An Impressive all-around effort from Gregory
Terrific turnout as Gregory disposed of Clark/Willow Lake, 52-0.
By Rich Winter
Pulled into Gregory last evening a little apprehensive. New town for the Panic Button but the apprehension turned to wonder as I parked far, far away and streamed to the game with a mass throng of Gregory fans with pretty much everyone wearing Gregory shirts.
First thing I heard was the pep-band, and oh-man, WHAT A PEP BAND. Those kids rocked it...The national anthem was so good played at that elite level.
So then I started looking for how to get in the press box as I was told I should go say hello to Seymour Stoudenberg. In the midst of looking for the little door that gives access to said press box I noticed there were a ton of kids in halloween costumes out trick-or-treating on the baseball field. I was told later the kids were actually trunk-or-treating as the town and the businesses in Gregory came together to give the kids and opportunity to do their thing before the game so as they wouldn't miss out on the fun...How awesome is that?
Well, I found the door and I stepped into a pretty historic stairway. I don't climb stairs the way a I used to so the steep incline gave me a chance to look at the gorilla helmets and such in what must be storage areas for football stuff. You could almost feel the history of a football town just screaming at ya before you step up into a brightly lit, supremely nice press-box for such a small town.
Met Stoudenberg, Sam Flakus? and we started talking football. Love those delicious moments......Anyway started talking about a possible rematch with Wolsey-Wessington and a wise PA guy reminded us all that the Warbirds were in Stanley County last night and that could be tough. Turns out Mr. Stoudenberg was right as the Buffaloes beat Wolsey/Wessington and will play in Gregory this Saturday. Oh, and by the way, class act announcing former Gregory coach Dan Whalen's name last.....
Ok, so let's talk some football.
So, right out of the gate I was expecting to see Gregory toss it around with Andy McCance running the show. Was a bit surprised with the Gorillas opened with a steady dose of Jayd VanDerWerff left and Jayd VanDerWerff right and middle. I guess I came into the game thinking Van DerWerff was more of a receiver, but came away impressed that this kid hits the hole hard, has great vision and is big enough that he drags people with him after initial contact.
That said, the kid has really good hands.
Late in the first quarter, McCance rolled right and flipped a pass into the mid-range flat. He threw the ball before VanDerWerff made his break, and Jayd had to adjust a bit, but he got to the ball, dove, and hauled it in.
A few moments later, McCance punched it in from the 1 and Gregory led 16-0.
From there it was all Gregory as the Gorillas revved up for Stanley County with a 52-0 rout.
Scoring Summary:
Scoring Summary:
First quarter
G: Jayd VanDerWerff 33 run (Jon Bakke run)
G: Andy McCance 1 run (Bakke run)
Second quarter
G: Andy McCance 63 run (VanDerWerff pass from McCance)
G: Joseph Veskrna 65 pass from McCance (Robert Vomacka run)
G: VanDerWerff 28 pass from McCance (run failed)
Third quarter
G: VanDerWerff 14 run (Vomacka run)
Fourth quarter
G: McCance 13 run
Couple things:
I guess I wondered about Gregory's defense a bit coming into the game. The Gorillas can score on anyone but they have given up a few points this season, notably to Wolsey-Wessington.
The Gregory LB's looked menacing....all athletic, all pretty good sized and all with a bunch of football tradition flowing through their veins.
Clark/Willow Lake got a few first downs last night but there was no way the Gregory guys were going to let them get going or get in the zone. Lot of athletic kids on the Gregory defense...Couple big kids up front so ya can't push em around and every kid that plays LB can run and knows how to get to the ball and make a play.
Coach looks pretty intense:
Great start to my evening in Gregory last night....Good luck in the semis....Might see ya there. Guess I came away impressed with a really good football town and even more impressed with a small town that really cares about their football community.
