Brandon competed in his first Junior Tiger tackle football season this past fall as a 5th grader! We were so thankful for a near complete season in the midst of Covid - there was great concern even by the end of August that they wouldn't get to compete at all. But in the end they were afforded five games - just one game short of a normal season - and several weeks of practice. They missed out on the Jamboree, which is a day that gathers all area football teams for one big event and several live scrimmages - and they were only afforded two weeks of practice before their first game, whereas in a normal season they would have a full month of practice before "kickoff." But these boys made the most of what they were given and ended with a 4-1 record - only losing the very first game on one bad play.
Some of my favorite images. Kaitlyn is always so proud to see her boys in any kind of uniform. She is SO proud to be THEIR sissy.
And this kid! We are so proud of him! He and his two best buds were the only 5th graders on a team full of 6th graders, and they handled it so well! He learned and understood his role and became a reliable blocker in his position of wide receiver... and also recorded his first solo tackle before the season was over! Best of all, he looked forward to and showed up at every practice with a positive attitude, ready and eager to listen and get better.
And he got to wear #18 - the same number his big brother wore as a Junior Tiger.
My two football players. Such a huge part of our life.
And though it was sometimes distracting, it was so fun having Kaitlyn at the games. She loved running around in wide open spaces, playing with dirt/sand/rocks... and making her big brother chase her when he was on "babysitting" duty. ;)
My little girl. My #18. This is all I ever wanted!
Brandon and his best friend were the team's "kick returners" all season long. ;)
And by the end of the season, Jaden gave up his babysitting gig to be part of the chain gang. Of course.
Brandon got to be team captain for the second to last game of the season... which was also the game he got his first solo tackle!
He raced from the opposite side of the field for this one.
Already anxious for next season...
...but thankful for football in the midst of a pandemic. It was a bright spot, indeed, and gave us something to look forward to every single week.
