11th Marine Cannon Cockers

With one little stutter step and one big hit, Kennth Pless and Jeremy Knutson changed the entire complexion of the game. It was the opening kickoff of the second half, and up to that point Monday evening, everything had gone against the 11th Marine Football team. The Cannon Cockers had watched three early touchdowns be wiped away on horrible rulings by the referees. The squad could feel it was physically beating the 1st FSSG Outlaws, but they had nothing to show for it. Until Pless got his hands on the ball and Knutson delivered a punishing hit. First to make the momentum change was Pless, when the speedster recived the kickoff 1 yard deep in the endzone he raced for daylight, juked FSSG's Aaron Lang and tiptoed down the sideline for a record 101 yards and a tie-breaking touchdown, the Cannon Cockers were on their way to an 18-0 victory at the 43 Area Field. " I just gave it all I had," Pless said of the return that broke the Outlaws hearts. " I saw the kicker (Lang) stubbling, and i just tried to get by him and was able to take it to the house." That touchdown marked one turning point in the game. The other was Jeremy Knustons big blow to an Outlaw reciver on a 4th down play. On the play Outlaw QB Damien Mitchell was scrambling for his life and fired the ball to a double covered #22. The pass was nealy intercepted by DB Marc Harris but it slipped thruogh and was caught for a brief second by the reciever, that is until Knutson arrived on the scene and deliverd a powerful pop that could be hear thru out the area. The hit sent the Cannon Cocker side line into an uproar. From that point on out the Outlaws were punished hit after hit and sack after sack. However the Outlaws had been fortunate to be tied at 0 at the half, because the Cannon Cockers had three disputed TD elimimanated on officiating decisions. The first to be nullified was a great catch in teh back of the endzone by WR Larry Lawrence. But the 2001 Golden helmet PLayer of the Year was ruled out becuase the offical claimed he did not have possesion of the ball. The second score was Chad Morgan's 23 yard rushing TD, but was called back for holding and the third TD was Lawrence one again who sprinted around the left side uncontested for 76 yards, which was called back for an illegal motion. Needless to say, the Outlaws were in position to register the biggest upset of the young season. But not on this day. With the Cannon Cocker defense playing as nasty and stubborn as ever and with Pless's kick return, FSSG was a beaten squad. " I wouldnt say we put our heads down or anything like that," FSSG QB Damien Mitchel said. "But it was a big play. It broke the stalemate and it was hard to recover from that blow." Riding a new charge of momentum, 11th Marines had no trouble marching down teh feild for a 12-play-60 yard drive kept alive by TB's Larry Lawrence and James Russell, and was capped off with a 6 yard TD pass from QB Steven Phelps to 6-foot-7 TE Javier Rivera. "We needed that," Phelps said of the drive that included 10 running plays by four different ball carriers." We just rammed the ball down thier throat, play after play. It was a big drive for us." Later in the fourth quarter the team scored again on a 25 yard TD pass to WB Chad Morgan. The speedy reciver made a nifty, over-the shoulder-catch and raced to the endzone, ending any hopes of an Outlaw upset over the Cannon Cockers, who are quickly becomeing the Leagues new powerhouse. "If we want to be the No. 1 team on base, we need to keep playing like we did in the second half today all the time." 11th Marines Coach Jacob Puda said of his squad, which was flagged for 7 penelties in the first half but went the entire second half flag free. "That was the best half of football we have played so far. Our Defense kept us in the game the first half, they are like our gaurdian angels," Puda said of his blistering defense, who are under the close supervision of Defensive Coach Gregg Long. " SSgt Long knows his football, and does a damn good job with our defense, they always give us the spark we need to get rolling." The 11th Marines now sit atop the League, tied with SOI, at 3-0. The Outlaws fell to 0-2. Next action for the Cannon Cockers will be Monday Aug. 25th @ 1800 on the 43 Area Field vs. TSB.

