Defenses shine in MFL opening games

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette A host of White Express defenders dogpile on Yellow Blaze running back Bryceton Trew during McCook Football League grades 5-6 action July 23 at Weiland Field.

Defenses held the upper hand in the opening night of action in the 2010 McCook Football League.

Three of the four games in the first McCook Midget Football Association games of the summer ended in shutouts. The MFL season-opening games were played Friday, July 23, at Weiland Field.

The MFL features full-contact football with players in grades 5-8 next school year. The league has approximately 160 players competing on eight teams, with four teams in the grades 5-6 division and four teams in the grades 7-8 division. The teams practiced for two weeks leading up to last Friday night's season-opening games.

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette Red Blitz defender Garrett Fries (38) returns an interception against the Black Outlaws in a McCook Football League grades 7-8 contest July 23 at Weiland Field.

There is no kicking or punting in MFL games. For kickoff situations (opening half or following touchdowns), the ball is placed at the 30-yard line. A team can declare a punt, and the officials will advance the ball 35 yards upfield with a change of possession. Team also do not attempt field goals or point-after touchdown kicks.

In grades 5-6 division games, the White Express kicked off the MFL summer action with a 13-0 victory over the Yellow Blaze. The Express took a 7-0 lead in the opening quarter on a 43-yard touchdown run by Ben Bradley, and Bradley's extra-point run. Jake Melton added a 29-yard TD run for the Express in the third quarter.

In the other grades 5-6 contest Friday, the Black Gamblers topped the Red Bandits, 14-6.

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette Black Gamblers quarterback Specer Krysl (right) tries to turn the corner against an unidentified Red Bandits defender on this bootleg play in grades 5-6 MFL action at Weiland Field July 23. Krysl had several big runs to help the Gamblers claim a 19-0 victory.

All the scoring came in the first half. The Gamblers scored a touchdown in each of the first two quarters to take a 14-0 lead. Cade Cappel capped a drive with his 1-yard touchdown plunge, followed by Spencer Krysl's extra-point run, for a 7-0 lead. Noah Kerchal broke free for a 41-yard scoring run in the second quarer, and Kerchal ran for the one-point conversion.

The Bandits got on the board late in the first half when Easton Gillen sprinted around left end for a 65-yard TD run.

Grades 7-8 division

In the opening grades 7-8 division contest, the Black Outlaws dominated the Red Blitz in a 19-0 victory.

The Outlaws grabbed an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter on Trevor Matson's 67-yard touchdown run and an extra-point run by Logan Bunger. The Outlaws scored a pair of touchdowns in the second half, on a 16-yard run by Matson and a 1-yard plunge by Brennan Koller.

In the final grades 7-8 division game Friday night, the White Demons shut out the Yellow Rage, 12-0.

Colton Lashley's 1-yard run gave the Demons a 6-0 lead in the first quarter. Cody Aspenleiter returned a pass interception 15 yards for a Demons touchdown in the fourth quarter.

MFL action resumes with four games Tuesday, July 27, at Weiland Field. The season concludes with four more games Thursday, July 29.

McCOOK FOOTBALL LEAGUE (MFL)

Grades 5-6 Division

White Express 13, Yellow Blaze 0

Black Gamblers 14, Red Bandits 6

Grades 7-8 Division

Black Outlaws 17, Red Blitz 0

White Demons 12, Yellow Rage 0

Tuesday, July 27 Games

6 p.m. --Express vs Bandits (grades 5-6)

7 p.m. --Blaze vs Gamblers (grades 5-6)

8 p.m. --Outlaws vs Demons (grades 7-8)

9 p.m. --Rage vs Blitz (grades 7-8)