2015 Jackson Pines Blue Jays (HS Junior) - grabursock55's Blog

grabursock55's Blog

2015 Jackson Pines Blue Jays (HS Junior)

Posted on June 26, 2014 at 11:23 PM.

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I was catching a ride back from my dads house on the A line train from Port Boyerton to Jackson Pines. It was getting close to football season so I had my small transistor radio that I take fishing with me in my pocket. The ride on the 7 PM train was a long 20 minute ride, due to the lack of scenery or any interesting attractions along the elevated train tracks and as I was nearly the only person on the train, I didnt have much interest in conversing with the other passengers. I popped in my headphones as a young man in a blue and red letterman jacket glanced over at me for a moment, he was clearly a player for the Port Boyerton North Bombers, but I pretended like I didnt see him. I popped my ear phones in to listen to the radio, channel 106.1, The Blue Jay Network to listen to what they had to say about the upcoming season.
"This is Jake the Jay here in Studio A of the Jackson Pines Radio Tower. I know a lot of you Jays fans are singing the blues after last seasons collapse of our blue jays, but this season may be different. We got a chance to speak with coach Thompson earlier this week, and he told us he "is confident in his returning starters and the new players he has coming into the program. He went on to say that his Junior Running back, Jack Boyer has got to step into his role as a leader this year, and take control of this team." I think Boyer better be ready for a challenge, because last years starting QB is riding the pine, and he was sat down by a freshman! This Blue Jays team could be riding high or sitting low at the seasons end, I guess time will tell"
I glanced out the window and saw the familiar pine tree forest and radio tower that was broadcasting the station I was listening to. It was about time to hop off the train. I pulled out my ear buds and stood up as the train arrived in the station. As I walked off the train, the kid in the Letterman jacket said: "Hey, Blue Jays, huh?" as he pointed to my shirt. I looked down and realized I was wearing my Jackson Pines Lift-A-Thon shirt. "Good luck, buddy, you are our conference doubleheader this year(meaning we played them 2 times this season). You looked solid last year, so hopefully it will be a good game." I looked at him and said "It will be better than you could imagine". Since Jackson Pines is the end of the A Line, he walked with me down a block to the main intersection in Jackson Pines just outside the radio tower. We shook hands and i asked him his name, "Andrew Attinger" he said. "I am a Junior Strong Safety, I'll be looking forward to playing you this season, Jack." He headed up the hill, right past our stadium. He dosent know I'm planning on ruining his teams chances of making the playoffs this year.

2015 Jackson Pines Schedule (5 - 3)
Week 1: PORT BOYERTON NORTH L 6 - 7
Week 2: FARMING HAVEN W 9 - 3 OT
Week 3: @Port Boyerton North L 7 - 27
Week 4: ENTERLINE POINT W 9 - 7
Week 5: MATTHEWSBURG L 0 - 10 (Homecoming)
Week 6: @Diamond Falls W 5 - 0
Week 7: FORT SCULLY W 9 - 0
Week 8: ST. MICHAELS W 14 - 6 (Senior Night)
Week 9: Bye

PLAYOFFS!!!!
Week 10 (round 1) @ Mellasec L 0 - 20 (First Playoff game since 1999)

We have 6 home games this year....SIX!! Hopefully we can get it done. The news report on the television said we are projected to go 4 -4 and miss the playoffs, but I promised myself I wouldnt let that happen again. Here we are, 5 days away from the first game of the season, I am in the best shape of my life and I am ready to make Jackson Pines history.

Regular season Recap:
We did it!! For the first time since 1999, we made the playoffs! After losing our homecoming game to Matthewsburg and dropping our record to 2 - 3, I thought we were done for.But somehow the gods of football were smiling upon us and we won our last 3 games in a row, including a road win at perrenial power, Diamond Falls! After we won our last game against St. Michaels, I was in shock... BEfore the game, reporters were constantly broadcastin g the news of "Win and we're in" for the playoffs. However, it wasnt that simple. there are only 8 at large bids for the entire state and 11 teams qualified for those spots. Strength of schedule came into effect for the tie breaker and our jays qualified for the 6th wildcard spot out of the 12 avalible. The stands were packed for the game because the town knew they could witness something incredible with a win over a very beatable St. Michaels team. The rickety old wooden stands looked like they were at maximum capacity and some folks who have been around the area for a while said it looked like a game from the 1999 season when the Jays won tyhe conference. Either way, it felt great to finally get out of the regular season with a new game on the schedule. Lets see if we can make a splash in the playoffs and win our first ever playoff game.

Regular season stats
Rush Att: 189
Rush Yds: 778
Rush TD: 2
AVG YPC: 4.1
AVG RYPG: 97.25

Receptions: 10
Rec Yds: 146
Rec TD: 0
Avg YPC: 14.6
Avg RYPG: 18.25

Post Season Recap:
Well... That about sums up Jackson Pines football. You know, a lot of people say we should be proud of just making it to the playoffs. But seriously, why would you be proud of that? 23 other teams also made the playoffs, so we were nothing special. At least one win would have been nice. make it to the next round and play against some real top level opposition, but I guess we just didnt prove ourselves today. To be honest, I think we were all expecting to lose. We all just seemed to accept it. I dont know if losing had become something we were used to, or if maybe a lot of the guys were just happy to make the playoffs, but it just seemed strange to me.

Anyway, on a positive note, I got a scholarship offer!!! I mean, its from a small, Division II university in Pennsylvania called Lock Haven University" I did some research and found out that they hold the record for the longest collegiate losing streak, but they are winning at least one game a season recently. The only problem with LHU is that they run a lot of singleback, which is not a formation that I particuarly like... But On the other hand, their campus looks great and I really dig the small campus life style (Its a little bit of a step up from Jackson Pines anyway). Hopefully I get a few more offers my senior year.. But Lock Haven holds a special place in my heart being the first offer I got! I cant wait for this season! I think some great things are about to happen!