Eighth-grade Pirates hush Puppies

The Poteau seventh and eighth grade opened against Van Buren, Ark., at Creekmore Stadium on Tuesday.

The eighth-grade Pirates were in total control right from the opening kickoff. The young Pirates were on a promising drive, but they coughed the ball up inside the red zone at the 16 yard line. Diego Moreno lost the handle on the ball, and the Pointer pounced on the ball. On VB’s third play the attempted a pass, Talyn Phillips blitzed and blasted the QB, thus forcing a fumble. The opposite LB, Seth Rice, scooped the ball into his arms and strolled into the end zone for a 16-yard scoop and score. Talyn Phillips blasted in for the two-point conversion.

Poteau did not let the Pointers make a first down all game.

With time dwindling in the first half, the young Pirates dialed up a counter reverse-trap. Phillips met some resistance, but then he slipped it into cruise control and scored from 59 yards out.

Javier Ortiz scored the only TD of the second half as he blasted home from six feet out. The Pirates exploited the air waves on the conversion. Caston Fox threw the ball to Brycen Waugh.

The seventh-grade team got a real taste of Pirates football, and while it was not as sweet as it could have been, it was not as sour as it might have been. The Pirates tied Van Buren 8-all.

The Poteau offense tripped out of the blocks as it could not find any rhythm. The Pointers scored on a 29-yard TD pass. The Canine was simply taller than the Pirate and outjumped him for the ball. The PAT was good for two points.

Poteau offense moved the ball. Bentley Jackson had two long run rendered invalid due to holding penalties. The Pirates trailed 8-0 at halftime.

Poteau kicked off to begin the second half. Poteau forced a punt after six plays. The Pirates then went on a 16-play, 77-yard drive.

They ran two different plays on that drive, a reverse to Bentley Jackson and a power play off tackle with Ryder Waddell toting the load. Waddell carried the ball 11 times for 75 yards, and the tying score came from the 1-yard line with 13 seconds left. His PAT tied the score at 8-all. The right side of the OLine did yeomen work, giving Waddell creases to move the chains.

Poteau will travel to McAlester next Thursday.