2005 Crickets Championships

Sequoyah Conference Championship Game November 19th">

2005 Crickets Championships Sequoyah Conference Championship Game November 19th, 2005 #2 Loudon Crickets (9-1) vs #1 Riceville Wildcats (10-0) Article by Jeff McQueen Photos by Jammie Graves 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final Loudon Crickets 8 0 0 0 8 Riceville Wildcats 6 0 0 0 6 In their only loss of the season, your Loudon Crickets were defeated by the Riceville Wildcats with a score of 30-0 in week #5. The Crickets are out to avenge that loss and claim the Championship for their own! The Wildcats have had an exceptional season; their 10-0 record and #1 ranking is a testament to that. Riceville has lived on big plays all season, their go to guy on offense is #22 Raheen Ellison, this speedster likes to get out on the edge and run. Can your Crickets pull the upset? Can the Cricket “D” contain Ellison? Let’s kick-off and find out. The Cricket Captains were #50 Noah “The Hammer” Hughes, #59 Joshua “The Bull” Silvey (of the Silvey Mafia), #73 Richie “The Hulk” Trout, and #98 Cole Fritts. The Crickets won the coin toss and wanted the ball. The Crickets took the ball on the 35 yard line and never looked back. Embarking on a 16 play drive that saw QB #26 Dylan “Pickle” Russell carry the ball on every play except for one; the climax was a one yard dive by #88 Jacob Crabtree! Touchdown Loudon Crickets! The ‘Cats were off sides on the conversion attempt, so from the 1 1/2 yard line “Pickle” Russell makes it good. Drawing first blood, the score is 8-0 your Loudon Crickets. So far, so good, now let’s see what the defense can do. The Riceville offense was up next, they also took the field on the 35 yard line. On the first play, #44 Colton Brown made the tackle for no gain. The second play was a pitch to #22 Raheen Ellison. True to form, all the Cricket defense saw were the bottoms of his cleats! Touchdown Wildcats, a 65 yarder. And now for the ever important extra points. Rising to the occasion, Crabtree and #59 Joshua “The Bull” Silvey (of the Silvey Mafia) sealed the goal line thwarting the ‘Cat attempt! The time expired in the first quarter with the score 8-6, Loudon Crickets. To start the 2nd period, the Cricket offense was again led by a heavy dose of “Pickle” with Crabtree thrown in for a change of pace. Seven plays later the drive stalled out on the Riceville 36 yard line. Although no points were put on the board, two things were accomplished: #1 it ate up a lot of clock, and #2 kept Ellison and Co. off the field. With the ‘Cats back on offense, it was paramount to protect our slim two point advantage. The Cricket “D” was up to the task at hand and forced Rice three and out! After the punt, Loudon was back in business on their own 35 yard line with 2:29 left in the first half. “Pickle right, “Pickle” left, and “Pickle” up the middle. But mostly “Pickle” up the middle running behind the center #8 Ben Johnson (of Team Johnson) and linemen #61 Cody Townson and “The Bull” Silvey. #22 Jesse Smallen ran the counter, which was good for three yards and another first down. The Crickets reeled off a total of 10 plays overcoming a holding penalty along the way. As time expired, Loudon was knocking on the door from the Riceville 27 yard line. At the intermission, the score is still 8-6, Loudon Crickets. The 3rd quarter was down right boring, unless you like stingy defense. Riceville punted, then Loudon, and then Riceville punted…again. However, when the Crickets got the ball back it was on the 44 yard line, with 1:13 left in the third. After all that pounding up the middle, the outside softened up a bit. Crabtree was sent wide on four straight plays earning 17 yards and a first down. Now playing on Riceville’s side of the 50 yard line and in the 4th stanza, controlling the football also controlled the game. Stretched to fourth down and 11 due to a holding penalty, “No Play” got five of those yards back. Smallen was again called upon, as the counter was good for four yards. It was close, the Officials brought out the chains for a measurement, and it was good with half the football to spare. First and 10, Loudon Crickets! Three plays later, faced with another fourth down, Crabtree was tackled for a one yard loss, turning the ball over on downs on the 25 yard line. The ‘Cats now have a chance to win. With 2:59 left in the game and 75 yards to go, it’s anyone’s ball game. Ellison rips off two runs for 34 yards, up to the Loudon 41 yard line. But on the next play, the football squirts free, pouncing on that loose pig skin is none other than Jacob Crabtree! From victory formation on the 41 yard line, “Pickle” Russell takes a knee twice as the last 53 seconds tick off the clock. In a sensational upset, the #2 Crickets check mate the Riceville Wildcats to the tune of 8-6 and claim the Sequoyah Conference Championship!!! The MVP Offensive Player of the game was presented to #26 Dylan “Pickle” Russell who rushed 36 times for 136.5 yards, while the MVP Defensive Player of the game was awarded to #88 Jacob Crabtree who had five tackles and recovered a strategic fumble. Total offense was 173.5 yards on 46 rushing attempts for one touchdown and one 2-point conversion. The Crickets (10-1) earn a big victory 8-6 and claim the Championship Trophy! Congratulations to the Cricket Football Players, Head Coach Scott Newman, and Assistant Coaches Jesse Taylor, Ricky Sutton, Tommy Clemmer, Josh Wilkerson, Chris Smallen, Michael Russell, Daniel Rodgers, and Matthew Brooks on your season of excellence! Special thanks to Team Mom Mrs. Susan Crabtree for the goody bags after the game. Oh, by the way Coach Newman, I’ll have my RED lipstick on at the Banquet so you can make good on your promise… Stats: 1st Downs: 12 Fumbles: 1, lost 0 Penalties: 5 for -30 yards #26 Dylan “Pickle” Russell: (36) carries for 136.5 yds, (1) 2-pt. conv, and (6) tackles #88 Jacob Crabtree: (8) carries for 30 yds, (1) TD, (5) tackles, and (1) fumble recovery #22 Jesse Smallen: (2) carries for 7 yds and (2) tackles #23 Isaiah “The Tomahawk” Lowe: (2) tackles and (1) tackle for a -7 yd loss #44 Colton Brown: (5) tackles #41 Nate “The Great” Rohen: (2) tackles #6 Layne Parks: (2) tackles #61 Cody Townson: (3) tackles #50 Noah “The Hammer” Hughes: (2) tackles #59 Joshua “The Bull” Silvey (of the Silvey Mafia): (3) tackles #73 Richie “The Hulk” Trout: (2) tackles