Patriots vs. Rocky Mountain Grizzlies, Game 1 Playoffs It was a beautiful 65 degrees and a great night for football in Cowely, Wyoming as the Patriots arrived to take on the Grizzlies in game 1 of the Wyoming State 1A Football Playoff Series. The Grizz took the opening kick deep in their own territory off a T. Davis kick. To warm things up, they tried out the Patriot defensive line with a couple of runs which went nowhere. A couple of deep ball caughts the Patriots secondary unaware and set up the games initial score with a Grizzly touchdown. The Patriots did not get down however and in fact seemed to really get fired up from that scoring drive. On Offense, the Patriots went to work behind the steady and lethal Patriot Offensive line of Wyatt Helkin, Davis Butts, Cole Ingram, Zorn Rosencrantz and Donovan Gray who with every snap seemed to get more explosive, charging off the line and blowing Grizzlies backward. Despite a vaunted Grizzly defense that was focused and set to stop the Patriot rush, that O line was cracking the Defense and Jett Materi and Dawson butts were able blast up field until Materi broke big with a juking and explosive rush to the endzone. The PAT failed. The Fired up Patriot D led by explosive linebacker Rourke McPeters stopped any hopes of a Grizzlie re-mount, and a steadily increasing pressure on the Grizzly Q staunched any hopes of another deep ball and a Grizzly punt followed the 3 and out. Despite a stacked Grizzly line with virtually no secondary, the agressive Patriot line once again detonated pockets in the Grizzly defense and behind some devastating downfield blocking from Davis Butts, McPeters, Dawson Butts, and Cole Ingram created another shifty and sweltering Materi scoring drive which went most of the length of the field. After yet another Grizzly punt, the Patriots took over and behind the Wildcat, once again took off downfield. When it looked as though the Patriot drive may have been stalled with all defenders packing the line and playing a tight run-only defense, Materi took another snap and headed for the power off tackle hole, and when the defenders were quickly filling the gaps, he pulled up and hit a wide open Hunter Woodard on quick out pass. Woodrow hauled the ball mid stride and lit the burner for a 22 yard pick up. Seemingly shocked, the Grizz continued to play tight and were torched by a Cort Ingall fly around for paydirt. On defense again, the Patriots were again surprised by a Grizzly deep ball which set up another touchdown, their last of the night. Back on Offense and behind the Wildcat formation, the Patriots set up shop with a business as usual smash mouth rushing game, steadily advancing downfield. Getting comfortable with their hyped defense again, the Grizz were caught inside anticipating the rush when Materi hit Dawson Butts on a fly route in a seam and Dawson simply left would be tacklers in the dust for another Patriot touchdown. On their next possession, the Grizz looked for his bread and butter deep ball, which was removed from his paw and stomped by a Materi interception. A few penalties stalled the Patriot drive and The Grizz took over again, this time fumbling off a crushing McPeters hit and fumble recovery. As the clock was ticking down for the half, the Patriots wasted no time advancing toward another TD. Materi found McPeters for another deceptive rush turned into a pass screen play, and with an excellent run after the catch McPeters roared into the endzone for another Patriot score, bringing the the half to a close on a stunning 34-14 Patriots lead. In the second half, The Griz backed into a more conservative defensive stance, now weary of a newly revealed Patriot Pass out of the wildcat. Despite that stance, the Patriots front five continued to blow up from the line of scrimmage and seemed advance a little every play, but the pentalty flags really started flying and two very large Patriot drives were removed from the action, and there was a brief pause in Patriot scoring in the third. The Griz was really feeling the Patriot defense stalking him...throwing him to the ground. Lane Dodd in the midst of The Griz O all night, forced and recovered a back breaking fumble again destroying any hope of an effective Griz drive. Another pic by Jett Materi and a fumble recovery by John Sullivan also punched down the Griz offense. The Patriots put their flexibility on display again in the fourth, by coming out in the “I” formation behind Payton Watt at Quarterback and John Sullivan at Full Back. The Griz giving a little more ground with each snap, was evidently growing weary of the front line pounding and violent blocks. Thomas Davis and John Sullivan each plowed their way into the endzone to cap the score at 48 for the Patriots and 14 for The Grizzlies. You know, according to the football writers at our leading statewide newspaper and internet media outlet, the Patriots were to pull off an upset only if The Grizzlies could not contain Jett Materi. First of all, this was no upset, this was a 34 point thrashing. Jett Materi did what he had to do and he did what his team expected him to do. So did Zoran Rosencrantz and Jon Sullivan. So did Davis Butts, Lane Dodd, and Wyatt Helkin. Colton Buckley, Chase Beyl and Forest Cross did what they were expected to do and what they had to do. Dawson Butts, Thomas Davis, and Donovan Gray showed up Big and did what they were expected to, and what they needed to. Forest Cross and Cort Ingalls really came to play...they were expected to, they did it. Cole Ingram and Rourke McPeters were expected to show up and tackle, run, and play football. They did that and more. The team needed one hundred percent from Jon Wise and and Hunter Woodard and they got it. Payton Watt was expected to be tough and smart...he was both and then some. Austin Hodson, Alan Baker, Jayden Dowdy, Braylan Materi, Dustin Medina,James Moberly, Luke Sullivan,Yuli Viergets,Garrhett Williams, and especially Skylar Wageman all played a part all week in preparing The Patriots to come into the Griz’s house and tear it to shreds. My point is this: The football writers who make predictions, rank teams, and really cover 4A may not realize what this TEAM is made of. This TEAM can find a way to win. This TEAM is not an individual, it is not parents who only care about their kid and his playing time...it is two towns and four coaches who found a way to win and watching this team dismantle rankings and predictions is, in my opinion, and in the true American Patriot spirit, the best that sports and high school football in particular, has to offer. The Numbers: (remember the stats presented here on the fly, added up by pumped up Dads and fans in a dark and loud bus or over post game chicken wings, and are unofficial) RUSHING Jett Materi 39 carries for 218 yds and 2 TD Dawson Butts 4 carries for 55 yds. Thomas Davis - 2 carries for 34 yds. and 1 TD Cort Ingalls 2 carries for 13 yds. and 1 TD Jon Sullivan 4 carries for 32 yds. and 1 TD PASSING Jett Materi 8 Attempts for 135 yds. and 2 TD Payton Watt 1 Attempt RECEIVING: Hunter Woodard - 48 Yds. Dawson Butts - 62 Yds. 1 TD Rourke McPeters 25 Yds. 1 TD DEFENSE - Unassisted Tackles Only Dawson Butts - 2 Jon Sullivan - 2, 1 Fumble Recovery Thomas Davis - 2 Davis Butts - 2, Numerous QB hurries and hits Cort Ingall - 1 Hunter Woodard - 2 Rourke McPeters - 2, 1 Fumble Recovery FF Jon Wise - 2 Zoran Rosencranz - 2 Lane Dodd - 2, 1 Fumble Recovery, FF Donovan Gray - 2, FF Jett Materi 2 Interceptions POSTS
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 00:38:17 +0000
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