Middle School Football is back, and ready to create more memorable moments on the field. Yet before moments can be etched in stone they must begin the process of chiseling bit by bit. And one of the areas the chiseling process takes place is at the jamboree.
Oceanway versus Mandarin
Mandarin returns from last season focused on finishing the season on top. After making it to the playoffs in 2014, one would assume that 2015 would be a year for unfinished business for the Hawks. But Mandarin only returned three starters and Head Coach Gilbert Fennell knows last year is a thing of the past. ” Middle school is like starting over. We only have three starters returning from last year, but each year our goal is the same, to win the championship.” They got off to a great start on Wednesday as they’re starting unit scored seven points and held Oceanway to zero points in just a half of play. The Hawks ran the ball effectively with Al Schwenke, but got a spectacular play from their starting wide receiver who caught a deep pass down the right sideline , setting up the hard nosed run from their eighth grade running back Ty Jackson.
Oceanway was looking to improve on last year’s finish and feel like they have an opportunity to do so. The Buccaneers were focused on running the ball in the jamboree but failed to find the running room against the Hawks defense. The Buccaneers failed to cross mid-field on offense and gave up a very big play on defense, leaving Coach Jimenez petitioning his team for effort at half time. ” You can’t stop running, you’ve got to run in this game! Now it’s time for the backups to earn a spot, because we have a few spots that are up for grabs right now”. Fortunately for the Bucs, this exhibition was just for preparation and did not count against their record. This leaves time for them to shore up the areas that were lacking in this game. And with Coach Jimenez’s long coaching history, rest assured he has the experience to be able to get the team clicking really soon.
