Pomeroy Junior High Football

POMEROY–The Junior High Football team were excited to open the first game of the season, after the Garfield County Fair, at Tekoa-Rosalia at a rescheduled game on September 16. They came out playing hard with a long touchdown pass from Jett Slusser to Walker Flynn on the first from scrimmage. From that point on it was off to the races for the Pirates with Boone Schmidt, Walker Flynn and Ollie Severs making many receptions throughout the game. Jett Slusser, Walker Flynn, Colby Ledgerwood and Tyler Slaybaugh picked up yards on the ground.

Defensively Tekoa-Rosalia had a hard time getting to the line of scrimmage as Trace Roberts, David Tejero, Boone Schmidt and Ollie Severs were living in the Tekoa-Rosalia backfield. Tekoa-Rosalia began attempting to pass at which point Tyler Slaybaugh picked off the ball for an interception. The game ended 59-0 Pirates.

The Pirates traveled to Deary, Idaho to play their second game of both the season and the week on September 19. Again, Pomeroy was able to jump to the early lead with a deep pass from Jett Slusser to Walker Flynn for a Pirate Touchdown. Deary had a solid squad, but still had a difficult time with the Pomeroy defensive pressure which resulted in the opposing team transitioning into a quick pass offense.

Jacob Reisinger was able to intercept a Deary pass and pick up a long return. Offensively Pomeroy moved the ball around with passes and run game that followed a tremendous Line led by Trace Roberts, Ollie Severs and David Tejero. Colby Ledgerwood picked up tough yards all game between the tackles running hard and gaining many of his yards after contact.

At the half Pomeroy led 13-0, but Deary made the mistake of kicking an onside kick to Trace Roberts on the opening kickoff of the second half which was returned for a touchdown by Roberts. On Special teams Cesar Morfin dialed in directional kicks all game and Reggie Ott was able to make an impact on kick returns. The Pirates finished the game 33-6 against a tough Deary team.

The third game in Troy, Idaho was where the Jr. Pirates met its toughest test to date. Pomeroy started the game without starting Quarterback/Defensive Back Jett Slusser which led to quite a bit of position changes on the offense, with three players playing new positions after only a few days of practicing in their new role.

On offense, Pomeroy spent most of the game picking up yards on the ground against a very good Troy defense. Long plays were limited as Walker Flynn, Colby Ledgerwood and Tyler Slaybaugh carried the ball the majority of the rushes. The Pomeroy line of David Tejero, Trace Roberts, Ollie Severs, Boone Schmidt and Jacob Reisinger won the battle up front inch by inch to provide for long drives with short yardage gains. A Colby Ledgerwood powerful run picked up Pomeroy’s first touchdown to tie the game.

Pomeroy then took the lead late in the first half with an interception by Ollie Severs that was returned for a Touchdown which energized the Pirates squad who narrowly avoided a penalty for what almost looked like a spiked ball in the endzone. At the half Pomeroy led 12-6.

The second half of the game continued to be a defensive battle and grind. Leland Ross and Reggie Ott provided support on Pomeroy Special Teams and Cesar Morfin stepped in to add quality relief on the Pomeroy front line. With about two minutes left in the game, Jacob Reisinger made an exceptional open field tackle on a fourth down fake punt. Pomeroy then turned over the ball to Troy once more with 1:30 left on the clock and was able to hold the Trojans for four downs to get the ball back with 25 seconds left. A snap from Ollie Severs to Walker Flynn allowed Flynn to take a knee and run the clock out. The Pirates won 12-8