Liveblogging: Knightdale Knights vs Holly Springs Yellow Jackets 10/11/08
LiveBlogging Assignment
For our liveblogging assignment I decide to blog my 12 year old godson’s youth football game. He plays for the Knightdale Knights in Knightdale, NC. He plays in the Pee Wee classification of the East Wake Football League. The Pee Wee classification is made up of players between the ages of 11-12 years of age and do not weigh more than 145 lbs.
The Knights march into tonight’s game against the Holly Springs Yellow Jackets, with an overall record of 4-1 and 3 regular season games remaining, including next weeks Homecoming game against archrival the Wendell Rams (5-0, 2-0). Knightdale is 2-0 in the Central Division going into tonight’s game against Holly Spring who is 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the conference. The Knightdale Knights enter the day tied with the Wendell Rams for the top spot in the Central Division. Holly Springs, Wendell and Knightdale are all in the Central Division of the East Wake Football League.
Hopefully tonight’s game will kick off on time, around 7:00. It all depends on what time the earlier games end. The Knights play all home games at Knightdale High School.
Game Atmosphere
Upon arriving at Knightdale High School I realize that the games are running behind. I am going to listen to as much of the UNC vs. Notre Dame game on the radio as possible before I go into the stadium.
At 6:30 I entered the home of the Knights to the normal crowd of about 250-300 people on the home side of the field. The lady selling tickets at the gate is joined by here daughter who I would guess is about 9 years old and is excited to be helping her mom. She takes my $4 and smiles, showing that the toothfairy has recently visited. As I try to find a good spot to set up my laptop I am greeted by young sibling running around enjoying themselves as their brothers are on the field or their sisters are on the track cheerleading.
The crowd is excited and into the game as the Mighty Mites are finishing up their game before the Pee Wees take the field. The Knightdale community really supports their youth football teams. The crowd is mostly made up of players’ family members who are wearing team t-shirts, sitting on team set cushions and ringing black “Knightdale Knights” cow bells.
The smell of hot dogs and funnel cakes fills the air.
I set up my laptop in the bleachers around mid-field so that I can take some photos to add to this blog later.
It now looks like we might actually kick off around 7:30. The Pee Wee are the oldest classification so they get to enjoy playing under the lights. The temperature has dropped and there is a chill in the air, and the crowd has gotten smaller as the evening is growing late.
Game Action
The Pee Wees are finally kicking-off. It is 7:30pm on a Saturday evening following a day that has been overcast and cool. The Knightdale Knights wins the coin toss but defers until the second half.
Knightdale kicks off to the Holly Springs.
Holly Springs fumbles the ball 1 minute and 15 seconds into the game on their second play from the line of scrimmage and Knightdale recovers with 8:45 still on the clock in the first quarter.
Knightdale returns the favor by fumbling on their second play and Holly Springs recovers with 8:04 on the clock in the first quarter.
The Yellow Jackets have no success in moving the ball on their second possesson of the game and turn the ball over on downs with 6:53 on the clock.
On their second play from the line of scrimmage on their second offensive possesson tonight Knightdale hands the ball off to #38 Nathaniel Harvey who rushes around the right corner and into the end zone for the first score of the evening with 6:43 to go in the first quarter. The extra point is good and the Knights take a 7-0 lead.
Holly Springs turns the ball over on downs again with 1:17 to go in the first quarter.
Knightdale rushes into the end zone again with 0:16 on the clock in the first quarter behind the running of #24 Braxton Williams. The extra point is no good and the first quarter ends with Knightdale leading 13-0.
1st Quarter Score: Knightdale Knights 13 Holly Springs Blue Yellow Jackets 0
#67 Kaelin Ramey recovers a Holly Springs fumble with 8:48 to go in the second quarter.
The Knights cash in on the turnover with 6:38 to go in the second with a run by #97 Roderick Perry. The extra point is good and the Knights go up 20-0.
Holly Springs turns the ball over on downs with 4:09 to go in the second quarter.
With 3:01 on the clock in the second quarter #34 Thomas Jones gets the ball on a double reverse that fools everyone. The extra point is no good. The score is now 26-0.
The second string defense for Knightdale is now taking the field after Holly Springs has secured the kick off.
With 0:13 to go in the second quarter Holly Springs turns the ball over on downs. Knightdale takes a knee with there second string offense on the field and goes into the half with a 26-0 lead over the Yellow Jackets from Holly Springs.
