Younger guys stepped up, veteran players executed, and the Montezuma Braves rolled to a 68-42 win at Southeast Warren in their season-opening eight-man football game in Lacona on Friday, Aug. 23.
The varsity Braves had their bye week on Aug. 29, although the junior varsity played at Tri-County.
“I kind of like the break,” said Braves coach Pat O’Brien, who is preparing his troops for Colo-Nesco’s invasion on Friday, Sept. 6.
“It allows our junior varsity kids to take the spotlight for a while and allows the varsity kids to have a great appreciation for the JV kids and what they do to help our program succeed.”
It also gives Montezuma more time to further learn their new blocking and tackling techniques.
“The new blocking scheme is amazing!” O’Brien said. “Coach (Cal) Smith did a great job implementing what we want and has these guys ready!”
“Against Southeast Warren, I thought our pace was good and we did a great job of running to the ball,” O’Brien said.
“The tackling system is helping a lot, too,” said the coach. “The kids really like it and have done a great job of hawk tackling.”
“Hawk” tackling is a relatively new system designed to help reduce the number of head injuries in football.
Basically invented by staff on the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League – and used by them – it depends on rugby-style of bringing down ballcarriers.
The traditional way to tackle includes putting your head in front of the ballcarrier.
Rugby players don’t wear helmets, so they’ve learned to put their heads out to the side.
Hawk tackling involves tracking near the hip, maintaining leverage, hitting the thighs of the ballcarrier, wrapping up, then driving – for up to five steps, if need be.
“To begin the game (Southeast Warren) ran the ball at us and we had too many missed assignments,” O’Brien said. “But our defense played a lot better in the second half, mainly in the third quarter.”
“Our plan is to iron out those missed assignments so that we are ready for Colo-Nesco,” said the coach.
“I was pleased with how our younger guys stepped up and spelled our starters,” O’Brien said. “They did a great job of filling in when we needed them to, and knowing their roles.”
“I also thought our blocking down field was tremendous!” O’Brien said. “It allowed for us to open up for big plays.”
Colo-Nesco lost 60-14 to HLV the same night the Braves were beating Southeast Warren. Central City beat Colo-Nesco 49-6 on Friday evening, Aug. 30.
Against HLV, senior running back Francis Bowler (6-1, 205) gained 88 yards on 20 rushes and scored one touchdown.
Quarterback Brandon Roberts (5-5, 145) was three-for-12 through the air for 48 yards.
Sophomore Andrew Grover (5-6, 145) was in on 10 tackles.
Colo-Nesco lists two seniors, five juniors, nine sophomores and seven freshmen on its roster.
JVS OPENED AT HOME – Montezuma’s junior varsity team opened its season Aug. 26 at Badger-Gabriel Field, and suffered a 61-14 loss to WACO. Braves fans got to see the new lighting system at Badger-Gabriel for the first time.
JV’s LOSE AT T-C – The junior varsity team lost 68-42 at Tri-County on Friday evening, Aug. 30.
THE COACHES – for the Braves are Pat O’Brien (head) and Jake Hasley, Josh Kriegel, Cal Smith, John Beck, Partner Maschmann and Tim Burgess.
UP NEXT – Montezuma hosts Colo-Nesco Friday night, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m.