By Charlyn Warner

November 11, 2007

 Saturday, November 10.  “Gentlemen, no matter what happens in today’s game, I want you to know how proud I am of you.  And how proud each of you should be with your accomplishments this season,” said Head Coach Donny Galt as the 24-man Junior Tiger Team prepared to step out on the turf field in the Junior League Championship game held in Mount Vernon Saturday.  Emotions ran high at kick-off, both on the field and in the stands filled with literally hundreds of Tiger Football fans, as Tiger Micah Powell opened the game with a kick-off to the Anacortes Seahawks; a team that had lost just one game this season, a loss to our Mighty Tigers earlier in regular-season play. In the end, the Junior Tigers proved victorious, winning the championship with a score of 32 – 22, in one of the best match ups of the season.

The Seahawks received the opening kick-off ball and drove hard, immediately demonstrating that they were team.  In the first quarter, both teams battled hard offensively and pushed back equally hard defensively.

Yards were gained on both sides, but remained scoreless.  Early in the second quarter, a Seahawks star player, AJ Yost, broke through the Tiger defensive line and ran 50 yards for the first Anacortes touchdown.  Tiger fans were taken aback; no team had scored first against the Junior Tigers this season.  In a second Seahawk drive in the quarter, #30 Billy King breaks through for a 40 yard TD. With the field goals good, the score stood at Anacortes 16, Tigers 0 with most of the second quarter to play.

In a show of determination the Tiger Fans have come to enjoy and respect from their Junior Tiger team, the Tigers drew blood on the next play.

Donald Galt received the kick-off at the Anacortes 30-yard line.  In the longest 30 seconds of the game, and working the field as much laterally as in forward motion, Galt runs the ball into the end zone for the first Tigers touchdown.  Powell successfully puts the ball through the posts. Eight points for the Tigers.

Tiger defense shuts down a powerful Seahawk drive and takes the ball at their 20-yard line.  Through great rushing yard gains, Tigers find themselves at 3rd and goal with under a minute left in the half.  The Tiger offense runs a flood, the Seahawk defense scatters to cover and Quarterback Galt scores the second Tiger touchdown in a QB keeper.  With another Powell-booted field goal, the score at the half is 16 – 16.  The second half will be a whole new ball game.

The third quarter proves much like the first - well-executed plays, tough blocking, timely tackling and neither team scoring.

In the fourth quarter, the Junior Tigers take it up a notch.  In a 50-yard drive, Powell scores a touchdown behind a well-executed block by Dylan Demaris.  After denying the Seahawks again within goal, the Tigers execute another long, successful drive with Galt scoring the fourth Tiger touchdown of the game.

The Seahawks answered with a successful drive of their own, putting another touchdown on the boards with about a minute to go.  In a wily move, the Seahawks execute an on-sides kick and quickly recover the ball.

A flag on the play, an off-sides penalty on the Seahawks, garnered a five-yard penalty and a do over.  This time, the Tigers let the ball fall where it may and maintained possession.  Running the clock with 37 seconds left, the game fittingly draws to a close with the Tiger possession.

Final score – Tigers 32, Seahawks 22.

In the well-fought battle, our Mighty Tigers were just a little bit tougher for a little bit longer.

In the vernacular of the Junior Tigers esteemed coach Donny Galt, Tiger Fans express this sentiment:  “Gentlemen…  Thank you for an outstanding season.  You were a joy to watch.  We are proud.”

It comes as no surprise that this week’s Most Valuable Player award is comprised of the every Junior Player on the Tiger Roster:  Alec Kurtz; Austin MacDiarmid; Austin Hargrove; Carson Brown; CJ Woods; Donald Galt; Dusty West; Dylan Demaris; Dylan Radden; Jacob Jackson; Jacob Justiniano; Jaise Poole; Jonathon Stump; Kaleb Warner; Levi Demaris; Marco Chairez-Aguayo; Marquis Napier; Micah Powell; Nathan Steenkolk; Nick Falls; Riley Rousar; Patrick O'Brian; Tate Brumsickle; Wyatt Phillips and Jon Ogle.  The team is led by a stellar coaching staff - Head Coach Donny Galt, Defensive Coach Rick Morris, Coach Cliff Swirtz and Coach John Kurtz.