Back to football

The HSRC Patriots flag football team played two games this past Saturday at Luther East High School's field in Lynwood, IL. The opponents were the host team and the HRK Eagles of Gurnee. The Patriots had played Luther East the week before and had defeated them 41-20. The team Saturday was a little different for the Patriots, as there were a couple of players that were not able to be there for the first game, and some that were at the first who couldn't make it Saturday. And two coaches were there that missed last week's game. So our sideline was full - about sixteen players and six coaches, plus 40-50 family members.

The first game was a rematch of last week's game, Luther East versus HSRC Patriots, which was won by the Patriots, 41-20. HSRC received the opening kickoff and then proceed to score on a one-play drive, an exciting run by #11. (I'm sorry, but I don't know the names of the players. When I do, I will edit the posts and fill them in.) #11 then hit #23 for the two-point conversion. Luther East then put together a relatively long drive, earning one first down in the process, but ended up losing the ball on downs. Included in this drive was a sack by the Patriots. Then our guys scored on another one-play drive, this one a pass from #11 to #22 (Cody DeBoer, I believe). This time #11 threw to #13 for the extra points, and it was 16-0.
The Patriots put in a twist for their next "one-play" drive. On Luther East's first play from scrimmage after the kickoff, #34 (Jimmy Dill?) picked off a pass and returned it for a touchdown. #24 (Dana Hanna?) ran in the extra point this time and it was 23-0. Luther East then again failed to get a first down, and the Patriots went back to work on offense. Two passes from #11 to #91 (Stephen Bianchi) made it 29-0, where it stayed when the Patriots failed to convert the extra point. Two more possessions by Luther East ended in a punt and the end of the half, sandwiched around another one-play possession by HSRC, but this time the one play was an interception. 29-0, Patriots at the half.

The second half was shortened to twenty minutes due to time constraints that the Gurnee team had. Between this and the fact that Luther East tightened up their defense, there was only one score in this half. That was a pass from #11 to Dana Hanna on HSRC's first possession of the half. The extra point was not converted, and the lead was 35-0. A punt by Luther East, loss of the ball on downs by the Patriots, and a drive by Luther East that ended as the clock ran out concluded the game.

The next game was the Home Run Kids from Gurnee against the Patriots. We had played them in boys' volleyball and girls' basketball the past two years and Kristi has gotten to know John and Pam Ostrader quite well. This couple runs a pretty large homeschool sports program up there, and we're learning quite a bit from them. They have had a flag football team for a few years, so we expected things to be a little different against them. And it was. HRK marched down the field on the first possession and scored. After they completed the extra point via pass, it was 8-0. HSRC answered them, though, moving down the field and scoring themselves on a pass from #11 to Dana Hanna. Our extra point attempt failed, however, and the score was 8-6. It was the same score at half, as the defenses tightened up, and no scoring occurred until only a few minutes remained in the game, when HRK put it in to go up 14-6. The extra point pass fell incomplete, giving us a chance to tie the game with one last score. But after a couple of incomplete passes, the clock ran out and HRK took home the victory.

I have some stats for the games that I not sure of their accuracy. I did not give my full attention to the whole game, but this is my best estimate. If someone notices a glaring error, please leave a comment. Also, if there were any factual errors in the description of the games, also please let me know. In the first game, the Patriots ran three times for one first down and one touchdown. Passing was six for eight for three touchdowns and one first down, and one was intercepted. HSRC was sacked once. On defense, Luther East ran three times for two first downs, and they were 7 for 23 passing for two first downs, and one was intercepted, which HSRC returned for a touchdown. HSRC sacked LE's quarterback five times (this includes dropped snaps). Against HRK, the Patriots ran three times for one first down. Passing was six for seventeen for two first downs and a touchdown. Our quarterback was sacked three times. On defence, HRK ran three times for one touchdown; passing was ten for eighteen for three first downs and one touchdown, and HSRC sacked HRK's quarterback three times.

I won't be there Saturday, so if someone else wants to supply a recap of the game or keep stats or both, please send it over to me and I will post it on the blog.