6th Grade White 2009

“C-4″

Courage, Commitment, Confidence, and Character

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Despite the menacing rain, the Greenwood 6^th grade White Team won their season opener on Saturday September 12, 2009 against the Green Van Buren Pointers on the road.

:By Coach Shawn Shaffer:

Through the years I have had the privilege of watching this group of kids play together and learn how to come together for a common goal.  As a group, we tout the saying “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.”

Quinton Marrone runs for a first down during the first half of the Pitbulls game vs. VB Green.

Saturday the 6^th Grade White PittBulls proved their fight was bigger.  The final score showed a White PittBull victory of 14 – 8.  What the scoreboard doesn’t show was the smash-mouth style of play the white PittBulls have come to levy on the opponent.  The PittBulls were slow to start the engine, but ultimately were able to get all cylinders firing in the wind and rain to win the game.

Mason Archer signals a first down after recovering a fumble for the Pitbulls.

The PittBulls fumble the opening play of the second half.  The Pointers score, kick the PAT and tie the game.  The PittBulls turn the ball over on downs.  The Pointers take over and fumble the ball. #34 Jordan “Hitman” Fox recovers the ball.  The end of the 3^rd quarter, the PittBulls have the ball on the 50 yd line and are poised to own the 4^th quarter.

Grant Morgan escapes a tackle by a VB Green defender.

#21 Marrone opens up a 37 yd run, and rushes in for a TD.  The PAT kick by #99 Zarate was blocked.  The Pointers get the ball and the PittBull defense is locked and loaded.  #28 Grant “The Predator” Morgan gets deep aggressive penetration into the Pointer backfield and tattoos a Pointer for a big loss.  #34 Jordan “The Hitman” Fox blows up the Pointer Offensive line and disrupts Van Buren’s rhythm, pushing the Pointers back on several consecutives yards for a loss. They are forced to punt the ball back to the PittBulls.  Battling the torrential downpours, the PittBulls can’t seem to hold onto the ball and turn it over on downs.

On the Pointer’s last possession, they air it out on 4^th and long, only to be determinedly intercepted by #28 Morgan, who runs the ball down to the Pointer 25 yd line.  With the clock winding down, rain coming down in buckets, and the score showing a 14 – 8 PittBull lead, the 6^th Grade White PittBulls mercifully show the victory formation and take a knee to let the clock run out.

The Pittbulls have a system of recognizing offensive and defensive players of the week.  Offensive Player was #21 Quinten “The Law” Marrone.  Defensive players were #28 Grant “The Predator” Morgan and #34 Jordan “The Hitman” Fox.  Congratulations Pittbulls, keep up the good work.

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Saturday October 3rd,

the 6th Greenwood White Pittbulls hosted the Sallisaw Black Diamonds at Smith Robinson Stadium. After being defeated a year ago by the Black Diamonds, Coach Shaffer and the Pittbulls were hungry for a victory.

The Pittbulls won the coin toss and elected to kick. Sallisaw’s very first play of the game caught the Mighty White defense off guard and ran a huge touchdown play. The Black Diamonds were successful on the PAT leaving the score 0-8 Sallisaw.

Grant Morgan bounces of Sallisaw defenders in Greenwood on Oct. 3, 2009

Making sure the Mighty White does not fall victim to unforgiving quicksand, the Pittbull offence quickly started the game with the smash mouth brand of football for which they are known. The Pittbulls marched the ball down the field with several first downs. #28, Grant Morgan, bounced off of several tacklers for a 15 yard touchdown run. # 99, Jose Zarate, kicks in the PAT with ease.

After the ensuing kick the Mighty White defense marched back out onto the field determined to not budge an inch. The Black Diamonds offense was a quick 4 and out after being crushed on every play for yards lost.

Jose Zarate kicks off for the Pitbulls against Sallisaw at Smith Robonson Stadium.

