, he reacted with a closed fist to the dudes face, leveling him to the ground. The dude then complained about it to security as the security laughed at him. I would honestly pay LOT'S of money to have been there to see that happen.

Anyway, life has been a blur for me since August first. Coaching takes a lot of your time and energy. I am greatful for the opportunity and for the support Alene and Caiden have given me while coaching. We have just a couple more things to do with the boys (a banquet and we're taking them snowmobiling for making it to the championship game) and then the winter is here.

Speaking of, I can't wait to go snowboarding. Caiden is more stoked than I am. He is so proud of his new snowboard gear. I hope he catches onto it soon enough to be able to ride w/o my help. I'll try to spend as much time up there with him as I can this year. I think I'm going to put him in one of those "kiddie" classes, where they are good at teaching little kids how to do it.

Anyway, that is about it.