Football Makes State Playoffs: Jacks Make History

By Alyssa Ball    

 RAL students stormed the field on Friday the 6^th after our football team won the playoff game, sending us to state for the first time in RAL history. It was a close win 16 to 14, but the Jacks gave it their all and it definitely paid off.

      “This was one of the best seasons we’ve had in a long time. It will be a season to remember” DJ Smith 11 said.

      Overall the jacks have showed some excellent defense, and the offensive line has played well also. Head Coach Bertram would have liked to see a higher percentage of passes completed and the special teams needed to be cleaned up.

      “We played well considering this is the first playoff game the Jacks have won ever,” said Bertram. “It was our best game defensively.”

      In the first playoff game, William Yordy 12 ran in for a 32 yard touchdown and threw a pass to Dylan Hopkins 12 for a 38 yard touch down. J Nusbuam had three great catches for 40 yards along with Gavin Johnson 12 who had four catches for 35 yards. Kaleb Carr 12 also attributed a field goal for the final three points that won the game.

      Some standout players on defense were; Tanner Chamberlin 11 with two interceptions, J Nusbuam with one interception and a pass deflection, and Thomas McCall 12 who had two tackles for loss and one sack. Three linemen, Kersey Krieger 12, Patrick Willie 12, and Zach Williams 12 had an excellent blocking game as well.

      After winning the first playoff game ever, the Jacks were excited and ready to play Archbishop Murphy on Saturday Nov 14.

     “We made history, but now we have to worry about our next game and advancing to the quarter finals,” J Nusbuam 12 said before the game that Saturday.

      Bertram anticipated this being the hardest game of the year and it definitely was. Even so, the jacks held strong only losing 3 to 7 at halftime. Kaleb Carr 12 kicked in a field goal for the first three points and Gavin Johnson ran a  touchdown

     During the third quarter the Jacks started to fall apart however. In a matter of five minutes, the Wild Cats got three touchdowns. The Jacks ended up losing the game 35 to 10.The Jacks finished their 2009 season with the record of 8 and 3.