I took in my first Austin High School football game Friday night. The Packers played a decent game but eventually fell to Big Nine opponent Mankato East 24-13. It was homecoming week for the Packers, who are still winless on the season, and the defeat was a crushing blow in the last couple plays of the game.
With 1:37 left in the game, East led 18-13. To their credit, the Packers marched down the field, picking up some big first downs to find the red zone. The Packers failed to convert in the endzone on fourth and 13, appearing to end their chances. But a roughing the passer penalty on East gave Austin a new set of downs.
Packer quarterback Sean Coffey tried multiple times to put a pass in the endzone in the hands of a receiver. On the final play of the game, Coffey was looking to connect with wide receiver Zach Wessels. The pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown as time expired.
Wessels was slow to get up, dejected for being oh-so-close to giving his team a homecoming win.
It wasn't a bad game for the Packers, considering they're now 0-4. This might have been their best shot at a victory all season.
After a scoreless first quarter, East ran in for a touchdown with four minutes left in the half. A failed extra-point attempt left the score at 6-0. Then the Cougars kicked a field goal with 24.2 ticks remaining in the first half, making the halftime score 9-0, still within reach for the Packers.
But it was the Packers who struck first in the second half. They had two receivers wide open for a touchdown reception, narrowing East's lead to 9-7. Later in the third quarter, the Packers defense came up big on third-and-goal as they stopped the Cougars in their tracks, making them settle for a field goal and a 12-7 lead.
Austin answered with a touchdown late in the game on a lucky play with a tipped pass that ended up in the hands of a Packer. They decided to go for two, but the failed conversion left the score at 13-12, the only lead of the game for Austin.
There was too much time left though because, despite Austin intercepting East, the Cougars were able to come up with a touchdown on another possession. It gave them that 18-13 edge leading up to the final drive of the game.
Even though the Packers lost, it was still a good game to mark my first one in Austin. I was itching to go to a high school football game, and I wasn't disappointed.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Sheppard, Delmon out of Minnesota sports
In recent weeks, or days, two players who I never really cared for in Minnesota sports are no longer a part of Minnesota sports teams. They would be James Sheppard (Wild) and Delmon Young (Twins).
As the ninth pick overall in 2006, Shep was the pet project of former General Manager Doug Risebrough. This young kid has not spent a game in the minors, which is really too bad for his sake. Riser promised a superstar-caliber player. Instead, he looked flat and clueless on the ice.
The Wild and the Sharks have made a few deals during this offseason, which isn't something you see all the time. It really doesn't matter though. What's important is that Shep can go be below-average somewhere else.
Well, we waited and waited, but stardom didn't happen. The only reprieve I gave him was at the start of the season last year when he showed up a few pounds lighter, looking fit and ready to play. He did much better offensively last season, so I came around a little for him.
Fast forward to this year and those pounds seemed to have come back. He is a staple in left field, where he looks more uncomfortable than a fat kid in a health-food store. It had become automatic to cringe each time a ball was hit in his direction. His fielding style can be quite awkward.
Need proof? Just think back to when he twisted his ankle earlier this season. That's a pretty odd way to go into the wall and try to play a baseball, don't you think?
Of course, during his first game with the Tigers, playing against the Twins, Young hits a homer. That just figures. But I'd rather have him on the opposing team now. And since he's still in the division, the Twins will see him enough that they can all try and hit some balls Young's way. Then he can do what he does best, look awkward and uncomfortable while trying to make a play.
Hallelujah! No more Shep
I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw on Twitter that Sheppard had been dealt to the San Jose Sharks for a third-round draft pick in 2013. I was so excited that a) he was gone, and b) the Wild actually got something for him in return.
As the ninth pick overall in 2006, Shep was the pet project of former General Manager Doug Risebrough. This young kid has not spent a game in the minors, which is really too bad for his sake. Riser promised a superstar-caliber player. Instead, he looked flat and clueless on the ice.
The Wild and the Sharks have made a few deals during this offseason, which isn't something you see all the time. It really doesn't matter though. What's important is that Shep can go be below-average somewhere else.
No more Delmon either, at least not for the Twins
Bumbling outfielder Young was also just sent to the Detroit Tigers. It worked out well; he got off the Twins bus and walked into the Tiger locker room at Comerica Park instead of the visiting locker room.
Well, we waited and waited, but stardom didn't happen. The only reprieve I gave him was at the start of the season last year when he showed up a few pounds lighter, looking fit and ready to play. He did much better offensively last season, so I came around a little for him.
Fast forward to this year and those pounds seemed to have come back. He is a staple in left field, where he looks more uncomfortable than a fat kid in a health-food store. It had become automatic to cringe each time a ball was hit in his direction. His fielding style can be quite awkward.
