The Hamstring Bowl

November 27, 2014. Thanksgiving. The one day where everyone is basically required to be thankful for everything they are grateful for (this should happen everyday anyway, I don't know why we have to have one day devoted to it) and there is usually a big dinner. On Thanksgiving my family is always involved in a Thanksgiving football game, now known as the Hamstring Bowl. You may be wondering why it is named that. Well, every year one of the adults either pulls their hamstring or tears it, hence the name. But anyway, every year the games get pretty competitive.. but this year got a little out of hand..
To start the day off my two brothers (Coco and Joey) and my dad woke me up and told me to get ready. We ended up leaving the house around 10:50 to get to the game by 11:00. We showed up and there were about 6 families there. Easy. The teams were split up 3 and 3. The game started and everyone was slipping and sliding because there was still some snow on the ground. The other team ended up scoring a touchdown and we were down by 7. Every time a team got a possessions they scored (the defense was pretty bad). The game kept going and then things started getting out of hand..
My dad and his friends on the other team were getting REALLY into it. They all started pushing each other around, and take in mind my dad is a big guy with a fairly short temper, AND he is very competitive (I think that's where I got it all from). What happened was one of his friends started hitting him, and him being the big guy he is cannot hit back. Anyway my dad started yelling at him and ended up walking off the field and driving home because he knows his limits and didn't want it to get out of hand.
Of course this ruined the mood and upset my bothers and I. After the game, our team ended up losing and I honestly just wanted to go home and sleep.

I was too annoyed to be in the group picture.

Aside from the game my Thanksgiving was a good one and I had a lot and still do have a lot to be thankful for. Quick reminder- tell people how grateful you are for them, you never know the last time you'll see them.

The Little Kid That Could

We are going to venture off from my football life and take a look at my little brother's. My younger brother is 11 and has played football for 4 years. His team, going into a game against South Summit, was 42-0 and had won 3 championships. This game wasn't any ordinary game, it ended up being a game that would change people's perspective on youth football.
The playoff game against the South Summit Wildcats started at 9:00 sharp. The first half was a complete blowout. Park City was beating them by multiple touchdowns. The third quarter was the same deal, Park City was shutting them out. The turn of the game happened at the start of the 4th quarter. The Park City coaches gathered the team up and explained to the kids the situation of the other team. The kids were informed that the other team had a kid with autism. The kids dream was to score a touchdown and everyone was willing to make it happen.
First play of the fourth quarter. The ball was snapped. The other team handed the ball to the autistic kid and he started running. The Park City boys were diving at him and trying to catch up, but they had no chance of catching up the kid was just too good. While running he stepped out of bounds a few times, but the refs kept it going. He was 20 yards from the end zone, 15, 10, 5. He had made it. With everyone's help and unselfishness they had helped a little kid achieve his dream. It was very heart warming. Little acts of kindness can end up meaning the world to someone. *note to self*
After the game parents and coaches sent their gratitude towards the Park City boys, coaches, and parents. They also said they were rooting for them to beat Granger in the Championship Game. They wanted to see Park City with a 4-peat.
The last and final game. The fourth championship game in a row. On Park City's home field. The boys started the game strong, but Granger was definitely bigger and stronger. The half ended with Park City up 7-6. The score stayed the same until the very last seconds. Granger was driving and was extremely close to the end zone. They had a run that made it inches from crossing the line, but there was a penalty. After explaining the penalty the ref informed the sidelines and teams that time had expired. Park City had won their fourth championship game in a row and went 44-0. You don't see many teams do that.

Coco, Kirby, and I after their championship win.

Girls Can Play Football Too?

Hello fellow football fanatics, my name is Morgan. I was born in San Francisco, California, hence the reason I love the Forty Niners. I have a little sister, a little brother, and a twin brother. My dad played football for CAL Berkeley and Rugby for CAL Berkeley, in which he won three national championships. Both of my brothers started football in 3rd grade and have continued until now. As you can probably tell, we are a big football family.

My dad, little bother (Coco), and I at his opening football game.

Since I have been surrounded by football my entire childhood, I decided I wanted to indulge into it myself. It took months to try to convince my parents. The funny part is, my mom was the one who agreed to it first. After my dad finally gave in, I signed up for my first season of football. Now you may be thinking, a girl paying tackle football? Many people believe football is strictly a male dominant sport, I decided I wanted to take on the task of changing peoples' perspective.
My first three years of playing football were for the Park City Miners Youth Football teams. Now, in present day, I play for Park City High School Football  on the freshman team.

Park City High School freshman team picture.

I often get asked, are the boys mean to you, do they support you on the team? Obviously football is a very competitive sport and sometimes I do get in fights with boys from other teams. As for my team, we're like a family. We fight like brother and sister, but we are always there to pick each other up. We've been through some really rough games and tough times, but that's what has made us stronger and created an even tighter bond.

Sage Doman, Chris Krebs, and myself after a football practice.

Next week the freshman team takes on the Uintah Utes. Stay tuned for news from the game and the 3 hour bus ride!