First game of Flag Football season is a battle to the End!

As seems to be every year for the 9/11 year old teams their first game of the year was against each other. The Colo Nesco Colts squared off against the Colo Nesco Packers and although each team is a mix of different players from a year ago, the contest between the two teams remains the same, both teams are very competitive and challenge each other to play their best game. Like last year this one was undecided until the final gun with the Packers prevailing over the Colts by a score of 15-14. There were many outstanding plays made on both sides of the ball and the kids really played well as was evidenced by there being no penalties in the game. The Game: Colts won the toss and took the ball, 1st down - Garret Tiarks 5 yd. run up the middle, 2nd down - Tanner Clatt to Grant Tiarks pass incomplete, 3rd down - Halfback pass from Garret Tiarks to Tanner Clatt batted away by Mason Lytle, 4th down - Long pass from Tanner Clatt to Grant Tiarks good for 25 yds and a first down. 1st - Run by Garret Tiarks for no gain, 2nd - Wayne Beard makes a QB sack on Tanner Clatt for a loss of 5 yds., 3rd - Long pass to Grant Tiarks batted away on nice defensive coverage by Brady Stoeffler, 4th - Hand off to Grant Tiarks who in turn handed off to Garret Tiarks on end around who just overthrew Tanner Clatt behind defense. Turn over on downs; 1st down for the Packers - Handoff to Wayne Beard around end stopped by Garrett Packer for no gain, 2nd - Brady Stoeffler carried for a gain of 5 yds., 3rd - Pass to Parker Eley was incomplete, 4th - Handoff to Brady Stoeffler on end around was deflected by Garrett Packer and ball hit ground for dead ball, turnover on downs, Colts Ball 1st - QB sack by Wayne Beard, 2nd - QB sack by Parker Eley for Safety Packers lead 2-0, Packers ball - 1st - Brady Stoeffler run for 4 yds., Matthew Hill with the stop, 2nd - Incomplete pass, 3rd - Fumbled snap, dead ball, 4th - Snap hit motion receiver and fell to ground, turnover on downs; Colts Ball 1st -Tanner Clatt to Garret Tiarks slipped through fingertips, 2nd - Tanner Clatt to Grant Tiarks behind defense for 45 yds. and TD, Colts lead 6-2, PAT failed; Packers Ball 1st - Mason Lytle on run gains 8 yds., Garrett Packer with stop, 2nd - Wayne Beard gains 5 yds, Matthew Hill with stop, 3rd - Incomplete long pass, 4th - Brady Stoeffler gains 4 yds. slipped on wet grass, turnover on downs; Halftime Score Colts - 6 Packers - 2; 2nd half Packers Ball 1st - Brady Stoeffler on carry for 3 yds., Grant Tiarks with stop, 2nd - Wayne Beard carry for no gain Garret Tiarks with stop, 3rd - Interception by Grant Tiarks and returned 10 yds. stopped by Brady Stoeffler. Colts Ball - 1st - Jacob Clatt on carry for no gain, 2nd - Brady Stoeffler intercepted pass and returned 25 yds deep into Colts territory, 1st - Mason Lytle with short gain stopped by Spencer Short, 2nd - Parker Eley on a reverse for a gain of 5 yds. stopped by Austin Johannes, 3rd - Hunter Beard on long pass found Brady Stoeffler in the back of the endzone for a 15 yd TD, Packers regain lead 8-6, Same combination, pass from Beard to Stoeffler for PAT , score 9-6, Colts Ball - 1st - Tyler Anthony on good fake and run for 6 yds. stopped by Brady Stoeffler, 2nd - Garret Tiarks halfback pass intended for Tyler Anthony broken up by Brady Stoeffler, 3rd - Pass incomplete, 4th - pass from Grant Tiarks to Jacob Clatt deflected and intercepted by Brady Stoeffler, could not advance as only 1 interception can be returned per half per team; Packers Ball - 1st - Mason Lytle on 15 yd gain weaving through Colts defense finally stopped by Tanner Clatt, 2nd - Grant Tiarks stopped Parker Eley for short gain after Grant had gotten knocked to ground in an incidental collision and scrambled back to feet to make play., 3rd - Hunter Beard found Brady Stoeffler for a 10 yd. TD, Packers 15-6, PAT failed but an outstanding effort by Parker Eley to tie up Tanner Clatt who looked to have an interception but Eley lept and stretched, getting his hands on the ball simultaneously and didn't let go until both players came down and hit the ground.; Colts Ball - 1st - Incomplete Pass, 2nd - Tanner Clatt pass to Grant Tiarks for 25 yds. stopped by Brady Stoeffler, 1st - Garrett Packer with run for short gain stopped by Markus Bothwell, 2nd - Grant Tiarks with catch on short pass and good run to 3 yd line, 3rd - Tanner Clatt hit a wide open younger brother, Jacob Clatt, for the TD, score 15-12 Packers, PAT failed on a sack by Wayne Beard. Packers ball with less than 2 minutes remaining - 1st - 30 second play clock almost expired but timeout called by Packers, repeat 1st down - Brady Stoeffler just gets rid of pass as Garret Tiarks goes for sack in endzone, complete to Wayne Beard who is stopped immediately by Grant Tiarks for no gain, Timeout Colts, 2nd - Garret Tiarks pulls flag of Hunter Beard at goal line, ball marked on 1 foot line, 3rd - Brady Stoeffler scrambles and throws ball away to avoid sack and to attempt to run clock out. Timeout Colts , enough time for one more play. 4th - Handoff to Wayne Beard is bobbled and pops out and bounces into Garret Tiarks' surprised hands, he bobbles and tips ball up but his diving attempt to catch before it hits the ground is just short, dead ball in end zone, safety, score 15-14. Packers WIN! This was a well played game by both teams and was a lot of fun to watch and coach. Players on both sides shook hands, told each other great game and realized they could all go back to being Colo Nesco again and no longer be opposing teams. The Packers play again next Tuesday and look to continue the momentum of their win. The Colts have a bye week next week but will be back in action on September 30th.