Page 8 - Priorities #45 2010-January

FOOTBALL
2009 Roster
#2 Jake Seawick #3 Ray Ross
#4 Ricky Dolezalek #5 Andy Dolezalek # 11 David Nimer
# 12 David Beleson #16 Scatt Turner #22 Malik Reid #24 Connor Mather #55 Wyatt Farino #66 Alex Vilchez #71 Riley Munks #73 Julian French #74 Jeff Souders #75 Clayton Cadwell #80 Kellan Draeger #81 Brett Bader #88 Matt Schwab
RB/WR/DB QB/DB WR/RB/DB WR/DB TE/WR/DE TE/DE/LB WR/DB RB/TE/DB RB/LB/DB OL/DE/TE OL/DL OL/DL/DE OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL TE/DE RB/LB
Matt Schwab, running back and linebacker, hauls in a kick-off return.
8
Comes to the Priory
Friday Night Lights has nothing on the Priory’s inaugural football season. At every home and away game blue-skinned Priory students shouted and cheered, Pax the Panther was in rare form doing a black flip or two, and parents and friends lined the sidelines and filled the stands.
It is “more than just a game” and, if you ask any of the 20 Priory football players or coaches, you’ll hear this repeated in many differ- ent ways.
Priory Defensive Lineman and winner of the Lineman of the Year award, Clayton Caldwell said, “We really learned a lot this season... it’s exciting to be a part of the beginning of something.”
Mark Stogner, Director of Athletics, said, “It was the right time for us. We watched Crystal Springs and Pinewood to see what the response would be, and it was favorable at both schools. It was an exciting way to start the school year. “
The only difference between 8-man football and 11-man football is the smaller field (40x80) and three fewer players (lineman) on the field. According to the Eight-man Football Association, 8-man foot- ball is the fastest growing high-school sport. Currently, there are 19 states that have 8-man football leagues.
“The kids worked hard. They’ve got a lot of spirit and enthusi- asm and know that we’re building a solid team,“ said Doug Sargent, Head Coach
The eight-man game, a Great Depression-borne twist on football that subtracts the two tackles and a skill position player, still has its largest following in its birthplace of Nebraska. Across the country, while enrollments decline in rural schools because of population shifts, the number of eight-man teams is holding steady or on the rise. Nationwide, the numbers are up 11%.
Priory opened the 2009 season on August 29th at the league jam- boree at Anchorpoint Christian.
The league consists of Anchorpoint Christian, Cornerstone Chris- tian, Calvary Chapel, Crystal Springs, Marina High School, Pinewood and Priory.