oh my gosh! i can't believe that friday is the bell game! i'm so excited it's unreal! and bell thinks that just because they have a new coach that they're going to break the tradition...we'll have to see how that turns out. oh and speaking of football, apparently the little town of Barnsdall and their football team, the Panthers, have seen footage of the Haka and find it funny...i hope Tim and his buddies never come here saying that otherwise he and the team won't ever be able to play a game again in their life. But oddly enough i did find the article on Tim that he was telling me about.... i am so incredibly proud of him and i miss him soo much! But anyways here's the article about their game last week....i love the beginning sentence!! :

Panthers knock off Liberty for 1st win
By Mike Tupa

E-E Sports Editor

Where there was a Will - or even a Wilson - there was a way for the Barnsdall High football team Friday night.

The proud Panther program burst free from the fetters of a winless season by dumping Liberty, 14-12.

Barnsdall's attack was strenghtened by the return of Will Smith to the team. Smith had moved away before the start of the season but returned Friday night to rush for 68 yards and rack up 15 tackles on defense.

Smith's insertion at halfback helped bolster the Panther's ever-growing potent passing game.

Quarterback Tim Wilson, making just his third start under center, threw for a pair of touchdowns.

Aaron Zappone was the recipient of both scoring strikes, including an acrobatic, man-sized 45-yard scoring play.

Wilson's pass on the play traveled about 44 yards in the air.

Zappone did the rest.

”Aaron was behind the defender,“ said coach Jim Riley. ”Aaron went up above the guy and took it away from the kid. They both had their hands on it. Aaron came down with it, turned and stepped into the end zone.“

Zappone earlier in the game scored on a 30-yard pass play from Wilson. Steven Townley knocked both extra points through the upright.

Liberty still nearly pulled out the win in the final seconds. The Tigers had three shots into the Barnsdall end zone from the eight-yard line in the final minute.

But, Barnsdall hung on to post its first victory of the season.

The Panthers snapped a five-game losing streak, which was a sweet turn-of-events considering the turmoil the team endured the first five weeks.

A shake-up three weeks ago saw the former head coach step down and assistants Riley, Eliot Smith and Kurt Heller put in charge of the squad.

Riley said he felt the significance of Friday's victory can't be over-appreciated.

”You can't go through the changes we've gone through and not have it affect your program,“ he said. ”Even though we've always been around the kids, the leadership changed three weeks into the season.

”A win for us is good. It affects how we practice and the way the guys walk around town and in the halls....We're starting to see we can be a pretty good football team.“

One of the biggest imprints of the coaching triumvirate was switching Wilson to quarterback and Zappone to receiver.

Originally, it was done for necessity because of an injury to Zappone which affected his throwing motion.

But, even when Zappone is completely healed, the change likely will remain permanent, Riley said.

”That seems to be a good combination,“ said Riley. ”Aaron seems to like playing receiver.

”Tim looks good at quarterback. He's a little, skinny kid, but he's pretty strong.“

Riley added he believes the team ”is starting to buy into our new offense.“

Smith led the way Friday night on the ground with 68 yards on 19 carries.

Wilson completed five passes for 80 yards. Zappone caught four of them.

Defensviely, Smith played both linebacker and defensive end. He racked up 14 solo tackles and had one assist.

Other Panther tackle leaders included Townley with 13, Will Swan with 12 and Zappone with 11.

Zappone also intercepted two passes.

Despite Barnsdall's swarming, dominating play, the Panthers were still in danger of losing late.

”On our last three series, we dropped a punt and twice hiked the ball over our quarterback's head,“ Riley explained.

The climax of the game happened in the final minute with Liberty knocking on the door at the Barnsdall eight-yard line.

Liberty's quarterback overthrew his receivers in the end zone on two passing attempts.

The next pass was delivered right to the hands of the receiver at the goalline.

But, three Barnsdall defenders - Wilson, Zappone and Jake Mead - crashed into the receiver as soon as the ball touched his paws.

”All the contact knocked the ball loose,“ Riley said. ”We broke the pass up.“

Then, it was time for the long-delayed celebration for victory number one of 2005.

”It sure was a good victory,“ said Riley. ”The crowd was good. It was good to walk into the locker room to talk to a team that had had some success on the field.“

The Panthers will now take aim on returning to the playoffs for the third-straight season.

That requires them to win three-of-their-remaining-four-games, Riley noted. The list of foes on the list includes Kiefer, Woodward, Pawnee and Newkirk.

Barnsdall's task is challenging, to be certain, for a run to the playoffs.

But, the biggest mountain has been climbed - the ascent to the first victory.

Now the Panthers will attack the next obstacle with the confidence they can get it done.

Just ask Liberty.

--he may be little and skinny but man is he a cutie! maybe Timmy will have to make a trip to see me soon! yay!--

 

 

wow! i haven't really had time to type in this but now that i'm done with the lab and studying i'll just write a little something for ya'll! i just had an awesome talk with one of my close friends Daniel! oh my gosh i miss him so much! i hope that his campus doesn't get destroyed by hurricane rita...yikes. And i hope that the gulf coast will be ok too, i really wish that this wasn't a back to back scare. i'll be praying even more for everyone in the south...   see you at the pole was today and that went pretty good, Pumpkin came up to school for it yay! and it was just a great way to start off a morning! well that's all for right now i think i'm going to study and little bit more and then wake up soon! love you guys!xoxo