Go Friday Night

Early Freshman vs Comanche

By Tracy Ebarb
October 2, 2005

Freshman Longhorns 12 Comanche Indians 6

For some of us, a ‘bye’ week is hard to handle. You know, on the surface it seems like a good idea, but when it starts getting close to Friday night, well, let’s just say that we need a little bit of a football “fix”. Thank heavens for sub-Varsity Football! And for the class of 2009!

This year’s freshman edition of the Early Longhorns is led by Coaches – Chad Burleson, on the offensive side, and Randy Jones on the defensive side. Following the game in Comanche on Thursday, the 9th grade Horns stand at 2 wins 4 losses for the season, with District play beginning this Thursday at 5pm against the Ballinger Bearcats at McDonald Field. There will be games every Thursday at McDonald Field in Early for the remainder of the Football season, either 7th & 8th grade, or 9th and JV games. There is always a great crowd and a fun atmosphere, a must for every Longhorn Fan.

Now back to the game. The 9th grade game was played in Comanche, which, to say the least, made the game entertaining. While we’ve grown accustomed, and amused, at having our own hometown announcer ‘butcher’ many of our players names, it’s always fun to hear how out-of-town announcers interpret the Longhorn language. What we didn’t expect was confusion on the player’s numbers! It seems that from the press box, 44 looks like 11, and vice versa! 4’s and 1’s got transposed all night long, and it resulted in laughter from the stands that was so loud, it got the Coaches’ attention! I’m convinced that our friends in Comanche were doing it on purpose to spice up an otherwise slow moving, defense dominated, game. Whatever the case, it worked, and the Longhorn fans were having a great time.

Meanwhile, the Longhorn players were trying to win a football game. After a mis-handled punt gave the Indians fresh downs from the Horn’s 21 yard line, they scored to go up 6-0 just before the half ended. The Longhorn’s took the 2nd half kick-off and moved the ball into Indian territory only to see the drive end on a fumble, and the Indians take over. Such was the game through most of the 2nd half, with the two teams trading several turnovers, but with the Longhorns defense getting the upper hand and really controlling the 3A Indians. Early in the 4th, the Longhorns mounted a drive that began about their own 33 yd line. Key runs from Sean Aly and Bob Atchley, along with accurate passing from Addison Ebarb, finally resulted in 6 points and a tie ball game after the PAT failed.
It really looked like that’s the way it would end until the Longhorn’s defense came up with an interception at the Indians’ 46, and one last chance for the offense with less than 1 minute remaining. Working out of the shotgun, Ebarb scrambled for about 5 yds, plus, the Indians were flagged for a face-mask penalty, that made that play a 20 yd gain. 1st & 10 from the 26, 39 seconds remaining. (please note that the times given are the best of my recollection, except for the very last play – that one I’m sure of) An incomplete pass burned 6 seconds, 2nd & 10, 33 seconds remaining. Ebarb’s pass to Cameron King for 14 yards and a 1st down at the Comanche 12, 24 seconds on the clock. A great run by Sean Aly sets up the Horns 1st & Goal at the 2 yd line, 17 seconds to play. Ebarb’s pass to Atchley falls incomplete on 1st down, 2nd & Goal, 12 seconds left. Aly loses 2 yards on 2nd down, 3rd & Goal from the 4, timeout called – 5 seconds on the clock.

It is obviously the last play of the game. Every fan, Early and Comanche, is on his/her feet. Ebarb drops into the shotgun formation, the snap is on the ground, Ebarb picks it up and looks across the middle for Cale Bearden, the tight end. He waits a second, then another second, then rifles the ball into the end-zone about 18 inches out in front of Bearden, just out of the reach of the safety, from the left, and the linebacker, from the right. Cale Bearden stretches out with one hand and pulls the ball into his chest! Touchdown!!!
Longhorns Win!! Longhorns Win!! Longhorns Win!! Longhorns Win!!
No time on the clock but the scoreboard tells the story:
Longhorns 12 Indians 6
Bring on the Ballinger Bearcats…

And that’s just what’s coming up, sub-Varsity games on Thursday of this week, and the start of Part II, the District schedule for the Varsity Longhorns, on Friday in Ballinger. We ended Part I, with 4 wins and 1 loss, a 4 game winning streak, a stifling defense, and an offense that is like an active volcano, about to erupt at any minute. But all that means nothing, because the only thing that can get us to Part III, is, well, Part II. It’s time for the Early Longhorns to step it up a notch. Come to Ballinger this Friday night at 7:30. My prediction is that this will be the beginning of something very special for Longhorn fans. Don’t miss out!

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