Need proof? Just think back to when he twisted his ankle earlier this season. That's a pretty odd way to go into the wall and try to play a baseball, don't you think?
Of course, during his first game with the Tigers, playing against the Twins, Young hits a homer. That just figures. But I'd rather have him on the opposing team now. And since he's still in the division, the Twins will see him enough that they can all try and hit some balls Young's way. Then he can do what he does best, look awkward and uncomfortable while trying to make a play.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Twins keeping quiet at deadline is a good thing
The trade deadline passes and the Twins do nothing. I actually don't mind at all. There were rumors last Friday that Denard Span might be trade bait.
All-Star Michael Cuddyer has been tearing it up this year at the plate and at various positions in the field. (How many of you flipped back over to the 20-6 debacle in Texas, just to see Cuddy throw some pitches?) He's still here too, for now. I don't want to lose him to free agency either.
A quiet trade deadline for the Twins was a good trade deadline, in my opinion. When everyone's healthy, the Twins have a lot of extra outfield help. But that's a better problem to have than trying to call up lots of AAA bodies.
Keep Span around awhile
Giving away Span with the hopes of Ben Revere stepping right in as his replacement might not have been the smartest idea either. So I'm glad Bill Smith didn't try it. While I like the spark Revere brings to the team, it's no secret that he needs to work on his fielding game, specifically throwing.
When I say it's no secret, that's really true. All of the Twins' opponents have caught on to Revere's weak arm, so opposing players will constantly run the bases when the ball is hit in his direction.
Staying put is a good thing
I'm glad the Twins didn't succeed in making a deal for a division run or a playoff run. Maybe they wanted to, but the bottom line being that they didn't is a good thing. Why? Because I still don't see this team winning the division, much less getting anywhere in the playoffs. (Although, history could tell us that last part.)
There's always waivers in August though, so we'll see what happens.
Broken record?
Inconsistencies are still abundant for this team. Nick Blackburn started the embarrassment that was the 20-6 game against the Rangers, and he wasn't entirely turned around in this next start either. Starting pitching hasn't been on the ball lately.
The Twins have historically been a second-half team. Well, July is over with, meaning there are two months of regular-season baseball to play. I haven't seen anything to indicate a surge yet. Not to mention that some of those comeback years, most notably in 2003 when the Twins acquired Shannon Stewart at the deadline, the Twins were propelled along by a key player.
Maybe I'm sounding like a broken record regarding the Twins not winning the division this year. Maybe I need to jump on a new point. Or maybe the Twins could go on a huge winning streak and give me something exciting to write about.
We'll see.
All-Star Michael Cuddyer has been tearing it up this year at the plate and at various positions in the field. (How many of you flipped back over to the 20-6 debacle in Texas, just to see Cuddy throw some pitches?) He's still here too, for now. I don't want to lose him to free agency either.
A quiet trade deadline for the Twins was a good trade deadline, in my opinion. When everyone's healthy, the Twins have a lot of extra outfield help. But that's a better problem to have than trying to call up lots of AAA bodies.
Keep Span around awhile
Giving away Span with the hopes of Ben Revere stepping right in as his replacement might not have been the smartest idea either. So I'm glad Bill Smith didn't try it. While I like the spark Revere brings to the team, it's no secret that he needs to work on his fielding game, specifically throwing.
When I say it's no secret, that's really true. All of the Twins' opponents have caught on to Revere's weak arm, so opposing players will constantly run the bases when the ball is hit in his direction.
Staying put is a good thing
I'm glad the Twins didn't succeed in making a deal for a division run or a playoff run. Maybe they wanted to, but the bottom line being that they didn't is a good thing. Why? Because I still don't see this team winning the division, much less getting anywhere in the playoffs. (Although, history could tell us that last part.)
There's always waivers in August though, so we'll see what happens.
Broken record?
Inconsistencies are still abundant for this team. Nick Blackburn started the embarrassment that was the 20-6 game against the Rangers, and he wasn't entirely turned around in this next start either. Starting pitching hasn't been on the ball lately.
The Twins have historically been a second-half team. Well, July is over with, meaning there are two months of regular-season baseball to play. I haven't seen anything to indicate a surge yet. Not to mention that some of those comeback years, most notably in 2003 when the Twins acquired Shannon Stewart at the deadline, the Twins were propelled along by a key player.
Maybe I'm sounding like a broken record regarding the Twins not winning the division this year. Maybe I need to jump on a new point. Or maybe the Twins could go on a huge winning streak and give me something exciting to write about.
We'll see.
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