Oct. 9, 2007 The Kimball faithful packed the bleachers (with blankets and earmuffs) to watch the 7th-grade Kimball football team take on Rockford. The Cubs have been practicing in the mud and muck all week, so the home field advantage was on their side. With the cold win blowing and the parents shivering, the Cubs started out RED HOT. The Cubs started with the ball and steadily moved 20 yards in three plays. Then, with key blocks from Ra’heem Leech, Torey Rohlof, and Logan Bartholomew, Cole Denn got the corner and ran for a 40-yard touchdown. The 2-point conversion failed. Cubs 6 – Rockford 0. The Cubs defense was on fire, every player was swarming to the ball, and the interior defensive line of Blake Fox, Jon Massmann, Dallas Newman, Lane Blanchard created a wall that was impenetrable. Denn and Austyn Schlueter were relentless playing defensive ends as Rockford tried to bounce the ball outside, but was stopped for losses on several plays. Rockford quickly turned the ball over on downs. With the ball back in their hands, the offence led by quarterback Tim Konz, marched down the field. The offensive line of Ed Neilson, Blake Fox, Schlueter, Massmann, and Travis Wills owned trenches as they methodically plowed over the Rockford Defense. The drive was capped off by a Cole Denn 12-yard run. On a beautifully executed QB sweep, Tim Konz waltzed into the end zone untouched for the 2-point conversion. Cubs 14 – Rockford 0; the half ended with both teams exchanging punts. First half score: Cubs 14 – Rockford 0. The second half started with the Cubs on defense. Rockford again was unable to move the ball on the ground, due in most part to the team tackling of the Cubs. The D-line slowed the Rockford backs down, and linebackers Preston Peglow, Konz, and Wills piled on. Rockford was forced to pass. On a perfectly read pass Tim Konz intercepted the ball and returned the interception 10 yards. The Cubs pressed their will on Rockford as new running back Travis Wills ran through cavern size holes created by his teammates. The Cubs marched down to the 1-yard line and the offensive line punched a hole through for Travis Wills’s first touchdown. A Preston Peglow run up the middle for the 2-point conversion followed the TD. Cubs 22 – Rockford 0. Rockford was able to make some big plays and march 60 yards down the field for the touchdown. The 2-point conversion failed. Cubs 22 – Rockford 0. The Cubs got back to their winning ways playing tuff, hardnosed football. Most importantly they played like a team.Final score: Cubs 22 – Rockford 6. Oct. 11, 2007 Cool soft breeze, Not too cold, not too hot, and the ground is soft; yet another perfect day for football. The 7th grade Kimball Cubs football team laced em’ up tight to play the Irish of Maple Lake. The Cubs started on defense and sent an early message to the Irish; “If you are going to run, all of us will tackle you”. With this message sent loud and clear, the Irish were forced to punt. The Cubs offense was ready to set a message of their own; “we are going to run up the middle, try and stop us.” On a drive that took up nearly nine minutes, the Cubs methodically drove down the field, forcing their way up the middle led by the offensive line of Austyn Schlueter, Blake Fox, Dallas Newman, Jon Massman, and Ed Nielson. The drive was capped off with THEWEDGE; Preston Peglow scored on 8-yard romp. The 2-point conversion was successful on a Tim Konz quarterback sweep. Cubs 8 – Irish 0. The Cubs defense was ready to get back on the field. With aggressive team tackling, the Irish were stopped cold by the attacking Cubs, and were forced to turn the ball over on downs. The Cubs took over again on offense; and after a couple of plays up the middle, Cole Denn scored a touchdown on a 65-yard sweep that was successful due to the key blocks of Logan Abrahamson, Ra’heem Leach, and Torey Rohloff. The 2-point conversion failed. Cubs 14 – Irish 0. The Irish were unable to score to end the half. End of first half: Cubs 14 – Irish 0. The second half started with the Cubs on offense and a new running back in place. Travis Wills downhill running style frustrated would-be tacklers as Wills ran them over and refused to go down easily. The Cubs marched down the field, and despite a few penalties the Cubs scored on a 17-yard ramble by Tim Konz. The TD was followed by a Cole Denn 2-point conversion on a counter. Cubs 22 – Irish 0. The Cubs defense continued to frustrate the Irish, with aggressive play by the rotating tackles of Fox, Massmann, Newman, Nielson, and Lane Blanchard, The Irish gave up on the run. Being forced to pass, the Irish threw up a shot put that was intercepted by Preston Peglow. The Cubs continued to dominate on offense and plowed a path down the middle of the field. The drive was capped off by an 8-yard Tim Konz touchdown waltz. This was followed by a Ra’heem Leach 2-point conversion. Cubs 30 – Irish 0. The Cubs put together their best game of the year by playing like a team, playing aggressive and having fun. With just two practices left, the Cubs might be ready to avenge a loss to Howard Lake. Final score: Cubs 30 – Irish 0 Next game: 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, at Howard Lake. Paul Sundin, coach
