Homecoming Parade

He always looks so presidential.

Yes, we normally just do football posts here.  But there's no Homecoming Week without football, and the Homecoming game isn't what it is without the buildup of Homecoming Week.  That school spirit makes the game that much more fun.  So there.  As always, click "read more" for the pretty pictures...

Homecoming Starts With Powder Puff

2-0

It's Homecoming Week!  Ugly sweater day.  Pep Rally.  The Parade.  Chili dump.  And, of course, Powder Puff Football.  Last year, the Juniors beat the Seniors for the first time in memory, perhaps ever.  This team was eyeing a 2-0 career and they did not disappoint.  After two thrilling halves of football, the Seniors walked (sashayed?) away with a 30-18 victory over a very talented Junior class.  Enjoy the start of Homecoming Week below the jump.

Time to Lead III

Anyone seen my agent?

There's this wonderful story about Joe Montana, the greatest quarterback ever to play the game, from Super Bowl XXIII.  The 49ers were losing to the Bengals 13-16 and got the ball back on their 8 with 3 minutes to play.  "Joe Cool" got to the huddle and noticed how tight his players were.  Then he pointed to the first row of the stands and asked his teammates "Hey, isn't that John Candy?"  (for you kids, Candy was one of the biggest comedians alive).  The rest of the guys cracked up and their tightness dissipated.  Montana led an 11 play, 92 yard TD drive to win the game with 30 seconds left.  That's leadership.  Joe Cool recognized what his team needed to succeed, and gave it to them.  The Half Man talks.  The Rock motivates.  I suspect this team needs a Joe Cool, and I can't think of anyone better than Hollywood to play the part.  Go get em', buddy.

He throws a nice ball when he has time.

Way to step up in the pocket to avoid the rush.

That, however, looks like he's throwing off his back foot.

Just because you play the matador doesn't mean they'll play matador defense.

You gotta love the Half-Man's commitment to protecting his QB... he'll even tackle defensive players!

Kinda tough when even your teammates are rushing you.

Always waggin' that finger.

Actually, he really looks more like this guy.

Time to Lead II

Sometimes, all you can do is stand there and watch it happen...

The playoffs start now.  Every game is a must-win.  How will this team respond?  The Rock had 3 sacks Friday night.  But he'll also be the first to tell you that we was pushed around like a rag doll at times.  It's put up or shut up time, gentlemen.  Let's see what you've got!

Time to Lead

Is that who I think it is?

Well, he certainly was one of the players out there who gave a damn.  We'll see how the Half-Man's leadership following the loss translates onto the field during Homecoming.  I'm betting on the Ships.

9/21 Lincoln 30 - Green Bay East 40

A three sack game, wasted.

Yikes.  The offense should have scored 20 more.  The defense should have given up 20 less points.  After giving up 4 quick, easy touchdowns in the first half, and the offense responding with 4 scoring drives, I think everyone in the building thought the team had righted the ship when they into halftime down just 26-24.  But the defense gave up two more scores after halftime and the offense could only muster one more TD.  You have to hand it to East, they were prepared and ready to play.  We were outplayed and outcoached.  But it has to sting to lose to a team that hasn't beaten you in 16 years.  Luckily, the problems the team had during the game can be fixed.  But it'll take some very dedicated players and coaches to make sure everyone's on board, and that everyone is paying attention, because this team is on the verge of doing the unthinkable: missing the playoffs.

There were, of course, some highlights: we almost ran a kick back for a TD, The Rock had 3 sacks, Hollywood threw a few nice deep balls, and J-Life continued his excellent kicking streak.  And, really, IT'S HOMECOMING WEEK!  BEST WEEK OF THE YEAR!  Only if you win, though...

We Interrupt Our Normally Scheduled Posts

Keep up the good work.

To bring you this FANTASTIC interview with Muscles.  I have a standing rule that anytime one of the players says "asses" on TV, I have to link to it.  Carry on.

Knowing When to Run

Momma looks happy.

Hollywood had the play of the game but it was called back on a completely bogus penalty.  He had his first TAINT, intercepting the ball at the 38 yard line and running it back for the score.  The refs called pass interference on the Soph, even though it was absolutely clear that #1, the Jag initiated contact #2, Cameron didn't even put his hands on the receiver and #3, the "interference" had nothing to do with the play - the ball was severely underthrown and the receiver never had a shot at the ball.  Just ridiculous.  Anyway, Nick ran for score on 4th down and, overall, started to figure out when to run it and when to throw it.  I'm getting giddy at how good this team is going to be.

Uneven Play

Does it look like he's 14 or is that just me?

