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11th Marines Begin Workouts
After last years disappointing loss to rival Mag-39 in the Base Championship game 6-0, the 11th Marines were left with a bad taste in their mouth and winless in a title game since 1998. This year however there are new faces and names on the field for the cannon cockers this year, with some returner's from last years squad not off of leave yet or just arriving back the coaches are stuck with the new breed of players and not alot of time to work with them. With the first game starting Aug.4th there hasn't been to much time to mess around."I've got alot of new guys this year" said Head Coach Jacob Puda, "Its not going to be easy to just expect these guys to know whats going on", "But they have show alot of good things the past two weeks and i think we'll be ready, I'm very excited". Puda in just his second year of coaching has brought the Cannon Cockers out of the ashes and back into the lime light. When asked about what he did to get the team back into its once great form all he could say was that if not for such great assistants last year the team would have been nothing. Both assistants have since left and have been replaced by newcomer Greg Long. Long played semi-pro football in Texas and will be the Defensive Co-ordinator."I'm very excited to have SSgt Long, he brings alot to the field." Puda said of his new assistant,"Im very lucky to have a guy with his kind of experince I know he will do great things for this program." The teams first game will be Monday August 4th at 1600 on the 43 Area field against Security Bn. All the head coach had to say was "Im not to much worried about our first game, i know we'll come out strong and we are going to let people know the 11th Marines is back and we are comeing for that title." 11th Marines kick off season with a win Carlice Moffett preferred Jacob Puda standing across from him on the opposite sideline, where he could match wits with the 11th Marines Coach. At least there, Securtiy Battallion's first-time head man had a chance to come away on top by outsmarting his counterpart. Because as soon as Puda stepped onto the field as a replacement player for injured QB Stephen Phelps, the Titans didn't have a chance. Puda, who is now in his second season in charge of 11th Marines, came to his squads rescue on Monday, leading them to an 18-6 victory over Security Battallion in the season opener at the 43 Area field. "When(Puda) came into the game, it changed everything," Moffett said after his unit made its first apperance since 1997 in an Intramural tackle football game. "That was definately the differnce....We were better off with him on the sideline." Puda didn't want the spotlight for his personal performance ------which entailed three completions for more than 50 yards, several other long gains called back by penelties and some nifty scrambling. For him victory was just step #1 for the team, whose mission is to return to the championship game -----which they fell short of to Mag-39 last year 6-0. "Our Defense was awesome all game and special teams was their too, we were just clicking this game....I think we owe alot to our defense." Puda said after the victory on thier home field in front of more than 200 spectators. "Probably 90 percent of this team is new, but they know, our goal is to get back to the big game." Puda was without several key players from last years runner-up squad. Golden Helmet and Confrence MVP Micheal Teachy (defensive line) and Golden Helmet selection Anthony Parker (Defensive back)were among the boeisterous crowd cheering the Cannon Cockers to victory. Despite losing thoes standouts, who are expected to return to the team this week, Puda believes this years group is even more talented than last years. Newcomers like running back Larry Lawrence -----the 2001 Golden Helmet Player of the Year ----- and 6-foot-7 tight end Javier Rivera give the offense two dynamic threat's, something it really didn't have last year. Puda is also excited about the additions of running backs Jose Aleman and James Russell, defensive back Kenneth Pless and defensive lineman Brian Myer who had 2 sacks and a couple of bone crushing hits on QB Heith McDonald. "We've got some guys that are just aching to play ball and hit someone" Puda said. But none of these players had a more profound effect than the coach himself. "I always knew that if Steven ever got hurt that it would be a disaster for one but i would have to step in a play for him," Puda said. " I just stepped in and took over and we were able to score. But I think Steven is a good QB....I'm going to wait and see how he feels, and if he's ready to go, he'll play next week." Phelps felt fine in the first half, when he put a Micheal Vick-style move on a Titan Linebacker and got a great block by tailback James Russell to break out for a 35 yard TD scramble down the sideline. That score put 11th Marines up 6-0. But the offense stalled and when Phelps went down with concussion, Puda was forced to drop his clipboard and dawn his fallen QB's pads. And did he ever. " I wasn't surprized when (Puda) came in," TE Javier Rivera siad. "I know how bad he wants to win, and i know he loves this team. When he came