Brett's Football, Playoffs

As I said in my previous blog, we started the playoffs as the top seed in the Cotton Bowl Bracket which put us in a good position to go to the Cotton Bowl. Our first game was against the Rosenberg Roughnecks on November 15th. The Packers were in top form going into this game as they improved throughout the season.

Here we have the offense moving the ball forward. Brett is number 73 on the offensive line.

The offense moving the ball.

Brett making his block so well the kid fell down and the running back is making it through the hole he left.

Brett also played on the defensive line this game. Here he is getting into the backfield.

Brett doing some more defense and getting into the backfield.

Brett breaking through the line with his eye on the Roughneck running back.

Brett in pursuit. The Packers won their first Playoff Game 24-6. The Packers could have run-up the score further but instead they let all the kids play in positions they do not normally play. Although I was not able to get a picture of it, Brett ran the ball as a fullback once for a 5-yard gain.

On November 22nd the Packers played their 2nd game against the Pecan Grove Hurricanes. This was our second meeting agaist a former coach and team mate and it went even better this time. The Packer scored on every offensive possesion. The Hurricanes could not stop them.

Mason breaking throught the line for a huge gain. It was one of many great runs.

Here we have another great run by the Packers.

The offensive line doing their job.

Brett making his block.

In this game Brett played some defense as well. Here he is in hot persuit of their running back. Number 75 gave them some trouble and he is a super running back.

Brett getting into the backfield.

The Packers swarming a Hurricane. The Packers won this game 38-13 which sent them to the Cotton Bowl! What a turnaround from last season!

After taking a break for Thanksgiving, Brett played in the Cotton Bowl on December 6th.

The Packers breaking through the banner at the start of the game. We were excited to be there, but the flu took a huge toll on the team. Several key players missed practice the week before due to illness and were not at 100%, but the quarterback was sick at home and could not make it to the game. We knew it would be an uphill battle without him.

We faced off against the West Side Panthers. In the regular season the Packers beat them 19-12. It was a close game when the team was healthy.

Brett going out to make his block.

The offense trying to get the ball moving forward. Unfortunately, they had little success without their quarterback. Mason did a good job filling in, but that left the Packers without a big fullback to block and run the ball. The offense was off all game.

Brett making a block.

In this picture you can see the missed snap as the ball flies up in the air. Losing the quarterback was really felt. The defense did not do much better as the Packers lost in the Cotton Bowl 0 to 28. After the previous wins this was a tough loss, but we were grateful to make it to the cotton bowl.

Brett receiving his trophy after the game. What a great season!

The kids enjoying a treat after the game. Despite the loss the mood was upbeat. On a different day with a healthy team the outcome may have been different, but the team made huge improvements over last season and it was a fun year. Hurricane Ike also made it a very long season and we were all happy that football was over.

Brett's Football - Regular Season

Last year I tried to post on every game, but this season life got too complicated and so we are going to go through the regular season in one post and then I will cover the post-season play in another post. This year went much better for Brett's team so there is a post-season to talk about.

I will admit up front that I am going to have many more pictures of football than I do of soccer and there is a reason for it. First of all, competitive football is much more interesting than YMCA anything. The YMCA does not even keep score (although the kids do) much less track wins and losses. That takes a major part of interest out of the game. In addition, the YMCA is the sports socialism: everyone plays the same amount regardless of ability or desire, everyone makes the team and at the end of the year everyone gets the same trophy. As a result the desire to win is lost and it gets a little bit boring. The Greatwood Packers, in contrast, are in a competitive league and the kids have to make the team. Just because some kids parents want them to be on the team does not mean they will make it. In addition, it requires a much larger financial commitment which makes those that are there actually want to be there. It is a whole different thing and so there is more to blog about. In addition, I am much more interested in football than I will ever be in soccer. Therefore, there will be a few more pictures and information about football than what I did for soccer.

The first game of the season was on September 16th against the Sienna Plantation Stallions. Brett was able to participate in the coin toss at the beginning of the game. Brett is #73, which was my number when I played high school football. Brett is much better than I ever was.

Some blocking action. Unfortunately, the first game looked like it was going to be a repeat of last year. The Packers lost 0-22 although they made a valiant effort. So we started out the season 0 wins, 1 loss.

We had a 2 week break from football thanks to Hurricane Ike. When we got back into action we played the West Side Panthers. Here we have Brett making a block for one of the running backs.

