Interested Football Players Currently in Grades 5-11 Should Attend the Spring Practice Meeting
Students currently in grades 5-11 that are interested in playing football this spring are invited to come out to our Spring Practice Meeting on Monday, April 27th. The meeting will begin in the Sports Center @ 3:45pm. Please bring athletic wear to the meeting. We look forward to seeing you there!
Saturday, October 25th, 2008
“We are the Champions”
By Coach Mike Kahn…
University School Suns - 8
Calvary Christian Eagles - 0
On Saturday October 25th the 6th Grade Suns battled the Calvary Christian Eagles for the right to call themselves the 6th grade Tri-County Champions. Under the lights of Benjamin High School field in West Palm Beach, the 18 Suns athletes faced an Eagle team with an intimidating roster of over 40 players. The Eagles’ strategy of keeping their players well rested was not enough to stop the Suns from claiming their destiny.
David Branse who was injured a few weeks earlier and not able to play helped motivate the players by assuming the role of captain for the most important game of the year.
The offense was lead by quarterback Brett Kean who not only can run and throw but, has also developed a great understanding of the game. On many occasions throughout the year, Brett was able to turn an eminent sack into a completed pass and this game was no different. Brett ‘stiff-armed’ a defensive tackle and eluded two more players in the backfield before completing a nine-yard pass to Brett Kahn to keep the drive alive. In the third quarter, Kean completed a 30-yard pass to Kahn which brought the Suns to the Eagles’ 20-yard line and set the stage for the only score of the game.
The Eagle defense did not have an answer for the Suns’ running combination of wingback Blaine Preston and fullback Tyler Sabine and the blocking of wingback Ben Churba. When Sabine wasn’t running the ball up the middle on a ‘Wedge’ play, he was blocking with Churba for Preston on a ‘Super Power’. Preston’s speed and aggressiveness lead to him being the leading rusher for almost every game of the season. By halftime, it was obvious that the ‘Super Power’ was the most productive Suns play and it brought the team to the Eagles’ one-yard line in the third quarter. Sabine followed the blocks of Jonathan “Johnny G” Gallego, Raul “Ricky Bobby” Mendy, Julian Cabrera, Cole Bianco, Matt Rapp and Brett Kahn in for the only touchdown of the game. The two-point conversion was scored by Blaine Preston on a ‘Super Power Right’.
A smothering defense that allowed only one touchdown over the entire seven-game season was challenged by a well organized Eagles offense. Cornerbacks Nathan Osborn and Marc Spier kept the passing game in check while the defense was anchored by Jared Alexander at nose guard and Alexander Lieberman and Brett Martin at tackle. Martin sacked the quarterback in the first half on a very important play.
In the fourth quarter, the Suns had the lead but, were backed against the ropes by the power running of the Eagles tailback who was bigger than anyone on the Suns’ team. The Eagles were in the ‘Red Zone’ when they attempted a pass on second down that was rejected by Matt Rapp as it left the hand of the quarterback. On third down, the Eagles attempted a reverse that resulted in a loss of six yards after Matt Rapp tackled the runner in the backfield. On fourth down, with five minutes remaining in the game, the Eagles needed 20 yards to keep the drive alive. They gave the ball to their barreling tailback and he seemed to be off to the races and a first down when Adam Tabatchnick made what may have been a game saving tackle.
With only a few minutes left, the Suns needed to move the ball down the field but the Eagles defense was ready. The Suns’ running game was stifled by the Eagles who had nine players on the line of scrimmage in order to stop the running game. After two unsuccessful running plays, Kean dropped back to pass while being chased by the entire defensive line. Kean threw a well-timed screen pass to Sabine who broke three tackles and ran 70 yards for what appeared to be a game ending touchdown until a questionable penalty flag was spotted at the Eagles’ 20 yard line. Sabine was injured on the play and was replaced at the fullback position by Matt Rapp. The offensive line, with second-half addition of Max “Mad Max of Thunder Dome” Angel, knew that it was time to run the Wedge. Rapp ran the ‘Wedge’ play five times in a row and dragged defenders down the field to help keep the clock moving and the Eagles’ offense on the sidelines. The Eagles regained possession of the ball with less than a minute remaining and no time outs. After a few plays, it was over and the Suns’ undefeated season was complete.
What started in March as an informational meeting for 5th grade boys “interested” in football ended with 18 young men realizing that good things do come from hard work, determination and dedication.