Junior Season Opener

Junior Game 1: Tigers vs. Birds of Prey

(Marv and Meta playing a little backgammon, pre-game strategy to fire up the minds)

Yesterday the Junior Tigers kicked off their season with the Bremen Birds of Prey.  After a crazy afternoon of football, the Tigers ran out of time against the Birds losing the opener 4-0.  The Birds of Prey scored early in the first and second quarters via two safeties resulting from the punter stepping out the back of the endzone and an early whistle by the refs on a quarterback drop back, respectively.

(Pre-game warmups)

The defense stood firm; building a wall on multiple occasions when the Birds were knocking on the door.  The offense were at moments looking like a well oiled machine but at other times struggled to keep the Birds out of the backfield causing chaos for our running and passing game.

(Cointoss)

 The hardest part for myself during this game was to watch the reffing.  I've been warned in the past by other players and coaches about it, but I was amazed on Sunday at the poorness of refs.
On our first safety, the head ref tossed the yellow flag as the punter stepped out of bounds and then proceeded to blow his whistle seconds later.
The Birds were in shotgun, and because of a low snap or by design (it was fourth down) the quarterback fell on the ball/took a knee (OUT OF SHOTGUN) and before the official our blitzing linebacker collapsed on the QB.  Personal foul.  ??????
On numerous occasions their right guard would bounce in his stance, no false start because an explanation by the sidelines official, acknowledged the man was bouncing, said he isn't causing the defense to jump.  Later the D-lineman jumped in anticipation of the snap, and the offensive lineman moved and it was encroachment.
Finally, near the end of the game, the Birds were punting to the Tigers and their was a flag for a false start, play continued, then another flag for illegal formation, play continued and the punt went through the back of the endzone for a touch back.  Final result was somehow both penalties were waved off and the Tigers got the ball on the 20.  ???????'s

(Just a little shout out to Kyle Boersma, I found your cousin.  #65 runs in the family. He's got nothing on you.)

I'm going to have to get ready for the upcoming season and prepare myself for the refs.  It's just a game, games are supposed to be fun.  

Coming off a Junior Championship last season and a disappointing season opener, I pray the men keeps their heads high and play the game  for a reason so much greater than a championship where men will say well, but for the Man upstairs who one day I pray will say, "Well done good and faithful servant."  That's my ultimate goal.  

There is a war raging in this world and everyday is a battle.  Football is a game of battles every down.  Even though this world is dark and ugly, the greatest thing to know about life is that we can already claim victory through J.C. He's already fought the war and because of His sacrifice we can claim our citizenship eternally with One so much greater than anything fathomable.

Michael may be coming home tomorrow, hopefully.  Grandma Hanson is alive and kicking.  TJ Jones' grandmother has gone on to dance with the King, so rejoice for her and her family but also pray for TJ as she speaks at the funeral on Tuesday.

Joshua Aakre

Proverbs 4:13-15