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Post by BellevueBuckeye on Aug 19, 2017 6:59:36 GMT -5
This is one of the few Lake vs River crossover games, but not one that's at surprising to see considering these two schools have played each other every year since the 1920's.
Norwalk won last year's matchup 30-19.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2017 9:39:39 GMT -5
Can this be close?
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Post by moneyball on Aug 23, 2017 6:12:15 GMT -5
Willard has some talent, especially their defense, weak in the secondary though. They will need to hold them with defense because I don't see them scoring many points, especially with Sowers running the ball as much as he did in the Vermillion scrimmage. The Stevens kid is a player and they have a tough RB, Parrot. Receivers are talented but some are still young, good freshman class.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2017 7:12:14 GMT -5
I have been hearing some whispers of their improvement and wondered if anyone was giving them a chance this year.
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Post by moneyball on Aug 24, 2017 5:54:42 GMT -5
I have been hearing some whispers of their improvement and wondered if anyone was giving them a chance this year. They have some good players in key positions. If the QB gets hurt, which has little experience as it is, they fall off the map. The first 4-5 games will be tough. If they beat Norwalk and come back and beat Plymouth I would say they have improved. Week 3 against Shelby, probably won't be pretty. |
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Post by tommygunn on Aug 24, 2017 7:43:54 GMT -5
Willard will struggle to win more than 2 games this season. I just do not see wins with this low numbered lacking talent team.
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Post by BellevueBuckeye on Aug 24, 2017 18:28:28 GMT -5
Norwalk 14 Willard 0 end 1st
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Post by Highlander29 on Aug 24, 2017 19:32:55 GMT -5
27-0 at the half. Norwalk running the ball well but have thrown two pics though. Willard just no offense at all. Norwalk is getting some good hits in there.
I left at halftime since I gotta wake up at 4am.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2017 19:40:59 GMT -5
Norwalk 33 Willard 6 1:36 3rd qtr.
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Post by Skip Bayless on Aug 24, 2017 19:58:17 GMT -5
how bad is willard? watching the Norwalk-Huron video off my step son's hudl huron dominated norwalk all over the field in two quarters. so this score is sorta surprising. but maybe willard is just that bad.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2017 20:05:39 GMT -5
40-6 Norwalk 3:45 left, Running clock again.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2017 20:09:27 GMT -5
Final score: Norwalk 40 Willard 6
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Post by ScarletFever on Aug 24, 2017 21:42:30 GMT -5
I know I have a small group of fans that check here daily to see if I've posted so here's your post.
Go Flashes.
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Post by tommygunn on Aug 25, 2017 7:24:01 GMT -5
Hey concerned citizen. Flashes looking strong. Lol. I thought we were going to see a totally different team. This coach won't last 2 years.
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Post by moneyball on Aug 25, 2017 8:16:16 GMT -5
I know listening to the game on the radio isn't the same as being there but from what I heard on the radio, Willard was dominated. Sounds like the freshman kid had some good returns, that's a silver lining. Hoping for a stronger performance coachwise against Plymouth next Friday.
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Post by ScarletFever on Aug 25, 2017 13:04:31 GMT -5
I do hear Willard has a solid group of Freshmen but Frosh don't really help in varsity football.
Strange sight seeing how few players are on the sidelines for Willard. Bless the kids & families that are part of the team fighting thru this.
I don't understand and I'm not being a jerk here or snarky, how Willard has an army playing jr football but only a few remain for varsity. I know there's the concussion issue nationwide and I know players didn't like the previous coach so they didn't play (so was told around town)... but that coach is long gone.
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Post by maplecityjake on Aug 25, 2017 13:28:44 GMT -5
Great all-around night for Norwalk. Team showed up, band showed up, and the student section was rowdy all night.