Playing QB, the most important position on the gridiron, is no easy chore. First of all, you have to be cool under pressure. You have to be buoyant enough to shake off your own mistakes. Toughness is also a prerequisite. You have to endure the hardest licks as if they were kisses from a kitten. You have to pick youself up off the field and return to action, just to prove you mettle to teammates. But most of all you have to have the talen to get the job done. You have to know how to win. Steven Phelps demonstrated all of these qualities Monday night when he reurned from a head injury to lead 11th Marine Regiment to a 12-0 victory over 9th Comm/HQBn at 43 Area Feild on Monday. Phelps who was sidelined last week with a minor concussion during the Cannon Cockers' win over Security Bn, played what he, and his coach Jacob Puda, considered his best performance since joing the team 11th Marines Football program last year. "I think its the best he's played," Puda said of his starting QB, who hurled two long TD passes and completed 12 of 15 passes for 190 yds in the Cannon Cockers' new found quick-strike aerial attack in front of more than 150 lively fans. "I think that he has more confidence than he used to. He's getting better. I really believe that he has grown in poise and confidence." Puda added. Any normal person in Phelps position would have felt an uncertainty about thier job security comeing into this game, becuase last week, after Phelps departure, the Cannon Cockers flourised with Puda under center. It's not easy for somebody to watch another player perform at an exceptional level while they sit on the bench. All that does is make the incumbent press harder to keep his job. "Whenever your a QB, thier is a lot of pressure," Phelps admitted. But the 6 foot 2 signal caller from Texas stepped up and showed his coach what he's capable of accomplishing. Phelps connected on two big plays, the first was a 29-yard TD pass to a wide open Quinton Bell on a play action pass, and later in the second half, a 65 yard TD bomb to 6 foot 4 standout David White as the team improved to 2-0 in thier quest to return to the championship game, which they lost last year to MAG-39. But Phelps isn't the only player makeing a differnce on for 11th Marines. The suqad played excellent on defense, surmounting two contraversial unnecessary roughness penilties against hard hitting saftey Jeremy Knutson allowed a mere 85 yds of offense. "Doc(Knutson)is a hard-hitter, flat out. He plays the game a 150% and shows no mercy," said defensive coach Greg Long. "We told him to just play his game, and let us worry about the calls." The second of thoes penelties put 9th Comm in the red zone. But the oppurtunity was for naught, as the Cannon Cockers dominant defense stiffend. "We were able to overcome thoes calls," said defensive leader Anthony Parker, a Golden Helmet selection at saftey last year. "And that is what good defenses do." Thier defense was suffocating, but without a doubt, Phelps performance stood out most. " I have to hand it to the Offensive line, they played a heck of a game," said Phelps, who also praised his skill players such a WB Larry Lawrence, TB James Russell and WB Chad Morgan who had a first half TD called back on a penelty. Everyone on offense had their moments from Lawrence's big runs to right tackle Chris Brooks' block that sprung morgan for his TD. But Puda, who stood by Phelps through his up's and downs last season was more blunt in analyzing the difference between his QB's perfomance this week as compared to previous weeks. "I think he stopped second guessing himself, I've been pounding that into his head lately. I knew he could make big things happen, he just has to believe in himself." Something Puda never doubted. And now, the rest of the Cannon Cockers shouldn't either. Next action for the team will vs. H&S FSSG/7th ESB next monday at 1600 on the 43 Area Field.

Carlice Moffett preferred Jacob Puda standing across from him on the opposite sideline, where he could match wits with the 11th Marines Coach. At least there, Securtiy Battallion's first-time head man had a chance to come away on top by outsmarting his counterpart. Because as soon as Puda stepped onto the field as a replacement player for injured QB Stephen Phelps, the Titans didn't have a chance. Puda, who is now in his second season in charge of 11th Marines, came to his squads rescue on Monday, leading them to an 18-6 victory over Security Battallion in the season opener at the 43 Area field. "When(Puda) came into the game, it changed everything," Moffett said after his unit made its first apperance since 1997 in an Intramural tackle football game. "That was definately the differnce....We were better off with him on the sideline." Puda didn't want the spotlight for his personal performance ------which entailed three completions for more than 50 yards, several other long gains called back by penelties and some nifty scrambling. For him victory was just step #1 for the team, whose mission is to return to the championship game -----which they fell short of to Mag-39 last year 6-0. "Our Defense was awesome all game and special teams was their too, we were just clicking this game....I think we owe alot to our defense." Puda said after the victory on thier home field in front of more than 200 spectators. "Probably 90 percent of this team is new, but they know, our goal is to get back to the big game." Puda was without several key players from last years runner-up squad. Golden Helmet and Confrence MVP Micheal Teachy (defensive line) and Golden Helmet selection Anthony Parker (Defensive back)were among the boeisterous crowd cheering the Cannon Cockers to victory. Despite losing thoes standouts, who are expected to return to the team this week, Puda believes this years group is even more talented than last years. Newcomers like running back Larry Lawrence -----the 2001 Golden Helmet Player of the Year ----- and 6-foot-7 tight end Javier Rivera give the offense two dynamic threat's, something it really didn't have last year. Puda is also excited about the additions of running backs Jose Aleman and James Russell, defensive back Kenneth Pless and defensive lineman Brian Myer who had 2 sacks and a couple of bone crushing hits on QB Heith McDonald. "We've got some guys that are just aching to play ball and hit someone" Puda said. But none of these players had a more profound effect than the coach himself. "I always knew that if Steven ever got hurt that it would be a disaster for one but i would have to step in a play for him," Puda said. " I just stepped in and took over and we were able to score. But I think Steven is a good QB....I'm going to wait and see how he feels, and if he's ready to go, he'll play next week." Phelps felt fine in the first half, when he put a Micheal Vick-style move on a Titan Linebacker and got a great block by tailback James Russell to break out for a 35 yard TD scramble down the sideline. That score put 11th Marines up 6-0. But the offense stalled and when Phelps went down with concussion, Puda was forced to drop his clipboard and dawn his fallen QB's pads. And did he ever. " I wasn't surprized when (Puda) came in," TE Javier Rivera siad. "I know how bad he wants to win, and i know he loves this team. When he came out(to the field), it gave us a rush." Losing a solid starting QB like Phelps could have spelled disaster for 11th Marines. But the unit thrived on the diversity. The same couldnt be said for Security. When they lost strong-armed QB Heith McDonald to who suffered a bashed lip early in the first quarter courtesy of Cannon Cocker DE Brain Myer who made a face to face with him many times. The 6-foot-3 signal caller had to leave the game and go to the hospital for stiches. Before the injury, he was displaying a rocket arm, completeing 4-of-7 passes for 44 yards. "When we lost him, it definately hurt,"Moffett said. "It changed everything, because we weren't able to go deep. We just didnt execute in this game." That was eveident by the Titans trailing 18-0 with less than a minute left to play. The Cannon Cockers scored on a 17 yard TD pass from Puda to Rivera and later Kenneth Pless scored on a 45 yard punt return. The game was never in doubt, but the Titans did manage to get on the board with 55 seconds remaining when back up QB Joseph Salazar threw a 75 yard touchdown pass to streaking reciver Clyde Logan. "I think when Mcdonald comes back, we're going to be a good team," Moffett said. "We could have a very good deep game...I think Heith could be a Golden Helemt candidate." Next action for the Cannon Cockers will be Monday August 11th against HQBN. 1stMarDiv at 1800 on the 43 Area feild.