out(to the field), it gave us a rush." Losing a solid starting QB like Phelps could have spelled disaster for 11th Marines. But the unit thrived on the diversity. The same couldnt be said for Security. When they lost strong-armed QB Heith McDonald to who suffered a bashed lip early in the first quarter courtesy of Cannon Cocker DE Brain Myer who made a face to face with him many times. The 6-foot-3 signal caller had to leave the game and go to the hospital for stiches. Before the injury, he was displaying a rocket arm, completeing 4-of-7 passes for 44 yards. "When we lost him, it definately hurt,"Moffett said. "It changed everything, because we weren't able to go deep. We just didnt execute in this game." That was eveident by the Titans trailing 18-0 with less than a minute left to play. The Cannon Cockers scored on a 17 yard TD pass from Puda to Rivera and later Kenneth Pless scored on a 45 yard punt return. The game was never in doubt, but the Titans did manage to get on the board with 55 seconds remaining when back up QB Joseph Salazar threw a 75 yard touchdown pass to streaking reciver Clyde Logan. "I think when Mcdonald comes back, we're going to be a good team," Moffett said. "We could have a very good deep game...I think Heith could be a Golden Helemt candidate." Next action for the Cannon Cockers will be Monday August 11th against HQBN. 1stMarDiv at 1800 on the 43 Area feild. 11th Marines roll past 9th Comm/H&S Playing QB, the most important position on the gridiron, is no easy chore. First of all, you have to be cool under pressure. You have to be buoyant enough to shake off your own mistakes. Toughness is also a prerequisite. You have to endure the hardest licks as if they were kisses from a kitten. You have to pick youself up off the field and return to action, just to prove you mettle to teammates. But most of all you have to have the talen to get the job done. You have to know how to win. Steven Phelps demonstrated all of these qualities Monday night when he reurned from a head injury to lead 11th Marine Regiment to a 12-0 victory over 9th Comm/HQBn at 43 Area Feild on Monday. Phelps who was sidelined last week with a minor concussion during the Cannon Cockers' win over Security Bn, played what he, and his coach Jacob Puda, considered his best performance since joing the team 11th Marines Football program last year. "I think its the best he's played," Puda said of his starting QB, who hurled two long TD passes and completed 12 of 15 passes for 190 yds in the Cannon Cockers' new found quick-strike aerial attack in front of more than 150 lively fans. "I think that he has more confidence than he used to. He's getting better. I really believe that he has grown in poise and confidence." Puda added. Any normal person in Phelps position would have felt an uncertainty about thier job security comeing into this game, becuase last week, after Phelps departure, the Cannon Cockers flourised with Puda under center. It's not easy for somebody to watch another player perform at an exceptional level while they sit on the bench. All that does is make the incumbent press harder to keep his job. "Whenever your a QB, thier is a lot of pressure," Phelps admitted. But the 6 foot 2 signal caller from Texas stepped up and showed his coach what he's capable of accomplishing. Phelps connected on two big plays, the first was a 29-yard TD pass to a wide open Quinton Bell on a play action pass, and later in the second half, a 65 yard TD bomb to 6 foot 4 standout David White as the team improved to 2-0 in thier quest to return to the championship game, which they lost last year to MAG-39. But Phelps isn't the only player makeing a differnce on for 11th Marines. The suqad played excellent on defense, surmounting two contraversial unnecessary roughness penilties against hard hitting saftey Jeremy Knutson allowed a mere 85 yds of offense. "Doc(Knutson)is a hard-hitter, flat out. He plays the game a 150% and shows no mercy," said defensive coach Greg Long. "We told him to just play his game, and let us worry about the calls." The second of thoes penelties put 9th Comm in the red zone. But the oppurtunity was for naught, as the Cannon Cockers dominant defense stiffend. "We were able to overcome thoes calls," said defensive leader Anthony Parker, a Golden Helmet selection at saftey last year. "And that is what good defenses do." Thier defense was suffocating, but without a doubt, Phelps performance stood out most. " I have to hand it to the Offensive line, they played a heck of a game," said Phelps, who also praised his skill players such a WB Larry Lawrence, TB James Russell and WB Chad Morgan who had a first half TD called back on a penelty. Everyone on offense had their moments from Lawrence's big runs to right tackle Chris Brooks' block that sprung morgan for his TD. But Puda, who stood by Phelps through his up's and downs last season was more blunt in analyzing the difference between his QB's perfomance this week as compared to previous weeks. "I think he stopped second guessing himself, I've been pounding that into his head lately. I knew he could make big things happen, he just has to believe in himself." Something Puda never doubted. And now, the rest of the Cannon Cockers shouldn't