Colts end season 3-1 with Victory over Vikings 21-7

The Colo Nesco Colts finished their season with a 3-1 record and in second place in the league with their only loss (by one point) coming to their classmates on the Colo Nesco Packers, who finished in first place. It was an impressive year for the Colo Nesco Flag Footballers as both teams dominated in league play and faced their toughest competition when playing each other. While most teams in the league tend to run 3 out of 4 downs the Colts were a pass oriented team who threw on almost every down, mixing in an occasional run to keep defenses honest. Comments from opposing coaches over the year were amazed that the Colo Nesco teams ran exclusively from a shotgun formation since they couldn't find any players that could snap in a shotgun formation. They also questioned if we practiced after school every night since we seemed so polished at route running and play execution. They were shocked to learn that we, like them, only practiced once a week. It is a true compliment to this groups of kids on how much pride they take in working to be good. They are also across the board a very good set of athletes who help the new players learn the system and lead by example so everyone is on the same page. They also have stuck with the program and most of the older kids have been playing together since 2nd or 3rd grade. It definitely shows on game nights. The Game: Vikings won toss and start with ball 1st - run stopped for no gain by Grant Tiarks, 2nd - bad snap, dead ball, 3rd - Screen pass is broken up by Tanner Clatt, incomplete, 4th - reverse is stopped for no gain by Garret Tiarks; Colts Ball: 1st - Kevin Hapes on run up middle for short gain of 2 yds. 2nd - reverse run by Garret Tiarks, spinning move at line of scrimmage avoids tackle and gains 5 yds. 3rd- Colts hurry back to line and run same formation and play but a good fake handoff by Tanner Clatt to Garret Tiarks sucked defense to Garret, Tanner squared his shoulders and found a wide open Grant Tiarks who had slipped behind the defense for a gain of 37 yds. getting stopped just short of the TD. 1st - Colts are sacked for a loss of 10 yds. 2nd - Under heavy pressure Tanner Clatt just gets pass off but falls incomplete. 3rd - Tanner Clatt scrambles to the left under heavy pressure again and finds Grant Tiarks flashing across the back of the end zone for a 12 yd. TD! Colts 7-0. Vikings Ball: 1st - Split backfield, backs crisscross and run into QB. Runner falls to ground, dead ball, 2nd - Pass is deflected and knocked to ground by numerous Colt defenders, 3rd - run to left gains 9yds before stop by Grant Tiarks, 4th - Zig-zagging run back and forth across the field through almost all the Colts defenders breaks free at midfield and outraces everyon for TD. Score 7-7. Colts Ball: 1st - Tanner Clatt passes to Grant Tiarks on deep post gains 23 yds, 1st down. 1st - Bad snap hits ground, dead ball, 2nd - Spencer Short on run to left gains 3 yds on nice cutback., 3rd - Tanner Clatt has ball just tipped away from a slidng Grant Tiarks for an incomplete pass, 4th - Tanner Clatt under heavy pressure just overthrows Garret Tiarks who had broke free behind the defense. Vikings Ball: 1st - Run is stopped immediately by Tyler Anthony on great speed rush. 2nd - Tyler Anthony with stop again for no gain, 3rd - reverse is stopped with nice back side containment from Austin Johannes for no gain. 4th - double reverse doesn't fool Garrett Packer who make stop for loss of 2 yds. Turnover on Downs. Colts Ball: 1st - Tanner Clatt with screen pass to Garret Tiarks gains 5 yds. 2nd - same formation but fake on screen then leach out by receiver, Tanner Clatt finds Garret Tiarks behind defender who bit on screen fake and runs down sideline , stepping out of bounds trying to avoid last defender for gain of 20 yds and 1st down. (Parents along sideline for both teams say he was a foot from going out, but oh well) 1st - Tanner Clatt finds Garret Tiarks again breaking away from defender for gain of 19 yds to 1 yard line. ( Grant Tiarks made a nice comeback block on a defender who was just getting ready to reach for Tanner's flag that allowed the throw to be made). 2nd - Evan Dodd following some nice blocking by the line, cut left off Spencer Short's seal off block of the nose guard and scored for 1 yd out for TD! Colts 14-7 Vikings Ball: 1st - Pass was well defended by Matthew Hill and ball fell incomplete. 2nd - Double reverse again fails to fool Garrett Packer as he stays well positioned and makes stop for no gain. 3rd - Grant Tiarks on speed rush stops play behind line of scrimmage for loss of 2 yds. 4th - Pass attempt to right side found Tyler Anthony dropping off line into coverage, where Tyler stepped in front of receiver on a great read and intercepted pass, Tyler then sprinted 15 yds weaving through defenders to paydirt for TD! Colts 21-7, Vikings Ball: 1st - Tyler Anthony follows up TD by sacking the QB for loss of 3 yds, clock expires, HALFTIME: COLTS 21 - VIKINGS 7 Colts Ball: 1st - Jacob Clatt with run to left gains 4 yds. 2nd - Grant Tiarks passes to Tanner Clatt on screen to left for 4 yds. 3rd - High Snap over QB's head almost caught by Jacob Clatt but falls to ground, dead ball 4th - Super high snap over everybody, turnover on downs. Vikings Ball : 1st - Evan Dodd with stop for no gain, 2nd - ball dropped on handoff, 3rd - Runner is stopped trying to split defenders as Tanner Clatt and Garret Tiarks both pull flags on stop. 4th - ball is dropped on reverse, turnover on downs, 2 more 4 and outs - one by each team - Colts Ball - 1st - Garret Packer with run that started right, cuts back across the grain to left and gains 8 yds. 2nd - Matthew Hill on end around to the right carries and gains 4 yds. 3rd - Pass is incomplete, 4th - Grant Tiarks lined up at QB, goes in motion in our version of the wildcat, ball is hiked to Tanner Clatt playing RB who then threw to Grant Tiarks behind defense for 15 yds and 1st down. 1st - Run stopped in backfield for big loss of 9 yds. 2nd - Tanner Clatt with weaving run gains back 9 yds we had lost on previous play. 3rd - Grant Tiarks pass to Garrett Packer falls incomplete, 4th - Tanner Clatt on run to left gains 5 yds and appears to break free but is grabbed and tackled basically preventing an apparent TD. player warned but turnover on downs Vikings ball: Stop by Garret Tiarks 2nd - ball almost intercepted by Kevin Hapes who stayed after it and tipped it up and then was almost intercepted by Tanner Clatt but fell harmlessly to ground. 4th - player fell to ground after handoff, deadball, turnover on downs. Colts ball - 1st - bad snap - clock expires, GAME OVER: COLTS WIN!! 21-7 The kids played all year with passion and heart and are to be congratulated on a great year. I also want to thank Dennis Clatt, whose defense bailed out my playcalling many times, he really had the kids playing a suffocating defense all year, and always seemed to have kids in the right position to make plays. Thank you also to all the parents for getting the kids to practices and games, your help is invaluable in making the season work. Finally a special thank you to my wife who not only provides alot of the logistical support for getting me to practices and games on time with all the equipment but also does an outstanding job of keeping the play-by-play so I can write this blog. I'm sure you all realize my mind isn't good enough to do this all from memory. See everyone in the Winter Sports season!!