What a season it has been for your Zebra Football team and the regular season has come to an end. What an end it was. We hosted Collinsville last Friday with 2nd in the district on the line. The thing about Collinsville is they have become a second rival in Claremore, of course not as much as Pyror, but it has something more than other games. You see in the David and Goliath story, Collinsville has been the Goliath in 5a football for the last few years, but not anymore. Our slingshot did not have a rock in it, it had an offensive line and another second half shutout loading in it.
That is why our players of the week this week featured the entire offensive box. If you do not know what the box is, let me explain. The box is area where the work is done, the area where the fight takes place, the place that does not ever get the credit, and the place where men play. I am talking about the big uglies that clear the way for for other people success, the offensive line and fullback. On Friday night each of these men earned their player of the week shirts by taking over the game. What you saw was old fashion football. The Cardinals knew we were going to run the football and it did not matter. The Zebras lined up and bullied them up front. This might be the most well deserved POW's of the season. Congrats men.
The defense did there part as well pitching there 4th second half shut out of the season. That came after giving up a end of the half touchdown to tie the game at the end of the 2nd quarter. At halftime Coach Willard and Coach Hurt challenged the defense with a very spirited speech. The boys did not whine and feel bad for themselves, they listened and took the challenge in stride. They took the hard coaching and did what needed to be done to win the game.
I heard Coach Hurt say "to score points you throw the ball, to win the game you run the ball and play defense." Tell me that is not the single most true statement from the game on Friday night.
So what is next for the Zebras, it is a home playoff game against Sapulpa. I would love to be a fly on the wall in the coaches film room over there, as they are studying trying to figure out how to beat the Zebras. I can see them talking about the passing game as they are watching a pass leave Braxton's hand and landing in the hands of all of our wide receiver weapons. Or them sitting there as one coach asks "who is Tyson Grimett, and how can we stop him with the O-Line they have." I know Sapulpa confidence will be shaking when they get off the bus, as they have had an entire week to think about the Zebras. I can't wait, as we are less than 48 hours away from us punching our ticket to the quarterfinals.
See ya at Lantow Field on Friday night at 7 PM. They show will be as good as what you have seen every week from this special group of young men.