Half-time Score: Knightdale Knights 26 Holly Springs Blue Yellow Jackets 0
My godson #80 Darris Bridgers secures the second half opening kick-off and leaves the field of play knowing his day is done. He was in on 4 tackles as the starting middle linebacker and added another on special teams for a total of 5 tackles in the first half. He and the rest of the starters are done for the day and can begin resting and preparing for next week’s big game.
With 5:59 on the clock in the third quarter backup quarterback #9 Tariq Branch turns the corner and runs barely touched for a 55 yard touchdown run. The extra point is no good. Knightdale now leads 32-0.
With 1:43 to go in the third quarter Holly Springs turns it over on downs for the 5th time tonight.
3rd Quarter Score: Knightdale Knights 32 Holly Springs Blue Yellow Jackets 0
Knightdale turns the ball over on downs early in the 4th quarter with 7:52 on the clock. This was Holly Springs best defensive series. However it comes against Knightdale’s second string and the Yellow Jackets might have their second string in as well.
With 5:31 to go in the 4th Holly Springs gets their first first down of the game.
With 3:00 to go in the 4th Holly Springs turns the ball over on downs.
Knightdale’s offense fumbles the ball with 0:53 on the clock in the 4th and Holly Springs has recovered the ball on Knightdale’s 25 yard line.
With 0:15 to go in the game, Holly Springs rushes for their second first down of the game. However they are not able to get another play run before the clock expires.
Final: Knightdale Knights 32 Holly Springs Blue Yellow Jackets 0
Coaches’ Post-Game Speeches
The Knightdale coaching staff congratulates the team on an outstanding team effort. Head Coach Ed McDode, Jr. told the team he was proud of everyones efforts and told the team that they need to prepare for a tougher game next week against Wendell. He asked everyone to come prepared to work hard at practice next week. Offensive Coordinator Ed McDode, Sr., the father of the head coach, told the team to come to practice prepared because next week is going to be serious business. Wendell beat the Knights bad last season in Wendell and with next week being Homecoming the 12 year olds on the team will be honored before the game and there will be former players coming back for the game. They expect the largest crowd of the season at next week’s game and they are the fans listening to come prepared to make a lot of noise.
As always the post-game speech was ended with “Knights on 3.”
Post-game Information
After the game a group of us went to the Buffalo Wild Wings that just opened in Knightdale for a post-game victory meal. Several players and their families were at BWs after the game, the head coach and his family and even one of the game officials was enjoying some wings at BWs after the game. The coach who was at a table near us came over to share with us that he had just learned that Wendell had lost their game to Zebulon 20-33 to drop them to 5-1 on the season, which thickens the plot for next weekend’s rivlry game. Both teams are now 5-1 overall but Knightdale is now 3-0 in the conference and and Wendell dropped to 2-1 in the conference and are now tied for second with Zebulon. The Knights defeated the Zebulon Cougars two weeks ago in a defensive battle that ended with Knightdale winning 7-0, after my godson #80 Darris Bridgers tackled the Zebulon quarterback short of the end zone as the game clock expired. The Knights can win the conference title next week with a win over Wendell.
Liveblogging Experience
I enjoyed my first liveblogging experience. I have a new found respect for individuals that live blog on a regular. It is not easy when you have to play attention to something and write about it at the same time. You have to be good at multi-tasking in order to be great at live blogging.
I was excited about blogging my godson’s youth football game. Once I got past the stares of fans wondering why I had a laptop at a youth football game things ran pretty smooth.
I did find it difficult to blog, focus on the action on the field and take photos. However I did find myself paying more attention to the details of the game than I normally would have. I originally planned to blog in great detail but I soon realized there was only one me.
I can see how people can really get into blogging and sharing ideas about something they are passionate about. This was my first experience with blogging and right now I can not say that I have found something that I will do on a regular but I could see myself sharing ideas and get others’ opinions and feedback via blogging.
I actually set up the frame work for my blog while waiting for the game to start.
I have to thank my godson and his team for making the game a complete blow-out, which made it a lot easier to blog than I think it would have been if it was a tight game with a lot of scoring and action.
I gained much respect for bloggers last night. It is not a easy job. However I do see how people get into controversies with blogs because you are free to speak your mind and that is not always the PC thing to do.