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Post by moneyball on Aug 25, 2017 13:34:44 GMT -5
I do hear Willard has a solid group of Freshmen but Frosh don't really help in varsity football. Strange sight seeing how few players are on the sidelines for Willard. Bless the kids & families that are part of the team fighting thru this. I don't understand and I'm not being a jerk here or snarky, how Willard has an army playing jr football but only a few remain for varsity. I know there's the concussion issue nationwide and I know players didn't like the previous coach so they didn't play (so was told around town)... but that coach is long gone. Here it is, education, education and more education. Coaches at the flag level need to be able to show kids, at least those in grades 3-4 the proper techniques and fundamentals of playing football. The Head coach of the willard football program needs to be the leader in this situation and put his stamp on it and work with these coaches to be teaching the proper techniques. Another issue, Thunderbolts football. Sure, some kids are ready to hit at the 5-6 grade levels but most are not. The parents that have their kids in Thunderbolts in 3rd grade, no way should that be allowed. Kids are not developed at this age and they are prone to injuries and broken bones, there have been plenty of them in the last 4-5 years in Thunderbolts. I liked that they brought back 5-6 grade flag football because it allowed some kids that were not ready for tackle to keep playing. Unfortunately, they kept Thunderbolts going and had to pull kids from another town to field a team. Flag football should go through 6th grade and during this time they are taught the proper techniques of the game of football. By the timne these kids hit 7-8th grade some of them have been tackling for 3-4 years, they get burnt out and are injury prone. The head coach should dictate the program and if he wants to keep the system rolling the way it is rolling then he will likely have fewer and fewer kids on the sideline come varsity games. Some of the athletes walking these halls in middle school and high school is unreal and we have people with their heads in the sand trying to understand why, it is obvious. |
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Post by mcm1019 on Aug 25, 2017 13:50:58 GMT -5
And there it is, the annual complaint about the Thunderbolts program. If so many people in Willard dislike that program and blame it for all the ills at the varsity level, why do parents continue to let their children participate? Lack of numbers at the varsity level is a problem at most area schools, not just Willard. At the MS level, you can either play football or run XC in the fall. Once you get to HS, you can play football or run XC or play soccer or golf or devote yourself to the band or you can decide to sit at home and do nothing. Did you notice the size of the Norwalk team last night, and that's a D3 program. Our coach even stated in the paper that his goal is to get 12-15 kids per class. That means he's happy with a varsity squad of 36-45, which seems small to me.
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Post by ScarletFever on Aug 25, 2017 13:53:30 GMT -5
Great all-around night for Norwalk. Team showed up, band showed up, and the student section was rowdy all night. Band dinner was sponsored by yours truly! |
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Post by ScarletFever on Aug 25, 2017 13:56:05 GMT -5
mcm I wonder if HS football will exist in 5-10 years. There will probably be area club teams I'd imagine, kids from each city will have to travel to join them.
Parents everywhere saying 'my kid's golfing less injury risk' and I honestly can't blame em.
Sad to see though as a fan, I miss great hard hitting Willard games v Shelby, Bellevue, etc under the friday night lights. Now that's a distant memory.
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Post by Willard Fillmore on Aug 25, 2017 16:54:55 GMT -5
I do hear Willard has a solid group of Freshmen but Frosh don't really help in varsity football. Strange sight seeing how few players are on the sidelines for Willard. Bless the kids & families that are part of the team fighting thru this. I don't understand and I'm not being a jerk here or snarky, how Willard has an army playing jr football but only a few remain for varsity. I know there's the concussion issue nationwide and I know players didn't like the previous coach so they didn't play (so was told around town)... but that coach is long gone. Here it is, education, education and more education. Coaches at the flag level need to be able to show kids, at least those in grades 3-4 the proper techniques and fundamentals of playing football. The Head coach of the willard football program needs to be the leader in this situation and put his stamp on it and work with these coaches to be teaching the proper techniques. Another issue, Thunderbolts football. Sure, some kids are ready to hit at the 5-6 grade levels but most are not. The parents that have their kids in Thunderbolts in 3rd grade, no way should that be allowed. Kids are not developed at this age and they are prone to injuries and broken bones, there have been plenty of them in the last 4-5 years in Thunderbolts. I liked that they brought back 5-6 grade flag football because it allowed some kids that were not ready for tackle to keep playing. Unfortunately, they kept Thunderbolts going and had to pull kids from another town to field a team. Flag football should go through 6th grade and during this time they are taught the proper techniques of the game of football. By the timne these kids hit 7-8th grade some of them have been tackling for 3-4 years, they get burnt out and are injury prone. The head coach should dictate the program and if he wants to keep the system rolling the way it is rolling then he will likely have fewer and fewer kids on the sideline come varsity games. Some of the athletes walking these halls in middle school and high school is unreal and we have people with their heads in the sand trying to understand why, it is obvious. It is impossible to teach fundamentals at the "flag level". NO tackling is allowed. Limited blocking is allowed. It's impossible for the QB to throw a pass like it will be thrown in high school. The center does not deliver the ball to the QB and the QB does not receive the ball from the center like it will occur in high school. In flag football kids catch passes using their bodies to help. In high school receivers are taught to catch a pass with ONLY their hands. I could go on and on. Flag football is like playing soccer at the same age. Teach them were to line up, teach them which way to go, is about it. Get kids out of the house on some grass and have some fun. Having fun win or lose is most important. |
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dc20
All City
2018 SBC Pick'em Champion
