Naselle player posts - Week 6

What a finish! 

~During the second half, NW Christian's #71 was taken away in an ambulance with a hyper extended neck. Our prayers are with him.~

We really came together to win as a team this past week. We were down 14-0 at halftime, and most people probably would have thought the game was over. But we knew we could make a comeback, and so did our home crowd. We made our comeback, but it was a ways into the fourth quarter before we scored. Our defense played the half the way comets play "Comet Football." We stopped their next drive and got the ball back with time on the board. The drive that continued was "The Drive" that would pretty much determine how our season would continue. Would our playoff goal come from us playing comet football? Or would it come from us rooting for NW Christian to beat Valley. As it turned out, it came down to our seniors stepping up and leading us to a TD, and the 2-point conversion to tie the game and put us in overtime. Nobody on the sidelines knew what overtime we were going to use. Was it the NFL sudden death? Or was it college football style? Or was it a coin flip for the game? It turned out to be similar to the college system where both teams get the ball on the 25 yard line and try to score the most points. Jesus intercepted their 4th down pass and nearly ran it all the way for the win. Once again, our winning drive came down to the leadership of the seniors, as it was nick Hines and Tony Fletcher that drove us to the goal line. Then Alan Erickson punched it in for the score. The atmosphere was ecstatic and it seemed reminiscent of the 35-7 comeback of the Buffalo Bills over the Houston Oilers in 1999. Now, we need to play a game of "Comet Football" on the road. Not a half- a full 48 minutes of Comet Football.

Ryley Queener
Comet #71

The Comets Have Heart!

I think that the last two games have showed one thing, if not more. We have heart. Against Valley, we trotted into the locker room down 21-0, but never felt as if the game were out of reach. In fact, we played a great second half, outscoring valley 6-0 and allowing only 33 yards of total Viking offense. This week was nearly a repeat, down 14-0 at half, we challenged ourselves to out preform and overcome. Coach Eaton addressed the seniors, saying we need to win to keep the playoff hopes alive. They took the challenge and ran with it. Tony Fletcher and Nick Hines both had great games. Tony had 18 tackles and 105 yards on 16 carries. Nick had a solid defensive game and added 8 points via a touchdown and two-point conversion. The offensive and defensive line pulled their weight and more in the second half. Michael Shirley (who also had 15 tackles), Marcus Sanchez, and Tommy Rose played extremely well in the trenches and Gabe See, who made his starting debut at defensive end, played great too. Leonel Mendoza broke up a couple pass attempts at corner.

The third quarter was a stalemate. Our first score of the game came with 8:50 on the scoreboard, after a fumbled snap on a Navigator punt. However the two-point pass went incomplete. Sticking them with hard hits, we forced a three and out on the next Northwest position. On the ensuing possession , Tony Fletcher ran up the middle several times for big gains and Nick Hines ran for pay dirt on fourth and goal. We were down 12-14 and needed the two-point conversion. This was the biggest play of the game and possible of every one's career. So we ran our "bread and butter", the option. Austin Burkhalter (7-15 for 87 yards) pulled and pitched to Nick Hines, who rumbled into the end zone to tie the game. After another stop by the defense, the final buzzer sounded, the score all tied up.

A Kansas City tiebreaker would determine the game. The captains met at center field, to flip for possession. There was no better time to win our first toss of the season. We chose to defend. The Navigators were only allowed to run four plays in the extra frame. Tough defense by Hines and Shirley stuffed the run on first down and second and third down passes were contended by Mendoza and Burkhalter. Facing fourth and about eight, the Navs aired it out again. This time it was caught. Not by a Gator, but by Jesus Martinez. It was a nice pick and he came close to breaking it for a touchdown. Our scoring drive took seven plays. Fletcher and Hines ran up the middle through huge holes. Upon facing a fourth and short, Austin Burkhalter QB sneaked for the first down. I punched it in behind Shirley and Rose on a fullback wedge to top off the comeback. It was awesome! The stands were ecstatic and so were we! When we met in the end zone, Coach Glick said that we grew up tonight and I think he was right. Now we need to prove it and put together 48 minutes of hard nosed Comet football. Coach Eaton was very proud of our performance, but mostly of our heart and our perseverance, he even choked up talking to us. The whole team did its part. The guys on the sidelines cheered loud and performed on special teams. Thanks for all of your support, without you guys preparation would be very difficult. Next week we travel to Seattle on Saturday to play Seattle Lutheran, the team we played in the first round of the playoffs last year. No doubt they want revenge. We need to show and play Comet football!

NHS RB, LB
Alan Erickson

Naselle beat Northwest Christian in overtime 

We we came into the locker room at half time, our coach challenged us seniors to step up and get the job done if we wanted to keep our playoffs hopes alive. And we did just that. Great game by our backs and line. Tony Fletcher had a monster game with 18 tackles and who know how many yards. Credit is also due to Nick Hines and Alan Erickson, who showed some outstanding leadership on the field tonight, and played great games. But one thing we have to learn as a team is to play the entire game like we have been playing the second half. Next week we will travel to face Seattle Lutheran.

-Marcus Sanchez
OL/DL #75