Brett on the sidelines with Coach Corky, the offensive line coach. We really like him and he is a great coach.

One of the running backs making it around the line corner for a huge gain. This game the offense really got it together and scored early. The two weeks off seemed to make a huge difference.

Brett making a block. The Packers won this game 19-12 and they led the entire time. The two week off for the Hurricane seemed to make a huge difference. They really had their offense together and played well. That game brought us to 1 win, 1 loss.

The next game was on October 4th and Grandma and Grandpa Sorensen came to see us. It was also Homecoming which last year was a really big deal. This year it was not as big of a deal but it was fun. Here is Grandpa, Lori, Grandma, Ryan and Jared waiting for the other game to finish.

Last year they had a photographer take our picture as part of the introductions, but this year they did not. I had to step out and take a picture and I did not do as good of a job. Here is everyone before the game, with Ryan hiding behind Brett.

We played the Sugar Land Cowboys this game. Here we have a passing play with Brett doing some blocking.

Another pass play against the Cowboys. This game did not go very well but at least the offense was able to score. The Packers lost 6-31. That brought their record to 1 win, 2 losses.

On October 11th we played the New Territory Patriots. Here we have one of the plays going where we gained yards regularly. The offense really had it together this game.

Brett making a block.

Brett on a kick-off return play. They only kicked-off once, at half-time, because they never scored. The Packers beat the Patriots 33-0. This brought our record to 2 wins, 2 losses. If it would have ended there, it would have been a better season than we had last year.

On October 18th we played the Pecan Grove Hurricanes. One of Brett's former coaches and teammates left the Packers and went to the Hurricanes and our understanding was because they wanted to play on a winning team. I really wanted to see them win this game because after winning one game last year Brett was a bit discouraged but we told him it is better to stick with your team than to go looking for something that might be better. I also think it is better to start and play for a team that may not be the best but you get the chance to play and develop your skills, especially at this age. So, we had the chance to face-off against one of his former coaches (who was coaching for the Hurricanes this year) and one of his former team mates.

Brett making his block.

This is a great picture of Brett making his block as the running back looks for the hole.

Brett taking care of business.

Coach Corky giving the kids a pep-talk during a time-out.

The offensive line taking care of business.

The offensive line took make their blocks all day and the yardage kept adding-up.

Brett making his block. This was a great game and the Packers won it 20-0. This brought our record to 3 wins, 2 losses. It was really sweet win and it showed Brett that sticking with his team was a good thing. Those who went shopping around got beat badly by their former team.

On October 25th the Packers played the New Territory Knights. This is one of the best teams in the league for this age group and they were up against some very tough competition. This was the day after I had my knee surgery but I hobbled to the game on crutches because I did not want to miss this one and I did not have to walk far to get to the stadium. I missed the soccer games that Saturday because their fields require too much walking. Lori had to drop Brett off early so she checked things out before I made the decision on whether or not I could attend. Lori is took all these pictures.

The offensive line doing what they can to hold the Knights.

Brett is making his block.

The Packers played a tough game but they lost this one 7-26. This brought their record to 3 wins, 3 losses.

The next game was against the Sugar Land Broncos on Nov. 1st. Lori had a Relief Society Enrichment Activity so I was on my own that day with two soccer games and the football game. It was a good thing I was released to drive after my knee surgery the prior day. I also got rid of the crutches that day, so I was more mobile.

Coming back to the huddle.

Brett making his block. The Packers won this game 13-0 bringing their record for the season to 4 wins, 3 losses.

On November 8th we played the Raiders in the final regular season game. The Raiders are a tough team and this was a tough game.

Brett doing what he can to make his block.

The offense ready to snap the ball.

Working to try and move the ball.

The way the brackets going into the play-offs works is the top half of the teams from the regular season go into one bracket with the potential to go to the Super Bowl or the Lone Star Bowl (Consolation prize). The teams at the bottom half at the end of the regular season go into a bracket where the final game is the Cotton Bowl. If the Packers would have won this game they would have been one of the bottom teams in the top bracket. They lost this game, 0-29, but we were not too broken-up about it because that put the Packers as the number 1 seed in the lower bracket giving them a really good chance of going to the Cotton Bowl. The regular season record was 4 wins and 4 losses, which was a much better season than we had last year.