BONECRUSHER!

Saturday, August 14, was Zach's first high school football game.  It was a scrimmage in which the varsity got to play the first half, the Junior Varsity played the 3rd quarter and the freshmen took the field  in the 4th quarter.  The opposing team had only enough players for a varsity squad plus some substitutes so played their first string the entire game.

Zach came into the game on the first play of the 4th quarter to cheers from the team screaming, "Get 'em Bone Crusher!  Crush their bones!"  While not the most Christian approach to athletic competition, the cheers caught on with the crowd and as reported from some other parents in the stands, even a couple of girls from the other school shouted encouragement to him! 

I was part of the chain gang, so had a great view of each play.  Zach plays nose tackle and was covering for the injured freshman center on offense, so he played the entire fourth quarter.  At nose tackle, he showed incredible quickness off the snap of the ball.  In fact, on one play he hit the opposing center before the snap was finished, which contributed to a fumbled exchange with the quarterback and a fumble recovery from one of Zach's defensive line buddies.  When he played center, the opposing team chose to send their linemen at the corners instead of up the middle, so Zach had to seek out  guys to hit.

The whole team did really well and the Freshman team actually outscored the opposing varsity squad by a touchdown, 6-0, in the 4th quarter.  Probably the best thing about the game for me though, aside enjoying good football and my son playing good football, was the head coach commenting to me that he loves coaching Zach not just because of his strength but because of his attitude that lifts the rest of the team!  From the cheers from his team (Varsity to other Freshmen) and friends in the stands, the impact of his spirit and attitude was as forceful as his impact on the opposing line!  I'm proud of my son, BoneCrusher, though I still call him Zach.

posted by Andy