It’s Game time!

Your sons have been showing steady improvement and should prove to be competitive.  We spent one hour today putting in the finishing touches and should be ready.  It is my goal to get every prepared athlete into every game.

Bluejays 1-0 vs Vikings 1-0

After one game, we have learned more about ourselves and what we need to do be better prepared.  We have added a few new plays on offense and spent some time tightening up our defense.  We hope for a good hard hitting game.

Opponent:  Villisca Bluejays

Game Site:  Villisca

Bus Leaves Stanton:  2:45

Game Time:  4:00-5:30

Bus Returns to Stanton:  5:50-6:00 (later in event of a game-stopping injury).

Remaining Calendar of Events

Sept 18                  Mon                Game 2 at Villisca @ 4:00

Sept 19-22              Tue-Fri           Practices end @ 5:00

Sept 25-28              Mon-Th         Practices end @ 5:00

Sept 29                   Fri.                  Homecoming Practice TBA

Oct 2                      Mon.               Game 3 vs S. Page @ 4:00

Oct. 3-6                  Tue-Fri           Practices end @ 5:00

Oct. 9                     Mon                Game 4 at Farragut 4:00

Oct. 10-12              Tue-Th           Practices end @ 5:00

Oct. 13                    Fri                   Practice ends @ 4:00

Oct 16                    Mon                Game 5 at NV/Malvern

Oct. 17                    Tue                 Clean equipment at home

Oct. 18                    Wed               Turn in equipment

Oct. 18                    NEW idea      Team Cookout? 

Highlights of Essex game

I do not have a videotape of the game and my special teams and defensive stats are incomplete.  The offensive stats looked pretty impressive: 17 plays for 270 yards and 6 touchdowns.  Defensively, we did create 3 turnovers (2 interceptions and 1 fumble).  We also scored a touchdown on defense—a great way to start the season!  I have put together a scoring summary, yardage statistics, pictures, comments, and BIG Schstick! Award winner on the school’s website.  To view the results of the Essex game, please go to the junior high football homepage at the following address: http://stantonschools.com/sports/Football/jhfootball/jrhighfootball.htm.  Once there, click on the 2006 Season link.

Videotape needed

If there is anyone interested in using the school’s video camera to record the game, please let me know.  In the meantime, I will be trying to find a student willing to do it.  The tapes are used to double-check statistics when needed and occasionally to use as a team teaching tool.  The athletes in past years have enjoyed watching the games to learn from their mistakes and successes.

BIG Schstick!  Award

This coveted award was initiated 2 years ago and really brought another dimension to our game.  We are hoping this will continue to be a FUN, exciting and competitive award this fall.  Definition:  The BIG Schstick! Award is proudly presented after each game to the athlete(s) that makes the biggest, hardest, loudest, bone-rattling, pad-popping, body-jarring HIT!  On Monday, September 11, 2006, Shayne Larson earned the BIG Schstick! Award for the tremendous block he made near our goal line.  His block not only put the Essex linebacker on his back, but it enabled Tyler Havrum to score a touchdown untouched.  Way to go Shayne!

Attendance is a MUST to be prepared!!

Just missing one practice and returning the next day does not leave you where you left off; it puts you behind the rest of the team (especially this past week).  Not only is the absent athlete behind, but the team is also less than what it could have been had the absent player been in practice to give his teammates what he has to offer.

“Being prepared is the only thing you have total control over.”  Dick Vermeil

Eligibility

This is the first junior high season that I have not heard anything negative from their teachers in reference to their grades, missing assignments, behavior, etc.  Congratulations!  Please check on your son’s classroom status.  Mid-term is next Wednesday, September 20, and reports will come out shortly after.  In order to stay eligible and participate, an athlete must be passing ALL classes.  We have been reminding them that academics come first AND if they need to miss practice in order to get help from a teacher—that is fine!  In addition, we strongly encourage them to be responsible enough to take care of their assignments on time and not get themselves into a position where they will need to miss practice.

Our school’s website is best viewed using Internet Explorer.

IF YOU HAVE ANY RESERVATIONS ABOUT YOUR SON BEING PICTURED OR LISTED ON THE WEBSITE, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT jgrebin@stantonschools.com

Information from our first game has been reported to both the Villisca Review and the Red Oak Express.