The buses arrived at Springstead High School on Tuesday 9/22 to start the most anticipated game of the season. Both Parrott and Explorer teams stepped off the bus fully padded, energetic, and ready to get the game started.
The 22 middle school football players play four – eight minute quarters as well as a fifth quarter. The purpose of the fifth quarter is to give the younger players a chance to dig their cleats in the field and gain experience. On both offense and defense the kids range in age from 11 to 14 and are all over the height spectrum. Some are so grown up you would think that they are in High School. Football to these kids is more than just a game; it is about building strength both physically and mentally. “He’s with his classmates, he’s playing (the game), it is a great camaraderie, it’s part of being a team,” Scott Arthur said whose stepson plays for Explorer.
Football as well as other sports can be viewed as a reward. Those students that do well in school and achieve the for the students,can continue to be involved in sports. “Football encourages him; you have to maintain a 2.0 GPA in order to play the sport for school. I think that that helps him because he knows he has to make good grades which can further him when it comes to college,” Jennifer Drankwalter-Arthur said whose son is seventh grader, Austin Aliotta (11) tight end, and strong safety for the Bobcats.
The Bobcats had it rough on the field in the first half and had difficulty finding a balance both offensively and defensively. During the second half, however, they began to pull it together. Bobcats QB Adrian Cabrerra (#1) worked the game and gave the Bobcats a much needed boost, putting 18 points on the board.
“It was tough, we started out slow the first half, faced a tough opponent,” stated Rob Weldon head football coach for Explorer K-8. “I’m proud of the kids, they hung in there and they kept playing, we will just keep going and working.”
Ending the game… Bobcats’ offense was around the 20 yard line with just seconds on the clock; just after the snap with zero time on the board, Anthony Alexis (#4) ran twenty yards to complete a touchdown that gave the Bobcats a total of eighteen points on the board. “Very proud of the win but we still got a ways to go,” said Shawn Bingham head coach of the Leopards.
Explorer was the only team to break the Parrott winning streak record three years ago. Despite a reinvigorated second half, Explorer couldn’t put enough points on the board for a win. “Every time we face them (Explorer) we are going to make sure they know that we are Parrott,” said Bingham head Coach for the D.S Parrott Middle School Football.
Explorer K-8 Football Schedule: All games start at 6:30
Tuesday, October 6 vs. Powell @ Springstead High School
Tuesday, October 20 vs. Winding Waters K8 @ Weeki Wachee High School
Tuesday, October 27 vs. West Hernando @ Central High School
Tuesday, November 3 vs. Challenger K8 @ Springstead High School
D.S Parrott Middle School Football Schedule: All games start at 6:30pm
Tuesday, September 29 vs. Winding Waters K8 @ West Hernando Middle School
Tuesday, October 6 vs. West Hernando Middle @ Hernando High School
Tuesday, October 27 vs. Fox Chapel @ Hernando High School
Tuesday, November 3 vs. Powell Middle @ Hernando High School
