Ratball

Can you give any insight on the unsportsmanlike penalty in Bowen in the second half? The referee said “defenseless player” and yet the ball had just been tipped. Hard to believe Bowen going at full speed would have been able to hold up at that point. I do think he hit him helmet to helmet, and that the flag was warranted. I just don’t know if helmet to helmet is the same thing as a defenseless player. Can you clarify?

I was rooting for Andrean being from the Region. Bowen was a man amongst boys out there. Andrean was having all kinds of problems with the Mater Dei pass rush. Andrean finally went more rush heavy in the second half and it paid off. Andrean could not match the pressure generally, but the QB for Mater Dei seemed a little less accurate. I say generally because, of course, the biggest play of the game was the strip sack and recovery on the 3 which put the game firmly in Andrean’s control. Andrean’s rush defense was superior all day. The one huge breakdown was on the QB keeper where he got loose. Agree that the train horn played on all scores. Good crowd for both sides. When Phil Mason left, I am glad they hired Chris Skinner. What a great representative of the school. He is a alumnus. What most people don’t know is that he is an EXCELLENT teacher as well. Many in the school regard him as the best educator in the school. He teaches Honors Biology for freshmen and really challenges his students in the classroom. Also teaches AP Biology. Many graduates rave how he has prepared them for college, and have heard some college students save their notes from freshman biology and refer to them in their college studies years later. Could not happen to a better guy.

It was until the 4th quarter. He wasn’t even the best QB in the game.

Not sure if you watched the Andrean/Eastside game or not, but Laban Davis was not the stud I thought he was. He wasn’t even the best QB that played in that game. The young Ballentine was much more impressive, both passing and with his feet. I cannot see Davis generating any significant momentum for Mr. Football after that game, notwithstanding his excellent season.

Eastbrook played a great game. Tough team. But, man, it seemed like a couple really close calls went their way last night that were huge. Early on there was a fumble returned for a touchdown that could have been called an incomplete pass I thought. It was very close. And then Andrean finally got it to 6 points after a long drive and about 3 minutes to go in the game and executed what I thought was a perfect onside kick. But it was called for illegal touching. Obviously hard to call but I tried to capture the moment as closely as I could where the Andrean player touched the ball. His right hand and the Eastbrook player’s left hand are basically touching at the same time the ball meets them. Again, super hard to tell, but it looks like they are past the 50. If that is Andrean ball, they have a real shot at pulling off that comeback. Nevertheless, they shot themselves in the foot multiple times and Eastbrook prevailed.

Andrean looks to execute a perfect onside kick but is called for touching the ball a hair early. Eastbrook 20, Andrean 14.

Eastbrook 20, Andrean 7. key play was what looked like it could have been ruled an incomplete pass that was instead ruled a catch and a fumble that was returned for a TD by the Panthers.

I don’t believe anyone has mentioned Chris Skinner at Andrean. Class of 2006 so he must be 31-32 years old. Fantastic coach who just won his first Regional. Also a fantastic educator. He doesn’t teach PE. He has multiple sections of freshmen Honors Biology along with AP Biology. I have heard from multiple kids who have returned home from their freshmen year of college to retrieve their high school biology notes to get them through their first college level biology classes. As an Andrean grad, I hope he sticks around to teach many more 59ers biology, and if he wants to coach football, that’s a bonus for us.