REAPERS SCORCH THEMSELVES WITH FIRE LOSE 26-18
Well
folks, as history has it, the Reapers take two steps forward in one game and
then take one step back in their next! It’s a scene all too familiar to the
Reapers whom virtually just handed the game over to the Fire on mistake after
mistake. The Reapers jumped out on top of the Fire 12-0 in the first quarter on
some all around plays in all three phases of the game. From the opening kickoff,
kickreturner Travis Hunter had a brilliant return to the Fire’s 22yd line. The
Reaper Offense then stalled in the Red Zone along with a few penalties and had
to settle for a field goal by first year kicker Andres Hinestroza to put the
Reapers up 3-0. The Reapers then got the ball right back on a monster hit by
strong safety and kickoff return specialist Derrick Zak. The Reapers could only
then gain about twenty more yards and turn the ball over on downs. The Fire then
ran about two plays for three yards (they were hard fought yards) for the
Reapers “D” came to play ball (or so it seemed) as they caused the Fire to
fumble on third down, which then became a free-for-all for the pigskin. The
Reapers were able to make a Fire running back kick the ball out of the end zone
resulting in a safety for the Reapers putting them up 5-0 entering the second
quarter. After the free kick, the Reapers‘ offense drove the ball right down
the field on the Fire defense to score the games first TD on a quarterback sneak
by starting free safety and back up QB Jamael Stewart. The Fire then
answered back before the half with two beautiful TD’s thru the air, one on a
fade on 4th and goal in side the two yard line in which the Reapers
just stuffed the Fire running attack on three previous tries. The
Fire then took a 14-12 lead into the half.
Now at this time Folks is when I saw shades of the old Reapers come into
play as they came out of the locker room with the game still in reach and gave
up two TD’s in about three minutes, one on offense
as the Fire’s defensive end blind sided the
Reapers QB causing a fumble which was picked off in the air and returned
for a TD. The Reapers were stopped when they got the ball and had to punt which
was a great punt putting the Fire’s starting position inside their own 5 yard
line. The Fire QB then took a two step drop, threw to his right which was caught
for about an 18 yard gain but was mis-played by “defensive player of the
year” Odiles Jeune and rookie safety Derrick Zak took the wrong angle and the
Fire receiver then ran 96 yards to the house, putting the Fire up 26-12 with 12+
minutes left in the third quarter. The Reapers however did show a lot of grit
defensive wise as well as offensively ,by
not giving up anymore scores, making numerous
plays against the Fire‘s offense as well as a huge 4th and
two stop that got the ball back for the Reaper offense and gave them a chance to
tie it up in regulation. Owner Chris McIntosh said
“There were a lot of questionable and
unusual calls and no calls in this game, but we make no excuses
we knew where we were and knew we had to play damn near a perfect game to
get out of there with a win and we didn’t do it so we’ll take this as
another learning experience before
the season starts”. When asked if he thought that the Fire was 8 points better
than the Reapers he replied “No, no I think we are one or two fewer mistakes
away from being on the right path for the season opener. Besides it’s never
been what the Fire has done to us so much but what we do to ourselves, sometimes
we just can’t get out of our own dang way”. I took it as he was referring to
the 6 turnovers that they had (4 unforced). Next up for the Reapers is the
Florida Football Alliance League Jamboree on Dec 15TH 2007. Where the
League Conference foes are suppose to meet head to head for a half. The good
news for the Reaps is they will get there starting QB Ryan Wisecarver back from
an mild injury he suffered on his job which sidelined him for this game. My
personal opinion is I still see a lot of potential for the Reapers going into
their season and I just hope they don’t disappoint me and have some of these
mind lapses that they are prone to having.
Until
the 15TH folks when I’ll have a report on just how the Reapers
faired with their Conference opponents. SO STAY IIREE!!!
Senior Columnist Wayne “Island
Man” Hoyte