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Post by dc20 on Aug 25, 2017 17:35:26 GMT -5
Here it is, education, education and more education. Coaches at the flag level need to be able to show kids, at least those in grades 3-4 the proper techniques and fundamentals of playing football. The Head coach of the willard football program needs to be the leader in this situation and put his stamp on it and work with these coaches to be teaching the proper techniques. Another issue, Thunderbolts football. Sure, some kids are ready to hit at the 5-6 grade levels but most are not. The parents that have their kids in Thunderbolts in 3rd grade, no way should that be allowed. Kids are not developed at this age and they are prone to injuries and broken bones, there have been plenty of them in the last 4-5 years in Thunderbolts. I liked that they brought back 5-6 grade flag football because it allowed some kids that were not ready for tackle to keep playing. Unfortunately, they kept Thunderbolts going and had to pull kids from another town to field a team. Flag football should go through 6th grade and during this time they are taught the proper techniques of the game of football. By the timne these kids hit 7-8th grade some of them have been tackling for 3-4 years, they get burnt out and are injury prone. The head coach should dictate the program and if he wants to keep the system rolling the way it is rolling then he will likely have fewer and fewer kids on the sideline come varsity games. Some of the athletes walking these halls in middle school and high school is unreal and we have people with their heads in the sand trying to understand why, it is obvious. It is impossible to teach fundamentals at the "flag level". NO tackling is allowed. Limited blocking is allowed. It's impossible for the QB to throw a pass like it will be thrown in high school. The center does not deliver the ball to the QB and the QB does not receive the ball from the center like it will occur in high school. In flag football kids catch passes using their bodies to help. In high school receivers are taught to catch a pass with ONLY their hands. I could go on and on. Flag football is like playing soccer at the same age. Teach them were to line up, teach them which way to go, is about it. Get kids out of the house on some grass and have some fun. Having fun win or lose is most important. I strongly disagree with this comment.. you can teach basic football skills at the flag level.. I coach both middle school football an flag football an have a kid in peewee. In flag our kids run the shotgun snap.. which is the same as our pewee kids an the same as the middle an high school. They are taught the proper way to throw the ball.. catch the ball line up an how to run proper routes. We do the basic defensive back drills of back pedaling an breaking on the ball.. also do cone drills lateral drills an persue drills. I'm from PC I've been through the ups an downs.. until someone changes the culture in Willard it'll continue to be the same. |
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Post by Willard Dad on Aug 25, 2017 18:38:55 GMT -5
Come on guys our Thunderbolts have been the class of the area for a decade straight, the fact that our Varsity has been a dumpster fire for a decade straight has nothing to do with the Thunderbolts. Burn out? Doesn't exist? Kids not ready for tackle in the 5th grade? Impossible. Expect some big things out of the Thunderbolts again, then in a few years when they are on Varsity expect them to go 1-9. Burn out? Not ready for tackle? Please.
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Post by Willard Dad on Aug 25, 2017 18:54:30 GMT -5
I should add, Willard football was never great but it was never consistently bad we had our ups and downs. All of that was pre-Thunderbolts. Since the start of Thunderbolts every kid that has made it to the Varsity level has seen nothing but losing. How long do you stick with something that isn't working out? Thunderbolts isn't helping the Varsity have success if anything the results look like it's making the Varsity worse. Is the purpose of the Thunderbolts to help the Varsity or is the purpose of the Thunderbolts to help grown-ups live out their dream of being tackle football coaches?
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Post by ScarletFever on Aug 27, 2017 11:07:54 GMT -5
I had high hopes the freshmen class would rescue us and then they got bopped 36-6 this past weekend.
8th grade can't even field a team. Damn, it's tough because the only team I care about is Willard. 😑
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Post by crimsonblooded on Aug 27, 2017 13:59:23 GMT -5
The freshman class will improve Willard athletics but not so much this year. Next year should be the improvement and the following two years should be a lot of fun in Willard.
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Post by blodg on Aug 27, 2017 16:20:33 GMT -5
I had high hopes the freshmen class would rescue us and then they got bopped 36-6 this past weekend. 8th grade can't even field a team. Damn, it's tough because the only team I care about is Willard. 😑 Was that 36-6 score against Norwalk freshman? |
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Post by fanofthegame on Aug 27, 2017 16:44:17 GMT -5
I should add, Willard football was never great but it was never consistently bad we had our ups and downs. All of that was pre-Thunderbolts. Since the start of Thunderbolts every kid that has made it to the Varsity level has seen nothing but losing. How long do you stick with something that isn't working out? Thunderbolts isn't helping the Varsity have success if anything the results look like it's making the Varsity worse. Is the purpose of the Thunderbolts to help the Varsity or is the purpose of the Thunderbolts to help grown-ups live out their dream of being tackle football coaches? And it doesn't have anything to do with a change in the town's demographics? More rentals and less home ownership. That draws in a group of less motivated people. Football is hard work. Where do you learn that when mom walks to the mailbox for the check. It's happened in Shelby, too. The kids that do have a work ethic are often doing just that, working. They need school clothes, a car, etc. My point is blaming the Thunderbolts exclusively is an oversimplification. Do programs need to reevaluate to see if what we've always done still works? Sure. Is the across the board scrapping of peewee football going to fix this. Nope. |
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Post by ScarletFever on Aug 27, 2017 17:22:33 GMT -5
I had high hopes the freshmen class would rescue us and then they got bopped 36-6 this past weekend. 8th grade can't even field a team. Damn, it's tough because the only team I care about is Willard. 😑 Was that 36-6 score against Norwalk freshman? Yes... 😑 |
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