2009 BMMS Tigers

The Bay Minette Middle School Tigers met the Daphne Middle School Trojans for the Baldwin County 2A Middle Football Championship on October 22, 2009 at Trojan Field.  The Tigers entered the contest as the champions of the North Division with a record of 7-0, while the Daphne Trojans were the number two seed, also from the North Division, with a record of 4-3.  The Tigers defeated the number two seed from the South Division, Fairhope Pirates, one week earlier with a score of 26-6, as the Trojans beat the number one seed from the South Division, Foley Lions, 33-30 to advance to the championship game. 

The game started under extreme adverse conditions with rain coming down in droves.  It started raining before the game and continued until well after the game finished.  The Tigers won the toss and elected to defer and kick to the Trojans.  The Trojans started on their 26 yard line.  They quickly gained 20 yards on three plays by keeper runs by Zach Morgan until an incompletion and loss of one yard brought a 4^th and 5 at the Daphne 45.  The Tigers were flagged for offsides and the Trojans kept their drive alive.  Morgan completed a 12 yard pass to Scyler Jackson and then he ripped off a 21 yard run to the Bay Minette 17 yard line.  Three plays later, Will Cooper sacked Morgan and caused a fumble which was recovered by Justin Graham. 

The Tigers first series was three and out.  They misfired on 4^th and 9; the right receiver, Jamychal Austin was uncovered and the punter, Cody Rollins overthrew the receiver.  The Trojans went three and out and tried a fake punt run which the Tiger defense stuffed.  Both teams were unable to consistently move the ball and again Daphne tried to run on a fake punt which resulted in an 11 yard loss.  On the Tigers last series before the half; on the first play from scrimmage, JaQuan Finch took a pitch from QB Andre Davis, and made 6 tacklers miss and with three great downfield blocks, scored from the Daphne 21 yard line.  Kareem Brown ran right for the 2 point conversion, putting the Tigers up 8-0.  The Trojans gained one more first down before the half ended. 

The Daphne Trojans recovered a controversial onside kick, in which appeared that the Trojans touched the football before it traveled 10 yards.  However, the Tiger defense stuffed the Trojans.  Both teams traded series, before the Tigers took control of the game and began to wear down the Trojans.  They pounded the ball from the Daphne 43 to the 28 until Cody Rollin scored on a sweep play to the left from the 28 yard line.  The extra point try was no good, putting the Tigers in command 14-0.  The Trojans were able to make one last attempt to score, but the Bay Minette Tigers limited Daphne to one first down before the Tigers ripped off a time consuming, 10-play drive that stalled at the Daphne 20.  The game ended with Daphne completing a screen pass to Sheffield Washington. 

Will Cooper, James Brown, Kareem Brown, and Cody Rollin all made big plays to thwart the Trojans.  The defense limited the Daphne Trojans to a total of 68 yards for the game on 4-13 passing and just 1 first down in the second half.  The Tigers were very balanced on offense with JaQuan Finch, Kareem Brown and Cody Rollin running for over 40 yards each and Lorenzo Fields and Jaylen Crook providing for some tough inside yards and first downs. The Tigers protected the football well with no turnovers and only two penalties.  However, they were held to a season low of 148 yards of offense in the torrential rain.  Coach Powell said, "Daphne always seems to be so much better at the end of the season then in the beginning.  They are a good football team, and well coached by Coaches Dailey and Hinton". 

The Tigers' defense, coach by Michael Donaldson, shut out 4 opponents and gave up an average of 3.6 points a game.  Defensive leaders were Antonio Atchison, Will Cooper, Justin Graham, Lorenzo Fields, Montez Brown, Jacob Welch, James Brown, Cody Rollin and JaQuan Finch. The offense averaged 27.6 points a game.  Offensive leaders were Andre Davis, Blaine Dickman, Justin Graham, Kareem Brown, Cody Rollin, JaQuan Finch, Jaylen Crook, and Will Cooper.  Overall, the Tigers enjoyed a great year.  Coach Powell stated: "they worked extremely well together, and it shows they are a close knit group". We (the coaches) adjusted our practice schedule and tempo to improve their practice habits; we weren't a very good practice team to start the year.  Additionally, we had several players, such as Lark Lee, Eddie Jeselink, Chase Daniel, Tommie Jackson, Jeremiah Summerlin, Jamychal Austin, and Greg Pritchett that improved their play during the season and contributed greatly to the overall success of the team.  Through out the season, they played like their team motto: "Play like a Champion".