Going into the second quarter the offensive engine is running on all cylinders. The Pittbull offensive line wanted to make a statement and did just that by blowing the bigger Sallisaw Black Diamonds off the line of scrimmage on every play and opening up some of the biggest holes this season. This allowed huge gains up the middle and around the ends. These gains set up #28 Grant Morgan for an 18 yard TD, ran right up the middle on the huge Sallisaw defensive lineman. #99 Jose Zarate is successful on the PAT leaving the score 16-8 Pittbulls.

Going into the 3rd quarter, Sallisaw tries once again to move the ball, but after a few downs, #50 Travis Freeman blew through the line causing and recovering a fumble resulting in great mid-field position for the White Pittbulls. Once again the Pittbulls marched directly down the field and hand the ball off to #81 Brian Pullen who runs over two Sallisaw defenders and carries one on his back for a 7 yard TD run leaving the score 22-8 Pittbulls.

Noah Basham on a cut back run against Sallisaw.

The start of the 4th quarter seemed to be a repeat of the other quarters. The Pittbulls remained in control of the ball for most the 4th quarter. On the opening drive #14 Noah Basham connects with #21 Quinten Marrone. Marrone runs for a 44 yard TD run and once again #99 Zarate boots in the PAT leaving the score 30-8.

The Black Diamonds try once again to get something going only to have #25 Ryan Padilla intercept a pass and run it back 26 yards, setting up a 38 yard field goal attempt for #99 Zarate. Unfortunately the 38 yard attempt falls within mere inches of going through the uprights with a final score of 30-8 Pittbulls.

Offensive Player of the week was the entire line: Dustin McGowen, Travis Freeman, Sheldon Vargas, Alex Elmore, and Jose Zarate. Defensive players were #28 Grant Morgan and #21 Quinten Marrone totaling up 14 one on one tackles.

Congratulations Pittbulls, keep up the good work.

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6^th Grade White Pittbulls do it again:

Saturday October 10th, the 6^th Grade Greenwood White Pittbulls traveled to Van Buren to do battle with the VB Black. Coach Shawn Shaffer had the Pittbulls prepared for victory over the final Van Buren opponent.  The 6^th grade White Pittbulls have established a history of courage on the gridiron with gut wrenching tackles, downhill running and a superb passing game.

The Pittbulls received the kick and #14 Noah Basham ran the ball back 12 yards.  The Pittbulls start marching down the field with a 10 yard run from #28 Grant Morgan and 27 yards from Basham.  Basham goes to the air and threads a nice pass into Morgan, setting up a 20 yard touchdown run by #86 Quinten Marrone.  #99 Jose Zarate lines up to kick and boots in a high kick that splits the uprights leaving the score 8-0, Pittbulls.   The Pittbulls kick-off.  The mighty white defense takes the field, committed to not budging an inch.  They do just what they set out to do and stop VB dead in their tracks.  The Pittbulls start deep in their own territory and the offense start moving the chains with ease to the other end of the field.  The offensive line blows open huge holes in VB defense for the duo of Morgan and Marrone to run through.  Basham airs one out to Marrone who makes a one handed catch and runs the ball all the way down to the 5 yard line.   Morgan then takes the hand off and bulls his way in for the TD.  The defense sets up again with the confidence to stop VB.  Marrone makes a powerful hit in the backfield and causes and recovers a fumble giving the Pittbulls good field position.  The Pittbulls runs out of time before the can capitalize on the turn over, going into the half 14-0.  To start the second half the Pittbull defense takes the field and allows a first down.  On VB’s very next play #12 Andrew McGill intercepts their pass for a huge turn over on downs.  The Pittbulls show their power set by handing the ball off to #81 Brian Pullen.  Pullen seems to be run over at least 2 defenders each time he carries the ball.  The big runs from Pullen, and Basham, set up yet another Pittbull TD by Morgan.  Zarate’s PAT is good leaving the final score 22-0 Pittbulls.

Offensive Players of the week are #28 Grant Morgan, and #14 Noah Basham with a combined total of 219 yards rushing and passing. Defensive players were #12 Andrew McGill and #86 Quinten Marrone totaling up 7 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries and an interception.  Congratulations Pittbulls, keep up the good work.