The Longest Yards

In the movie "The Longest Yard" Burt Reynolds was the loveable quarterback of a group of inmates "forced" into action to play football against the hated, classless, dirty and lacking in any moral fiber whatsoever guards of a southern prison. The game was dirty. Cheap shots rained all over the field. Now imagine that kind of atmosphere in a little town in New Mexico. Only this time the good guys were wearing all white. Also those wearing white were the upstanding pillars of college football playing against a group of talented washouts in home colors from big time programs as well as gypsies from junior colleges. These vagabonds were talkative and brazen in both their swagger and vocabulary. This group of borderline football degenerates started the season flying high but had fallen on hard times of late losing four straight. To most who play the hard nosed game of football such a losing streak would perhaps make them take a step back and respect their opponent. New Mexico Highlands University is not that kind of team. They chirp. They strut around like they are future number one draft picks. They yell obscenities at opposing coaches. They take cheap shots behind plays when they think no one is watching. When they were winning football games this was all an acceptable trade off for a first year coach trying to make a name for himself in NCAA Division II after being a winning juco coach. But now it looks just like it should look. Disgraceful. Make no mistake about it this was a win for the good guys. But from the start it was perfectly clear this was going to be no easy task. Highlands defense is arguably the best group of individuals the Thunderwolves have played against all season long. The Cowboys played fast and dominated the line of scrimmage against the much heralded CSU-Pueblo offensive line. Pack QB Ross Dausin was harassed constantly in the first half. Running back Jesse Lewis was bottled up. But the NMH offense was just as inept in the first half against the number one defense in the country. The teams combined for 16 first half punts. Kyle Major missed a long field goal attempt in the games only real scoring threat for the first 28 minutes of action. It was fitting that the games first big break happened on one of those punts as Cowboy return man Abdul Kannah muffed the catch and Thunderwolves cornerback Stephan Dickens pounced on the ball at the NMH 27 yard line. It took one play for the Pack to capitalize as freshman sensation J.B. Mathews took a pitch to the left and cut back into the middle of the gridiron to break the ice and give CSU-P the halftime lead. The second half started much the same way as both teams searched for offense. But again fittingly the game turned on another Highlands punt. This time Josh Sandoval's great catch and 11-yard return set up CSU-P at the Highlands 34. It would take the Thunderwolves just four plays to cash in the great field position as once again it was Mathews taking it in from 20 yards to push the lead to 14-0. CSU-P's defense which was stellar all night long forced another punt giving their offense great field position at the CSU-P 44. Suddenly the swagger was gone on defense for NMH. And as the swagger melted away the stupidity and lack of discipline came to the forefront. A personal foul penalty for an ill-advised horse collar tackle gave the Pack new life and again it was Mathews punching it over from seven yards out early the 4th quarter to more or less seal the deal. But the signature play of the game would come on the Cowboys 13th punt of the evening. Again it was the former East Eagle standout Sandoval doing his thing taking the ball in the middle of the field at the 17 yard line. The sophomore started up the middle then cut to the sideline and beat the final tackle attempt of NMH punter Ernesto Guerra on the sideline to help finish off the 83-yard punt return for a touchdown. A real feel good moment closed out the touchdown scoring for the game as senior running back Jamaal Johnson scored on a 41 yard reception. Guerra added comedy to the final moments letting a snap go through his legs on what would have been his 15th punt of the night. Instead of trying to pick the ball up Guerra swung his leg and sent the ball out the side of the endzone to give the Pack a safety to finalize the scoring at 37-0. Highlands finished the game with 15 penalites for 149 yards including seven personal foul penalties. CSU-P wasn't completely sin free as junior tackle Ryan Jensen was ejected late in the game for a personal foul and will have to miss this weeks game versus Western State. It was an ugly way to end an ugly game agaisnt an ugly team at an ugly antiquated stadium. CSU-Pueblo head coach John Wristen was nearly ashen faced as he conducted the post game radio interview with me on 590KCSJ. All he could do was praise the way his team played the game. But it is also very apparent that coach Wristen wont tolerate the play Highlands displayed witness his walking lecture down the track to Jensen as he made his way to the locker room following his ejection. The Athletic support staff at Highlands are steadfast in their support for their head coach Eric Young. But it is very apparent that the culture of disrespect for the game and the indivduals who play it must be addressed by someone outside the university if no one at the institution sees fit to do it.