either. Next action for the team will vs. H&S FSSG/7th ESB next monday at 1600 on the 43 Area Field. Big Play & Big Hits Spark 11th Marines With one little stutter step and one big hit, Kennth Pless and Jeremy Knutson changed the entire complexion of the game. It was the opening kickoff of the second half, and up to that point Monday evening, everything had gone against the 11th Marine Football team. The Cannon Cockers had watched three early touchdowns be wiped away on horrible rulings by the referees. The squad could feel it was physically beating the 1st FSSG Outlaws, but they had nothing to show for it. Until Pless got his hands on the ball and Knutson delivered a punishing hit. First to make the momentum change was Pless, when the speedster recived the kickoff 1 yard deep in the endzone he raced for daylight, juked FSSG's Aaron Lang and tiptoed down the sideline for a record 101 yards and a tie-breaking touchdown, the Cannon Cockers were on their way to an 18-0 victory at the 43 Area Field. " I just gave it all I had," Pless said of the return that broke the Outlaws hearts. " I saw the kicker (Lang) stubbling, and i just tried to get by him and was able to take it to the house." That touchdown marked one turning point in the game. The other was Jeremy Knustons big blow to an Outlaw reciver on a 4th down play. On the play Outlaw QB Damien Mitchell was scrambling for his life and fired the ball to a double covered #22. The pass was nealy intercepted by DB Marc Harris but it slipped thruogh and was caught for a brief second by the reciever, that is until Knutson arrived on the scene and deliverd a powerful pop that could be hear thru out the area. The hit sent the Cannon Cocker side line into an uproar. From that point on out the Outlaws were punished hit after hit and sack after sack. However the Outlaws had been fortunate to be tied at 0 at the half, because the Cannon Cockers had three disputed TD elimimanated on officiating decisions. The first to be nullified was a great catch in teh back of the endzone by WR Larry Lawrence. But the 2001 Golden helmet PLayer of the Year was ruled out becuase the offical claimed he did not have possesion of the ball. The second score was Chad Morgan's 23 yard rushing TD, but was called back for holding and the third TD was Lawrence one again who sprinted around the left side uncontested for 76 yards, which was called back for an illegal motion. Needless to say, the Outlaws were in position to register the biggest upset of the young season. But not on this day. With the Cannon Cocker defense playing as nasty and stubborn as ever and with Pless's kick return, FSSG was a beaten squad. " I wouldnt say we put our heads down or anything like that," FSSG QB Damien Mitchel said. "But it was a big play. It broke the stalemate and it was hard to recover from that blow." Riding a new charge of momentum, 11th Marines had no trouble marching down teh feild for a 12-play-60 yard drive kept alive by TB's Larry Lawrence and James Russell, and was capped off with a 6 yard TD pass from QB Steven Phelps to 6-foot-7 TE Javier Rivera. "We needed that," Phelps said of the drive that included 10 running plays by four different ball carriers." We just rammed the ball down thier throat, play after play. It was a big drive for us." Later in the fourth quarter the team scored again on a 25 yard TD pass to WB Chad Morgan. The speedy reciver made a nifty, over-the shoulder-catch and raced to the endzone, ending any hopes of an Outlaw upset over the Cannon Cockers, who are quickly becomeing the Leagues new powerhouse. "If we want to be the No. 1 team on base, we need to keep playing like we did in the second half today all the time." 11th Marines Coach Jacob Puda said of his squad, which was flagged for 7 penelties in the first half but went the entire second half flag free. "That was the best half of football we have played so far. Our Defense kept us in the game the first half, they are like our gaurdian angels," Puda said of his blistering defense, who are under the close supervision of Defensive Coach Gregg Long. " SSgt Long knows his football, and does a damn good job with our defense, they always give us the spark we need to get rolling." The 11th Marines now sit atop the League, tied with SOI, at 3-0. The Outlaws fell to 0-2. Next action for the Cannon Cockers will be Monday Aug. 25th @ 1800 on the 43 Area Field vs. TSB. 11th Marines get "Ugly Win" over TSB When TSB stepped on to the 43 Area Field on Monday they saw an 11th Marines team with a roster 2 times more than thiers and a 4-0 record under their belt. Any normal team would have been worried, but not TSB they came to play. Even though the 11th Marines pushed them around the field and had no trouble putting up two first half TD's and moveing the ball at will, TSB still kept their heads up and gave the cannon cockers a run for thier money in the second half in a 14-8 loss to the Power House Cannon Cockers who remain undefeated. 