Falcon Pride Takes Wing

By Tony Levesque

“We had a very difficult preseason this year,” said Shane Ryan, varsity lineman and defensive end for the Frazier Mountain High School Falcon football team after last Friday’s game. “Every single team we have played against [went] to playoffs last year, but we have competed well against them all and it has only made us better and stronger. So when the time comes to face our league, we will do a much better job!”

On September 30 FMHS played at home against the Grace Brethren Lancers of Simi Valley who have a state rank of 558. The Falcons are ranked at 793. FMHS fought hard, but in the first quarter of the varsity game, the Lancers quickly scored two touchdowns, then another pair in the second quarter.

Finally, Falcon Forrest Pohl gained 70 yards on a pass thrown by Isaac Shillig, to score a 15-yard touchdown pass from Shillig to Pohl, followed by a 2 point conversion by Patrick Moulder, for 27-8 on the scoreboard.

During halftime, the JV and varsity cheer squads showed their skills, performing stunts and cheers, pumping the roaring crowd up even more. It was a spirited crowd.

The Lancers took 2 touchdowns in the third quarter. The Falcons held them off in the fourth quarter with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Shillig to Brandon Knight. Another 2-point conversion by Moulder ended the game at 39-16 with the Lancers the victors.

“The boys put in a lot of hard work and gave everything they had. I think next week we will be more successful and more disciplined,” said Jeff Martinez, one of the newest varsity players of the team.

The JV team lost 33-0. JV wide receiver Jonathan Tracy was injured during the game. JV play stopped for 30 minutes so the paramedics could work with him. He was told he probably has a concussion. They did not take him to the hospital.

Afterward, Tracy said: “I was hit really hard, falling backwards and slamming the back of my head on the ground. The coaches and referees told me not to move in case of a serious head injury. I’m alright though and if I’m not back by the next game, I will definitely be back for league,” Tracy said.

Next week the Falcons will play their last non-league game of the season—an away game against the Strathmore Spartans, who are ranked 726 in the state. The Spartans also went to playoffs in 2010 and are 3-1 in preseason.

The first High Desert League game, which is expected to be more evenly matched, is against the Desert Scorpions of Edwards Air Force Base, on October 14.

This is part of the October 07, 2011 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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