2004 Year in Review

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5th Grade Colts Win Jr. Tackle Championship

The 5th grade Morrison Jr. Tackle Colts defeated Sterling Blue on Sunday, October 17, to win the 5th grade Jr. Tackle Championship. The Colts defeated Sterling 6 – 0. With this win, the Colts finished their season with a perfect record of 9 – 0.

The team is shown above after the championship trophy presentation. Players are, front row, l – r, Seth Buckwalter, Travis Schipper, Matt Weets, Matt McDonnell, Jeremy Brown, Zach Blasdell, Brandon Neighbour, and Jacob Ruchotzke; second row, Matt Wilkens, Logan Kuehl, Tom Kirk, Brandon Belt, Landon Nelson, Mark McDonnell, Jacob Tegeler, Andy Schaver, Riley Coffey, Dan Crebo, and Shane Vos; third row, Danny Dennehey, Kelsey Snyder, Kyle Heusinkveld, and Luke Brands; fourth row, Coaches Hal Snyder, Dean Walters, Bill Onken, and Larry Brown.

The Colts started the game on offense. Mark McDonnell and Brandon Neighbour carried the ball downfield. Quarterback Danny Dennehey then completed a 7-yard pass to Kelsey Snyder. But the Sterling Blue defense was fired up, and Morrison was unable to score on their first possession.

The Colts’ defense was also fired up. The Colts stopped Sterling three and out on Sterling’s first possession of the game. Matt and Mark McDonnell both collected tackles. Jeremy Brown hit an opposing runner very hard to end Sterling’s drive.

Mark McDonnell ran for 16 yards on the 1st play of Morrison’s next series. But the Sterling Blue defense was tough again, and the game was scoreless at the end of the 1st quarter.

Sterling did get a couple of first downs on their next series, but tackles from Logan Kuehl, Landon Nelson, Luke Brands, Dennehey, Matt McDonnell, and Zach Blasdell kept Sterling from getting too far downfield. Dennehey had a key tackle on the run. Brandon Belt tried hard for an interception on Sterling’s incomplete pass to end their series of plays.

The Colts’ offense was now determined to score. Jacob Tegeler gained 31 yards on a reverse. On the next play, Brandon Neighbour broke loose and carried the ball the remaining 44 yards for the TD. The run for the PAT was short. Morrison led 6 – 0.

The Colts’ defense was able to dominate Sterling once again. Matt McDonnell hit hard and brought down a Sterling runner for a big loss. Brandon Belt grabbed the next runner, and Logan Kuehl, assisted by Tom Kirk, got another tackle to stop Sterling three and out at the end of the 1st half.

Morrison started the 2nd half on defense. Nelson, Dennehey, and Snyder all collected tackles. Kyle Heusinkveld tackled a Sterling ball carrier on the run. Jeremy Brown tripped up a receiver and forced an incomplete pass to end Sterling Blue’s series.

The Colts tried hard to score again on their next series of plays. Mark McDonnell carried the ball for a 14-yard gain. Dennehey gained short yards for another first down. Neighbour ran for gains of 6 yards and 16 yards to bring the football to Sterling’s 3-yard line. Sterling’s defense rose to the occasion and stopped Morrison from scoring. However, Morrison still had the lead, 6 – 0.

At the end of the 3rd quarter, the Colts’ defense stopped Sterling Blue again in three plays. Snyder, Nelson, and Matt McDonnell all had tackles to end Sterling’s possession early.

Morrison’s next series was cut short by penalties, and it was up to the Colts’ defense to hold Sterling one more time. Andy Schaver got everyone fired up with a big tackle for a loss. Sterling fumbled and recovered on a broken play, and then followed with an incomplete pass. On 4th and long, Dennehey grabbed the runner, but not before Sterling got the 1st down. The entire Colts’ defense now pulled together to contain Sterling. Matt McDonnell, Brown, Dennehey and Schaver all hit hard and got tackles to end Sterling’s drive near the end of the game.

Morrison now had possession of the football with only a few seconds left in the game. The Colts held onto the ball as the game clock expired, and they won the championship!

Danny Dennehey led the team in tackles with 7 tackles, 1 assist and 1 interception. Other tackles were as follows: Nelson and Matt McDonnell both with 5 tackles and 1 assist each; Brown – 3 tackles; Kuehl, Schaver and Snyder all 2 tackles each; Belt - 1 tackle and 2 assists; Mark McDonnell – 1 tackle and 1 assist; Blasdell, Brands, and Heusinkveld all with 1 tackle each; Kirk and Tegeler both with 1 assist each.

Brandon Neighbour led the team in yards with 8 carries for 77 yards and 1 TD. Other yards were as follows: Mark McDonnell – 12 carries for 55 yards; Tegeler – 1 carry for 31 yards; Dennehey - 4 carries for 5 yards; Snyder - 1 reception for 7 yards. Dennehey was 1 for 5, passing for 7 yards.

The players, parents and fans would like to thank Head Coach Bill Onken, Defensive Coach Larry Brown, and Assistant Coaches Hal Snyder and Dean Walters for all their hard work and dedication this season. The 5th grade Colts finished the season with a perfect record of 9 – 0 because of the hard work of the players and these volunteer coaches. Thank you coaches for a great season!

by dzuidema
2004-10-18 08:55:01