An Eagle Victory over Knight

Two years ago, the Institute of Technology eagles played their first ever football game ever against Tully as a Junior Varsity Football team, but it ended up not being much of a game at all. With two injuries, Tully was forced to forfeit after 4 minutes. The eagles finish their first season as a football team 3-4 and hopeful for the future. Two years later, morning of the first game, ITC players and staff open up the newspaper and feel disrespected.

“How many of you guys opened up and read the newspaper today?” an angry Coach Cloonen asked and then angrily added “43 – 13* they have us losing. That's disrespectful to this team, and this coaching staff. Now let’s go out here and kick their behinds”

*Predicted score

Fired up and ready to go the game started and you could tell the Eagles still had jitters, had to just calm down and play the game. Tully shut the Eagles offense down and soon after, Tully scored the first touchdown with a fantastic pass play to make the score 7 -0. Unable to make a strong drive down field again, the Eagles offense was shut down and Tully was able to march down the field again this time missing the extra point to make the score 13-0.

Then the Eagles finally began to fly. Kasheim "Buck" Jones took an inside hand off from Quarter Back Jebron Thomas and took the ball 80 yards down field and scored the first ever ITC touchdown making the score 13 – 8 on a two point conversion. Tully proved to be resilient scoring on another beautiful passing play making the score 19 – 8. 2 minutes before half time the Eagles got the ball back ready to turn the momentum their way. Now it was Jebron Thomas's turn to shine as he took the ball down field marching at Tully's door and finally punching it in to make the game 19-16 at the end of the half.

“Defense is a mentality. You have to want to hit the other team harder and you have to want to stop them more than they want to score!” was the message defensive coordinator Coach Royal told his defense all training camp. In the second half they did just that. Tully received the ball first and tried to pound the ball up the middle to eat some of the clock. Josh Gleba and Dionte Blatche had a different idea. The two hit Tully's fullback and caused him to fumble which Chris Myers scooped and scored giving the eagles, a 22-19 lead that they would keep the rest of the game.

After the game the Eagles celebrated hoisting Quarter Back Jebron Thomas up in the air as he triumphantly screamed “What that newspaper gotta say now!” That answer is a mystery but our community did find out one thing. For the first time since 1975 ITC is fielding a Varsity Football team, and they feel like they have something to prove to everybody in the section. They only have one goal in mind and it started on that Friday night against Tully two years ago. A Friday night two years later, they were a step closer.

Tech’s first ever varsity game came to an end with the new coaching staff proudly walking off the field. Not only now did they ended the game that started 3 years ago, but now they have a start to the road of state champions.

Written by Calvin Flood and Michael McCrary
Photos by Jake O'Connell

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For the 2010-2011 Varsity Schedule, click here