The Half Man finally came across a Large Man that was almost too much to handle.  Jonah had 3 holding penalties in the first half and was heard coming to the sideline shouting "he's too big - I can't block him."  One of the many great things about this kid is he isn't afraid to ask for help.  The coaches must have listened and changed the scheme, because Jonah went off after that, piling up pancakes during the rest of the game.

His Best Game Yet

He got his good looks from his mother.  And, hopefully, his hairline.

The Rock lived in the Jags' backfield all night.  TFLs all over the place.  And he had his best night at tackle, too.  This team is going to be cresting at just the right time.

9/14 Ashwaubenon 26 - Lincoln 36

Would you want a piece of that?

We learned a lot about this group of young men during this game.  They came into the game after getting smoked one week ago, mostly because they just couldn't seem to tackle a very talented running back.  Then the game started.  And then whistles came out (more than 30 flags would hit the ground during this game, and the most critical - and bogus - would be against the Ships).  And then the defense gave up a touchdown.  And then the offense, on the next play, gave up a fumble return for a touchdown.  Thanks to a blocked PAT and missed PAT, the Ships were down 12-0.  This team could have folded.  This team could have hung their heads.  They could have said, "we're getting screwed all over this field, we can't win."  They didn't.  And it was AWESOME.  The defense gave up two more touchdowns the rest of the way (it's going to happen with this scheme - some passes will just hit and they live with that) but they forced 5 turnovers!  And the offense, oh my, got its groove back.

Between a Rock...

When he's assignment-sure, he keeps Hollywood's backside clean.  Wait, that didn't sound right.

The good: he ran down one of the fastest backs in the state and caught him 40 yards downfield.  The bad: the back was 40 yards downfield.  It was just one of those nights.  Now, we can blame it all on the defense playing with 10 players during the first half (I have it on good authority that our FS was concussed on the first play of the game and, at one point, had to ask if he was on kickoff - he had always been on kickoff, all year).  But the simple fact of the matter is that we didn't tackle well.  That won't happen again, right Rock?

Going Hollywood

Quick - guess which one is the starting quarterback?  Now guess which one is the backup quarterback?

Let's do this right here, right now.  Lefty was a dumb nickname.  My bad.  If I'm changing the Swiss Army Knife to something else, it has to be better than Lefty.  So Nick is going Hollywood.  I mean, seriously.  Have you seen this kid?  So, between that and his two interviews with Good Morning America, one as Class President, the other as quarterback, he's definitely Hollywood.

Pancake Deprivation

The Half Man was oh-so-close this week.

The Half Man played a pretty good game Friday night, all things considered.  Although the syrup went untouched.  We need to use our syrup.  I think things will be different tonight.

9/7 Green Bay Preble 49 - Lincoln 14

The highlight of the night?

42 points at halftime.  295 yards rushing by one running back.  At halftime.  I'm not quite sure how to write about getting shellacked.  It just stung to see all those fine young men getting steamrolled by a team that was more prepared, intense, and fundamentally sound.  And it happened at home.  We can't come out and play like this cat sounds.  And we won't.  Because if sports teach our youth anything, it's that you must learn from your mistakes; you are not judged when you fail - we all fail - but how you respond to that failure.  If I know anything about this team, it's that they will tackle, block, and be otherwise fundamentally sound Friday night.  And if they do that, I wouldn't want to be a Jaguar lining up across from them...

The English Won A Battle!

You didn't think I was done with this, did you?

Another solid game for the Half Man.  A sack on defense and he prevented sacks on offense.  What more do you want?  How about anchoring a line that paved the way for over 400 yards of offense?  How's that?

Toying With Them

Take one look at that pic above.  Then you'll know why this joke will never get old.

Now that was the game we were expecting.  8/13 for 181 and a TD.  Lefty added two more rushing TDs for good measure.  Nothing more to say here.  Let's move along.

Playing Within The System

The Rock is so good, he plays from his knees against inferior competition.

Part of the problem with having a defense that is assignment-oriented is that you may often be asked to do things that, quite frankly, don't take advantage of your particular skill set.  The Rock, for example, would be a superstar 4-3 DE in high school.  But when the rest of the defense is better suited for another scheme, it's great to see that player continue to play within the system for the team's success.  Austin does that every week.  On offense though... well, let's just say that he has some plays to get used to.  But when he knows what he's doing... oh dear lord, look out!

8/31 Lincoln 49 - Sheboygan North 12

It was a B.E.A.UTIFUL night for football!

Indeed.  That was the way this team should have played last week!  They had it all goin' on against North - Lefty had 180 yards passing, Muscles had around a buck fitty rushing, and the starting defense would have had a shutout had they lined up correctly on North's TD run.  That was an exemplary performance.  Let's get right to it!