Eastland Squeaks by Jim Ned

By Suzie
September 7, 2005

What else besides the fan base can benefit a home team? A LOT! Even when it's pouring rain. For some reason, and I've seen it many times, the hometeam gets this aesthetic bonus just for being on home turf. It doesn't show up on the scoreboard until late in the game, when one good thing happens and suddenly, they've sealed the victory.

Dangit.

That's what happened in Eastland, Friday night, when the Indians traveled there to notch one against the Mavs. The whole game was owned by the visitors, who were ahead by one point for the entire fourth quarter. Every time the Mavs would score, Jim Ned answered back with one more.

Jim Ned started the scoring, with a qb keeper from Cam Decker, who also kicked in the field goal. Eastland quickly answered back with a run-in from Kelly Huit, but Colt Williamson's fieldgoal was blocked. (side note: Somewhere between Cam's run and Eastland's response came this torrid rain -- it started heavy and didn't let up for about 15 minutes. IT WAS NASTY!!!) Jacob Bunton then caught a pass from Decker, and took it in for another touchdown. The two-point attempt was no good, however.

The rain let up in time for excellent half-time shows from both Eastland and Jim Ned, and then the game was back on for the third quarter. This time, Eastland scored first, when Colt Williamson ran one in, and then successfully split the uprights. Lane Davis, for the Indians, then took in a NICE 12-yarder. But the Mavs answered with a huge 59 yard Felts - Folson connection for another TD. This set up the drama that was the fourth quarter.

With a 20-19 lead, the Indians did turn to some conservative plays, which helped them to maintain that prescious one point lead. But luck, as I said, proved to be the aesthetic factor, as somehow the Mavericks managed to break through the iron curtain and get Decker down. That prepared the Eastland offense to open up for another six, courtesy Felts, and the game was in the books.

Jim Ned was awesome, this game, and it looks like the kinks have been 99% worked out. The penalties were down to a minimum, and dare I say it, there were some good ones, as in, ones that were not unprovoked, as the Jarrell game produced. The team's patience payed off, as things ticked in the right order, like Lane Davis's punt block, which was smoothly executed. Things like that aren't luck -- those are acts of patience.

Now for some pictures:


The running game was owned by Colt Williamson, who averaged 10 yards a carry...


...but Cam Decker (#21) owned the skies, statistically, with 127 total air-miles(or yards)...


...Lane Davis Blocking a field goal attempt... (HAYYYYY YAH!!!!)


...Philip Perez breaks a tackle.

Comments

Jessica
September 13, 2005 8:40 PM

I thought that the game was very well played and that all the players from both teams represented their school well. I disagree however with the comment that the vistors "owned the game". I think that if anyone "owned" the game that would be Colt Williamson for Eastland who ran for more than 200 yards and scored a touchdown. I also don't see how rain can be helpful to anyone that is playing. It affects the home team as much as the visitors.

anonomous
September 16, 2005 6:05 PM

i think jessica is right eastland OWNED jim ned

Suzie
September 16, 2005 7:09 PM

I do believe that Colt was definately the best player on the field, that night. I have always enjoyed watching him play, and had the wonderful opportunity to see his 48-yard field goal in Tuscola, last season. I hope his abilities take him far.

However, I disagree with Eastland owning the game, entirely. The reason I said that Jim Ned owned the game was because the Indians were ahead more often than Eastland was. If anything, I do think that the game was a pretty fair matchup. The luck-at-home thing is almost always in occurence, even in other sports. I think the team that is more comfortable with its surroundings always has more of an edge than the visiting team does. Imagine Brownwood and their turf field. When it rains, it might be slicker, but never muddier. They have to deal with that as visitors when they travel to a team that houses a grass field when it rains. Totally different playing area -- it does make a difference.

Last season, when Coleman played Jim Ned in Tuscola, I believe the only reason Jim Ned won was because they were at home and were more accustomed to their ground. Coleman should have had that game, entirely.

While I am here, I also wanted to say that Eastland has a great announcer. I'd like to see another game out there, if I can...

Thanks for the comments, I appreciate them. They help me see more than just my side of the game...

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