Wednesday, October 16, 2024
It was a cool, overcast afternoon with the temperature a balmy 68°F at kickoff of another skirmish between Camarillo middle schools in a game of coed flag football.
Still, I found it to be a BEAUTIFUL day for American football!
Our combatants were . . .
The Las Colinas Middle School Mustangs
4 Wins - 1 Loss
at
The Camarillo Academy of
Progressive Education (CAPE) Comets
Season Record Unknown
The game was being billed as a good one between two evenly matched schools.
It was.
We got to CAPE a little early, so I walked Mary over to the park next to CAPE to let her get some exercise before the kickoff.
Mary deftly climbing these steps
Then practicing for a future as a firewoman
At the Coin Toss, the two Comets
Captains looked intimidating to me
Last second instructions to the Mustangs
The Comets 2-3-3 Defense posed
problems for the Mustangs
Running up the middle was not
one of those problems
A Comet DE pressuring the Mustangs' QB
Las Colinas' pass receiver weaving
his way through the CAPE Defense
He is still running!
The Mustangs run Sweeps a ton
A loop, a whirl and a vertical climb . . .
Speaking of getting vertical, this
CAPE defender deflected this pass . . .
. . . into the hands of his Comet teammate
who then had a great interception
return deep into the Mustangs' territory
An inside run by CAPE was a solid call
Eventually the Comets scored on
this short run play
The Comets went for a one point
PAT on this pass to the corner
Under the rules that were being used, the scoring team has the option to go for one point from the two yard line or for two points from the four yard line.
It was complete and the Comets led 7-0
Easy with that flag pull, sir!
The Las Colinas' Offense got back
to work quickly
This pass was a tad to long
Good pursuit by the Comets surrounding
the Mustangs' QB on this play
End of the First Quarter
CAPE Comets - 7
Las Colinas Mustangs - 0
Las Colinas punted to start the
Second Quarter
The Comets Punt Returner needed
to be corralled quickly
Great get-off by this Mustangs' DE
The pressure forced an errant
Comets' pass
This Jump Ball fell incomplete
The Mustangs' Punt Return team
blocking the Comets from getting upfield
Get the Edge sealed and . . .
. . . the Mustangs' Sweep was in business
She was finally caught but only
after a fine gain
BOMBS AWAY!
It fell incomplete.
Back to the ground game . . .
. . . and more efficient short passes
Oh, and don't forget the Sweep
This Sweep was good for a short gain
One last run to end the Second Quarter
CAPE's crackerjack scoreboard operators
Halftime Score
CAPE Comets - 7
Las Colinas Mustangs - 0
The Comets returning the
Second Half Kickoff
Hand-to-Hand Combat
Jacob pursuing this Comet ballcarrier
Finally he got him thanks to not
giving up on the play
CAPE takes to the air
A short CAPE completion with a
quick Mustangs' flag pull
Mustangs racing up the sideline
Good CAPE Defense on this play
As it turned out, leaping just before
a flag pulling attempt is illegal
Who knew?
Keep pitching and . . .
. . . catching!
Time was definitely running out though.
End of the Third Quarter
CAPE Comets - 7
Las Colinas Mustangs - 0
As I walked past the Mustangs' sideline pow-wow between the Quarters, I overheard the Mustangs' Head Coach say to the team in his usual low key way, "Champions are made in the Fourth Quarter."
His voice sounded pretty darn confident to me.
One of the Mustangs' trick plays . . .
. . . was just a bit too far
Not a lot of room to run after
this Mustangs' catch
The Mustangs just kept chipping away
That Las Colinas Guard looks
like he means business
A solid Las Colinas run . . .
. . . and another
These runs led to the two Big Plays of the Day for the Mustangs' Offense.
This pass into the End Zone was high,
who wanted it more?
She did,
TD LAS COLINAS!
The Mustangs still trailed 6-7, go for one or go for two?
"Champions are made in the Fourth Quarter."
The Mustangs went for two.
HE CAUGHT IT and . . .
. . . and held on all the way
to the ground for TWO POINTS!
The Mustangs now led 8-7 but there were still six minutes left in the game.
The Mustangs' Defense needed
to come up with a great effort
Set the Edge and force the Comet
to bow back . . .
. . . then pull his flag, good job Jacob!
Uh-oh, Cape made a big Fourth Down play
A fine effort by this Mustangs' DB
Thankfully the Comets did not
get a large gain on this play
Eventually, CAPE turned the ball over on downs with about 90 seconds left in the game and still in possession of all three of their timeouts.
It made the end of the game interesting.
Obviously, Las Colinas ran the ball to
keep the clock running and force CAPE
into using their timeouts on Defense
QB Sweeps ate up a lot of time and yardage
The Mustangs got an all-important
First Down and CAPE was out of timeouts
WHAT A GAME!
Final Score
Las Colinas Mustangs (5-1) - 8
CAPE Comets (?-?) - 7
Next up for the Las Colinas Mustangs is a home game on Monday, October 21st at 4:00 p.m. against the always dangerous Somis Union Hawks.
The GCYFL finally posted the Junior American Conference Playoff Brackets and game sites today.
It's a good visual presentation
Jacob's #8 seeded Camarillo Stingers Blue team (5-2) will "host" the #9 seeded Camarillo Stingers Grey team (4-3) at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 19th at Pacifica H.S. in Oxnard.
"On the road again . . ."
Saturday is also Game Day for an
IFAF World Championship
European Qualifying Tournament
Team Netherlands Lions at
Team Ireland Wolfhounds in Dublin
It should be a barn burner.
I'm all for him winning this award
In Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers travelled east today for Game Three of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets with the series tied at one game apiece.
Were Dodgers' fans brimming with
audacious confidence?
WOW!
The Dodgers' fans were spot on!
The Dodgers are now up two games to one in the best-of-seven NLCS playoffs.
Games Four and Five will both be contested in New York on Thursday and Friday before returning to Los Angeles if needed.
GO BLUE!