11th Marines got on the board first on their intial drive, after four plays pounding up the middle cannon cocker QB Steven Phelps rolled out left on a play action to find a wide open Quinton Bell for a 17 yard TD. The next TD came in the second half on a 10 yard pass from Phelps to TE Javier Rivera and James Russell tacked on the 2-point conversion on a blast to the left side. That made the score 14-0, the Cannon Cockers had a few more chance's at the end zone before the half but Phelps couldnt failed to hit his marks. The second half was more of the same, with the defense burying the TSB running game they decided to go to the pass and on the play TSB QB rolled right and let a pass fly down the sideline to a streaking WR, CB Kenneth Pless blew coverage and the ball was now on the 11th Marines 5 yard line. On the ensueing play the QB made a quick drop and a fired a strike to his WR for a TD, and that was followed by a 2-point conversion. "We missed our mark on some TD's," Cannon Cocker Coach Jacob Puda said of his team second half scoring drought,"I was never worried the whole game until they scored, they definately came to play, I think with a little practice they will be a heck of a team. It was an ugly win today but i'll take it." TSB drops to 0-2 on the year with the loss, and 11th Marines improve and now sit a top the league at 4-0 and will face Mag-39 next thursday at 1700 on the 11 Area Field in a championship rematch. Mag nocked of 11th Marines twice last year at the best of the west and the title game but the Cannon Cockers managed to give Mag its only loss of last year. When asked if he was worried about Mag this year all Puda had to say was," I'm not concering myself with them, Shep(Mags Coach) is more worried about us then we are about them and he should be. This time it's personal" 11th Marines Division Champs Nobody on the 11th Marine Regiment football team had a chacne to lick thier wounds. So they all decided to lick the competition. Just four day after suffering a heart wrenching loss to Mag-39, the Cannon Cockers - still stinging from defeat - were forced to pick themselves off the floor. Thier was no time to sulk. There was much work to be done. And the team went right to it, rolling over School Of Infantry 14-0 at the 43 Area feild to improve to 5-1 and clinch the Southern Division Title. "We know we are the best team on the base," Coach Jacob Puda said after his squad knocked off the Rough Ryders, the leagues lone remaining unbeaten team. "The expectaions of this team are sky high. We expect to win every game. What happend last week with Mag we came down to the wrong level. But we still feel very good about our chances." And with playmakers like Larry Lawrence, nobody can blame Puda. The dynamic speedster delivered two touchdowns -- the first was a punt return of 65 yards and the other was an 80 yard pass reception from QB Steven Phelps. Not bad production from a guy who only touched the ball 10 times the entire game but managed to account for more than 200 total yards. "I know i need to get Lawrence the ball more," Puda said. "This was one of thoes days, where a guy just proves how good he is. -- Lawrence offers this team a huge spark. He's the kinda that every time he get's the ball you dont know what he'll do next, so he's very exciting to watch." Lawrence, a 5-foot-7 155 pounder won the 2001 Golden Helmet player of the year award believes the quick game after losing to Mag was a blessing in disguise. "It was good to strike back quick," Lawrence said. "We needed to come back, play hard and forget last week's game." One guy who played hard but didnt have much to show for it, was SOI's TB Diquane Mitchell. SOI's ground attack was one of the main reason's why SOI had flourished with a 4-0 record. But that wasnt going to be the case with 11th Marines. "There was no where to go," Mitchell said. " There were no holes. We played like ***. Put that in big bold letters. We just didnt play our game." Said Puda of his squads defense:" Our defense is awesome, they always play hard and pride themselves on shutting people out and they showed that today. I have to give props to Coach Long. He's the best thing that could have happend to our defense, he's an awesome defensive coach." SOI coach Brett Turek says the loss could actually be a good thing for his team in the long run. "I dont think we were beaten physically," Turek said. " We basically had to bad plays...i think we'll be there at the end. We're going to use this game as motivation. This was a reality check for us and we'll use it to improve. The team will wrap up the regular season next Monday vs. MCTSSA at 43 Area @1700. 11th Marines Fall Short of a Title Once Again The world of sprots is full of curses, for example the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox, both Championship caliber team's but neither one could win the big game when it counted. Well the same could be said about the 11th Marines Football team. The Cannon Cockers were #1 all year long destroying all oppenents on their way to a 6-1 regular season campaign, there only loss however was to defending champs Mag-39. "It just seems that we are cursed against them, they have won 4 straight against us" said Head Coach Jacob Puda after his squad fell victim to an 11-8 thriller Wednsday Oct.22 at the 11 Area Feild. "All thoes game were close and every time some BS happens that gets us, so it really feels like a total curse." Puda added. The game went just as expected, a hard fought defensive