Bluejay Football
Bluejays Advance to 6-0 on the Season
by Sarah Miller
Despite the cold temperatures, the Jays and their supporters were able to play a good game on Friday, October 11.
In the first quarter of the game, the Bluejays were able to score three times. The first score was on the ground from 7 yards out. After the touchdown, the PAT by Chaden Roth was good. The second touchdown was an interception by David Dale. The PAT by Roth was good. The last touchdown was from 3 yards out. Going into the second quarter, the Bluejays were up 20-0.
In the second quarter, the Jays scored one touchdown from 2 yards out. After the touchdown, the PAT kick by Roth was good. Going into halftime the score was 27-6.
After halftime, the Jays were able to score two times. The first score came from 25 yards out. The second touchdown came from 9 yards out. After the third quarter, the score was 39-13.
In the fourth quarter, the Jays scored one touchdown from 15 yards out.
Throughout the game David Dale scored two touchdowns, Brett Tinker scored two touchdowns, and Jeremiah Kruntorad scored three touchdowns.
The Jays were able to put up 431 total yards of offense.
Coach Mark Brahmer commented on the game saying, “We started quite well on offense and controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Aided by a great play by David Dale to intercept a pass and return it for a touchdown, we were able to get out to a 27-0 early 2nd quarter lead.”
He then commented on the next game against West Point-Beemer. “We face a tough West Point-Beemer team this coming Friday night, so our practice and preparation time will need to be at its best. West Point-Beemer runs a very difficult offense to defend, and on defense they are quite aggressive with their blitz package. We will have to be at our best.”
Senior Carson Oestreich also commented on the game, “Our team’s offense executed very well. At times there was some stalling, but eventually we figured it out. We need to work on our pass defense as well as knowing every individual's responsibilities every play.”
The next game will be on Friday, October 18, against West Point Beemer.
Reserve Football Finishes Strong Against Knights
by Faith Lubischer
Despite not scoring a single point in the first half, the reserve football team was able to fight hard in the second half coming back to win 22-14 against the Norfolk Catholic Knights.
Throughout the first quarter the Knights scored one touchdown and had an extra point, but the Jays didn’t score.
Norfolk Catholic had another touchdown and extra point in the second quarter. Near the end of the second quarter, the Jays almost scored a touchdown, but it was called back due to a penalty. With that being said, sophomore, Kaden Johnson explained that the team will continue to work on not getting so many penalties because they “shot themselves in the foot” with the amount of penalties they had. The first half ended 0-14.
Beginning the second half, the Jays started to fight back against the Knights as Michael Kruntorad scored the first touchdown of the third quarter. After scoring, Ashton Schweitzer added 2 more points to the Jays’ score with a 2 point conversion. Also in the third quarter, Kaden Johnson scored the Jays’ second touchdown of the night, and then the Jays kicked a field goal to earn an extra point. At the end of the third quarter, the score was tied up 14-14.
In the fourth quarter, Norfolk Catholic wasn’t able to steal another touchdown from the Jays, but Schweitzer scored another touchdown for the Jays and also scored the 2 point conversion after his touchdown, taking the lead for the Bluejays. The game ended with a score of 22-14.
Coach, Grant Doerr, comments on the game’s positives’ by saying, “The kids were able to fight back and find a way to win.”
The reserve team will next play Monday, October 14, against Norfolk at home beginning at 5 p.m.
Junior High Bluejays Fight Against Blue Devils
by Autumn Hanna
The junior high football boys played against the Wayne Blue Devils in a home game Tuesday, October 1. The eighth grade team captured the win 38-6 while the seventh the team lost 12-40.
The seventh graders started off the night for the Bluejays. They managed to score two touchdowns but lacked in defense. The final score ending 12-40.
Wrapping up the night, the eighth grade Bluejays took the win 38-6.
Coach Lester Piper says, “Both teams did a better job blocking on offense due to the fact that we moved the ball on Wayne both in the 7th grade game and the 8th grade game. Defense for both teams played better. Eighth graders still work on making good tackles in the open field and everyone pursuing the ball on defense to stop the play.”
Jason Freudenburg, junior high coach, went on to say, “The seventh graders had a great first half, at halftime they were down 6-12. The second half we came out a little over confident; and Wayne took advantage of that with a great third quarter effort, and we were not able to come back from that in the fourth quarter. Eighth graders played a complete game. [We had] a great effort from the line to allow Keenan Valverde to run for two touchdowns. Overall a great effort from all of our eighth graders. Both teams continue to get better every week.”