|
You can get complete recaps of each game this year by clicking on the "Schedule" link. Simply click on the game you want to read about, once you're there!
Eagles Open 2005 with a tough shootout loss
September 10, 2005---The Green Road Eagles dropped a shootout loss to the Pack on Saturday, by a score of 26-18. While a loss is never any fun, this game was either team's for the taking throughout, and proved to be a very exciting contest!
The Eagles won the coin toss and elected to receive. The offense quickly put together a 6-play touchdown drive, highlighted by Diante Lyons' first-ever touchdown run from the 22 yard line. The PAT attempt failed, but the Eagles clung to a 6-0 lead. The Pack quickly answered back with the next two scores, leaving the Eagles with a 14-6 halftime deficit. The Eagle defense proved to be stout, despite the Pack scoring the 2 touchdowns, stopping many plays behind the line of scrimmage, or for very short gains. The only trouble we really had was stopping the gains to the outside, which cost us the scores in the first half, unfortunately. All 4 of the Pack touchdowns came on long, breakout plays.
The Pack opened the 2nd half with another breakaway touchdown, giving themselves a cushy 20-6 lead. However, the Eagles wouldn't quit, and answered the score quickly with a 50-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Timarcus Simpson, making the score 20-12, Pack. That would close out the scoring in the 3rd quarter.
On the Pack's first possession in the 4th quarter, the Eagle "D" tightened up and put the Pack's offense in a 4th and 3 at midfield. The Pack elected to go for it, and changed the snap count from "1" to "2", which resulted in the Eagles defense jumping offsides...giving the Pack the automatic first down. On the very next play, the Pack scored on a long pass play to the corner for a 26-12 lead.
With time dwindling, the Eagles offense went into a hurry-up offense, and ripped off a 45-yard touchdown drive, finishing with a 20-yard touchdown run by Timarcus Simpson...his second score of the game. The PAT again failed, and the Eagles were facing a 26-18 deficit with only a minute and a half remaining.
The Eagles quickly lined up for an onside kick, and very nearly recovered the ensuing kickoff. It was decided only by a few inches. The Pack then ran out the clock, preserving their win.
Overall, the coaches and I were very pleased by a lot of things that we saw. The defense, despite the score, actually did very well. All of the Pack's TD's were on broken or long plays. The Eagles did contain them for most of the game. On offense, we've got some work to do with blocking assignments, but we showed fairly good poise. All of the subs did a FANTASTIC job filling in for the starters, and it seems that all of the kids had a great time, despite the loss. My biggest kudo goes to the kickoff team for putting together that onside kick in the fourth quarter...it's something that we haven't even TALKED about, never mind practiced! Great job by the kids listening, in the heat of the moment. We almost pulled it off, and I believe if we had recovered the ball, we would have tied the game up and gone to overtime.
But, we can't win them all! It was a great learning experience, against a very talented Pack team. Next up are the 2-time defending Super Bowl champion Tigers. Go Eagles!
--Coach Neal Giordano
|
|