battle and just before the second half Mag got on the board on a 39 yard strike from QB Craig Wang to his WR, however the play was controversial. The Mag WR made the catch out of bounds in the air and then was hit by DB Nate Willis and SS Jeremy Knutson, the reciver was clearly out of bounds but the offical said the reciver would have been in bounds had he not been hit. Despite the screaming and plee's of the coaches the play would stand and they completed the ensueing two-point conversion. After the half the cannon cockers came out blazeing, marching down the field and capped the drive off with a 5 yard td run by RB Larry Lawrence, Lawrence also ran in the following two point conversion. It looked like the Cannon Cockers were back in teh drivers seat but after failing to put points on the board two more times in the red zone. DB John Freeman intercepted a Wang pass at the cannon cockers own two yard line, thats where the troubles began. The team couldnt get rolling pinned so far back and punted twice, the first went 24 yards into a 15-20 mph wind but the defense held, the second punt set Mag on the Cannon Cocker 42, after four plays and the clock ticking down to under 20 seconds Mag set up a feild goal from 43 yards and got it off, it was an ugly knuckle ball that was pushed thru the air by the driving wind and just nicked the bar and tumbled thru for the winning score. "I guess when a team has your number, they just have your number" coach Greg Long muttered. "We'll be back next year again just as hungry as ever." One person however wont be back next year and thats head coach jacob puda, retiring with a 15-5 record (4 of thoes losses to MAG). Puda brought the Cannon Cocker program out of the ashes last year and whipped them back in to a champioship squad but has lost the Title game two years in a row. " Its hard to swallow, but you learn from your losses and build off them" Puda said of the defeat." I am really going to miss this team and these players next year. But i know Greg will have them ready next, i broke the grounds and laid the foundation and he will build the dynasty on that foundation. He was really my best assest this year." Congrats to the team on a great season, and for Col. Marletto, sorry sir we let ya down again this year, thank for all the support. Good luck next year gents. 14 Cannon Cockers Recieve Golden Helmets It was a long hard fought year for the 11th Marines Football program. Finishing with its best record since 1998 and being the #1 ranked team on base, with a Northern Division Title and two playoff victories. Yet still the big game seemed like a ghost in the mist as the Base Championship silliped out of the grasp of the team for the second straight year in a row. Despite all that, 14 Cannon Cockers were named 2003 Golden Helemet Awardees. Two of thoes in my mind were the players of the year and they were RB Larry Lawrence and DT MIcheal Teachy, even QB Steven Phelps name could be thrown in their accounting for 90% of the teams scoring, never the less the award went to two great players from MAG-39 in Gary Crosswhite and Brister Packer, congrats gentlemen. Here are the 2003 Golden Helmets for this year team: QB-Steven Phelps(rated #1 QB on base during regular season) WR-Larry Lawrence(early POTY candidate),David White(2nd consecutive G.H.) TE-Javier Rivera(1st year in the league) OL-Mario Rodriguez,Mike Steinhower(also a newcomer) DL-Micheal Teachy(also up for POTY),Brian Meyer(Avg 3.5 sacks P.G.) LB-Kevin Scheop(3rd G.H. Selcetion in two years, earned two at LB and TE, was also Rookie of the year 2002) DB-Nate Willis(2nd consecutive G.H.), Anthony Parker(veteran & consecutive G.H. winner),Jeremy Knutson Punter-Chad Morgan(Team Record 68 yard Punt) KR-Kenneth Pless Although some were in my mind missed or over looked from the team as they always are, i believe that everyone on our great team deserves one. Here are the 2003 Cannon Cocker Awardees: Offensive Awards QB Award:Steven Phelps RB Award:Larry Lawrence WR Award:David White OL Award:Mario Rodriguez Most Improved: Oscar Robinson Most Outstanding:Larry Lawrence Hard Hitter:Steven Phelps Newcomer of the Year:Javier Rivera Offensive MVP:Steven Phelps Defensive Awards DL Award:Micheal Teachy & Brian Meyer LB Award:Kevin Schoep & Shanton Banks DB Award:Nate Wills Most Improved:John Freeman Most Outstanding:Micheal Teachy Hard Hitter:Jeremy Knutson & Shanton Banks Newcomer of the Year: Brian Meyer Defensive MVP: Micheal Teachy & Brian Meyer Specail Teams Awards Kicker:Chris Hogan Punter:Chad Morgan KR:Kenneth Pless PR:Larry Lawrence Most Improved:Chris Hogan Most Outstanding:Larry Lawrence Hard Hitter: Entire PR team Newcomer of the Year:Kenneth Pless MVP:Larry Lawrence Well that wraps up another year of Cannon Cocker Football, thanks to all of you who have followed and supported us. I am sorry we let another title slip away but i can garuntee that next year we'll be right back at it looking to bring it home one more time. Congrats to all who made the Golden Helmets and thoes who were missed, keep your heads up and thank you all for allowing me to coach and contribute to the rising of a great team. Good Luck and Semper Fi. Coach Puda |
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