Mateo Tenbrink connects with Vaycion Lily for Scorpions’ only touchdown; team on the road for next 2 games
Scorpion football’s season got underway in the 1A North on Friday, Aug 21, falling 34-8 against the Centurions of Cicero Preparatory Academy/North Phoenix Preparatory Academy with the game called in the third quarter with 3:23 left on the clock. The Scorpions went into the game with a nine-man roster and were outnumbered 2-to-1 on player count with players having to play every snap of the ball both offensively and defensively.
“We talked about this in the locker room before the game about trying to play a football game with nine players,” Hauserman told his players following the game. “You guys did great. You’re warriors. You did exactly what I asked you to do. You’re tired, you’re beat up, but you played every snap. I’m really proud of you for that.”
The players started getting multiple cramps by the time of the third quarter and the officials decided it was not in the team’s best interest to continue.
“It is really, really difficult to play both directions of the ball, offense, defense, special teams for an entire football game in that kind of heat,” Hauserman said.
Additionally there were several points later in the game where the Scorpions were down a player.
“They wanted to keep fighting. They were fighting the whole game. I couldn’t have been prouder of them,” Hauserman said. “They were playing some good football. They were tackling. They were blocking. What we saw Friday night was a vast improvement over where we were last year.”
“We had to go down to play with seven players at several points during the game instead of eight, and whenever the Centurions coach noticed we were down to seven, he also went to seven, which shows you what a classy organization they are,” Hauserman said.
Reinforcements are on the way. Hauserman said that he is hoping to double his roster size by the next home game in three weeks, as five players from last year’s team Hauserman hopes are rejoining. Another four future Scorpions are going through their required 10 practices before they can play.
Gameplay
The Centurions opening drive of the game after getting the kick off was successful with a 39-yard rush for the touchdown, followed by 15 unanswered points with the first quarter ending with the Centurions 21-0.
Ruben Cruz said the Scorpions were physically spent after the game but came away encouraged by a defense that was able to consistently tackle the Centurions.
“We’re mostly a run offense, but it’s good. We don’t really have receivers,” Cruz said. “I’m usually a lineman and had to play receiver today, so I had to step up.”
Offensively however the Scorpions fared better with their aerial assault at 5:58 in the second quarter with quarterback Mateo Tenbrink putting up a 25-yard pass to Vaycion Lily who ran it for 60-yards. Tenbrink followed it up by running in the two-point conversion making it 21-8.
“That’s a very scary, tough job to be in, and it takes reps to get used to it and to have the game slow down, where you can read all your reads properly and execute the way it’s supposed to go,” Hauserman said. “He missed on a few executions on run reads, but that’s going to come with a more reps. I have total confidence in Mateo.”
Tenbrink agreed with that assessment by Hauserman.
“I had an amazing time out there tonight,” he said. “What I need to work on is just learning how to go slower and taking my time before calling for the ball.”
“This is our second year and we’re just building up. We’re going to get better,” Lily said. “We just need to work on our receivers. We have a hurt one right now, so next game we’ll be doing better with our starting receiver back.”
Defensively and on special teams Keldon Cain stood out as “clearly as the team leader,” Hauserman said of the senior who was among the most consistent tacklers along with making several punts over 50-yards.
His younger brother, Kody Cain, made “his first real tackle of football. I saw it. It was beautiful,” Hauserman said.
“I was a little bit hesitant today. I think I could have gone a little bit harder,” Keldon Cain said. “One of my main goals today was just preserving the team. I was trying to keep myself as well as everyone else in the right head space.”
The Scorpions were also playing a clean game with near zero penalties called on them.
“Last year when we were running pistol, we were fumbling every single snap. I didn’t see a single fumble,” defensive coordinator Brian Beinfest told his players following the game. “To Center Christian Dominguez,” Beinfest said, “You did great.”
“I’ve been with a lot of teams over the years. I’m as proud of you guys as any team that I have ever been around,” Sedona Oak Creek School District Superintendent Tom Swaninger, Ph.D., told his players following the game. “You guys are warriors. There’s not many of you, and you just keep coming back and keep coming back and keep working.”
“I think we just need the weekend and a little bit of time to get our injuries healed a little bit, and then we’ll be right back at it next week on Friday,” Cruz said.
The Scorpions are on the road for the next two Fridays, taking on the Mohave Accelerated Patriots on Aug. 28 and the Duncan Wildkats on Sept 4 before returning home on Friday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. against the Mayer Wildcats.
Contact Hauserman at tony@egismail.com for more information about volunteering on the chain gang. The team is also looking for a sponsor to help provide meals to the players during away games.