After last years disappointing loss to rival Mag-39 in the Base Championship game 6-0, the 11th Marines were left with a bad taste in their mouth and winless in a title game since 1998. This year however there are new faces and names on the field for the cannon cockers this year, with some returner's from last years squad not off of leave yet or just arriving back the coaches are stuck with the new breed of players and not alot of time to work with them. With the first game starting Aug.4th there hasn't been to much time to mess around."I've got alot of new guys this year" said Head Coach Jacob Puda, "Its not going to be easy to just expect these guys to know whats going on", "But they have show alot of good things the past two weeks and i think we'll be ready, I'm very excited". Puda in just his second year of coaching has brought the Cannon Cockers out of the ashes and back into the lime light. When asked about what he did to get the team back into its once great form all he could say was that if not for such great assistants last year the team would have been nothing. Both assistants have since left and have been replaced by newcomer Greg Long. Long played semi-pro football in Texas and will be the Defensive Co-ordinator."I'm very excited to have SSgt Long, he brings alot to the field." Puda said of his new assistant,"Im very lucky to have a guy with his kind of experince I know he will do great things for this program." The teams first game will be Monday August 4th at 1600 on the 43 Area field against Security Bn. All the head coach had to say was "Im not to much worried about our first game, i know we'll come out strong and we are going to let people know the 11th Marines is back and we are comeing for that title."

This years Golden Helmet awards were a little different than from past years, with the majority of the players on deployment in Iraq it was kinda hard not to miss some people who probably deserved it but never the less the votes were in and done with. 11th Marines had a great turn out in the voteing putting up 11 players on the list. Here are this years Golden Helmets from 11th Marines: QB: Steven Phelps RB: Micheal Guillory WR: Micheal Bonner TE: Kevin Schoep DT: Joeseph Kelly, Ray Zychowski, Micheal Teachy LB: Kevin Schoep DB: Anthony Parker Punter: Kenneth Brandon Sudden Impact Player: Kevin Schoep Congrats to you gentlemen for your hard work this year, you deserve it. With only a few people to vote there were indeed alot of players that did not receive awards but also deserving and I would like to mention thoes guys right now and let them know that all votes can be contested and if anyone who was deserving did not get one then uder special circumstances for this year only they will recieve one upon return to CONUS. Here are thoes who were missed: RB: Ketrin Mays OL: Kevin Sharp, Mario Rodriguez LB: Eric Southward, Scott Cook DB: Nate Willis, Arlie Jordan These guys did a hell of a job and I cant see how they were missed but rest assured they werent forgotten. All the guys did great this year and i was proud to coach all of them, thanks for a great season guys, we'll get'em next year.