.
----------POLL TAX-----It was a taxing week for teams in the most recent top 10 Divsion II poll as four teams went down to defeat. No 3 Bloomsberg, No 5 North Alabama, No 6 Minnesota Duluth and No 10 Wayne State-Michigan all lost. Look for the Thunderwolves to move to No 4 in the polls this week as well as maintain their No 1 seed in Super Region Three. The only real mystery will be whether Nebraska-Kearney maintains their No 2 seed in the region due to St Cloud State (Minnesota) victory over defending national champion Minnesota Duluth. Look for Indianapolis and Saginaw Valley to move into the all important top six in the region.
.
----------TV TIME-----The Center for New Media will provide tape-delay television coverage
of this weeks game at home versus Western State. Broadcast schedule is still TBA as is the play-by-play talent to be used for the broadcast. CSU-P would like to see Joe Cervi and me do the game on a simulcast setup but neither Clear Channel or CNM have come to an agreement at this time. If a deal cant be struck veteran pueblo sportscaster Jeff Orman will call the game on the television side. Stay tuned.........
.
----------TEBOW DID WHAT-----The feel good week that was Denver following Tim Tebow's magical comeback win against Miami lasted about 10 minutes in the Broncos embarrassing 45-10 loss at home to the upstart Detroit Lions. Tebow started the game well but as the game pregressed all of the former Florida Gator's flaws were exposed. And as his game slid backwards so did the entire team as the defense was equally as horrid as Denver's sorry excuse for an offensive line. Couple that with no Willis McGahee and ordinary weapons in the receiving corps and you had the recipe for what transpired. It doesnt get any easier next week as a trip to Oakland is waiting.
.
----------HEADING SOUTH-----During Friday nights broadcast of South vs Fountain-Fort Carson I opined if you had just awakened from a five year coma you would not believe what you were seeing from the boys on Hollywood Blvd. South was outmanned and outclassed and borderline embarrased in the 36-6 drubbing at the hands of the Trojans of CSU-Pueblo alum Mitch Johnson. Of course Colt Nation has been spoiled all those years of undefeated regular seasons and league titles. Those teams didnt always have the best talent but what they did have was total discipline and heroic effort from all involved. That resolve they once displayed is sorely missing this season. It is painfully obvious they are affected immensly by all the injuries and murderous schedule they have faced this year. But what is also painfully obvious is the apparent surrender to the fate dealt them. Fans can accept losing as long as it appears total effort and preparation are there. But when you witness three straight hand offs to the fullback on more than one occasion totally ignoring down and distance it begins to raise red flags. South has a proud football tradition and will rise to the top again I am confident in saying. But what all of us witnessed Friday night against a superior opponent leaves an uneasy feeling. We will have the final regular season game this Friday versus cross-county rival Pueblo West. Much like they did against East in the battle for the Cannon I expect a great effort by the wounded Southsiders.
----------PROGRAM REMINDERS-----John Wristen Show presented by Miller Lite is set for Wednesday night at Buffalo Wild Wings. We invite everybody to be there to eat, drink and be merry while you listen to Coach Wristen comment on Saturday nights big win over Highlands and look ahead to this weeks game versus Western State. We take to the air on 590KCSJ-AM and www.590kcsj.com at 706pm on Wednesday night. As mentioned before CNM will be at the Neta and Eddie DeRose Thunderbowl Friday night for Pueblo West vs South. Broadcast premier is Saturday Morning at 1000am. Our next broadcast of Thunderwolves football will be Saturday at 200pm from the Thunderbowl on KCSJ. Pregame show is set for 130pm. Once again this game will be televised on tape-delay basis on Comcast 19. Broadcast premier is TBA. When the schedule is finalized I will publish the dates and times on the Jim Brooks Fan Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jim-Brooks-Fan-Page/233638253346424 .