San Ysidro Cougars 0 Patriots 19

Yesterday was a typical first game at the freshman level as the Patriots beat the Cougars 19-0.  It was Typical in that there were a lot of inexperienced players on the field and they did not know how to carry themselves during the course of a game.  It is also typical that mistakes will be made during the first game for freshmen.

But what stands out the most is the heart and desire for our players to compete and play hard.  There were a lot of players that stepped up and had outstanding games.  We started the game with an interception by Nick Cocca on the first play from scrimmage.  Not to be outdone, we fumbled it back to the Cougars.  That was just the first two plays of the game.

Offensively, Keith Reed and Sean Tighlman scored on runs of 5 and 12 yards respectively.  Cruz Samniego threw a perfect pass to Nick Cocca for another TD.

Despite the errors made here and there, the defense played a good game.  They came away with two out of our three game objectives with 3 turnovers and 3 sacks.  The goal line stand at the end of the game was truly a thing of beauty with different players coming up and making plays.  Casey Cirina, Jack Kurz, Ernie Moya, Isaac and Isaia Pacheco, Brandon Brooks, Tommy Fiato and Sean Ybarrando all had a hand in the stop of the Cougars at the 2 yard lines as the clock expired preserving the shut out.

I want to take a moment and address the problem we had on the sideline and the foul behavior that stemmed from that.  There were two girls on our sideline that were not from PHHS.  They were disrupting the chain gang and my ability to keep our team focused.  I asked them to leave and they refused to do so.

That is why SYHS was penalized 15 yards by the referee and the game came to a stop.  Later in the 4th quarter, the girls grandmother came down to the field and went after their head coach, who happens to be a friend of mine and a former partner of mine  on SDPD when we worked San Ysidro.

Again, the referee had to stop the game and get the Varsity coach to have the lady removed.

I know this frustrated everybody but the players.  The players didn't care and all they wanted to do was play football.  But I could hear comments from out stands that were obviously the product of frustration.  At one point, I could hear people sing, "Na na na na   Na na na na  Hey hey hey, goodbye!"

Funny as that might have sounded, I did not see a need for it.  All it could do is incite a bad situation and make it worse.  I am teaching out players to treat others with respect or R.O.O.T.S. for short.  Respect the Rules, the Officials, Others, the Team and most important respect Self.

My staff and I live that way all the time and we expect our players to do the same.  Parents, family, friends and the coaches have one goal: Let's make our football players men for others.  Let's be the example for that.  Because our success will not be gauged in wins and losses.  It will be gauged in 5 to 10 years from now when they become productive members of society, loving husbands, loving fathers and loving sons.