Last week was homecoming which is always a great time around Claremore. We had the senior winning the float building competition, Freshman winning the spirit stick at the assembly, and a ton of other things happening. There was also a football game as the Zebras hosted the Rangers. The team got off to a fast start, as they have done all year, and took the game over early. The final score was 47-7 and that score was guided by the 4 POW's.
First is Tripp Jackson, the JV player of the week. Tripp has been progressing after missing his entire sophomore season due to injury. He has thrown a touchdown in each of his JV games, and works hard everyday at practice so he will be ready when his number is called.
Next was the Defensive player of the week, Josh Bump. Bump had an incredible first half as he recovered a fumble in the end zone for his first touchdown of the year. Josh also had a catch on the defensive side of the ball on one of the most athletic plays I have seen from a a big man. He sniffed out a screen pass and tip it up in the air and snagged it with one hand for an interception late in the first quarter.
The offensive player of the week was Landon Tah. Landon plays o-line for the explosive Zebra offense. Landon has been a huge help this year, pushing people around and creating holes in the run game. The o-line usually doesn't get the credit even though they are doing most of the work. Without young men on the offensive line like Landon, the high powered offense you have been watching through the first few weeks does not exist.
Last is our special teams player of the week. This award went to Abby Tietz. I may be mistaken, but I believe this is the first time a POW award has went to a female. If you are wondering how this happened, let me tell you. When Abby is not baking cupcakes and cookies for her online business, she is kicking a football. Every day she goes out and practices field goals and extra points, and this week it paid off. Abby is a perfect 5 for 5 on extra points, and 1-1 on field goals. She tried a 26 yard field goal at the end of the game, and put it right down the middle for the Zebras final score of the night.
Congrats to all the POW's, and lets travel well tonight to Grove to see which players will step up this week to help the Zebras stay undefeated at Grove.
Coach Willard says "that's right and we are about to be 5-0."