Buccaneers Skinned Rattlers!

Downers Grove- History was made on Saturday afternoon at Doerhofer Field in Downers Grove, as the 2010 Joliet Buccaneers Minor League Football Team won their third straight preseason game in a convincing fashion beating the Rattlers of River City 40-0.
“I’m not satisfied said 3rd year Head Coach Joshua Jackson, I want more from my offense and I expect more than what I got from my defense this afternoon.  The defense got its first shut out of the season with a strong effort from veterans; # 90 Thomas Kimmel, #21 Travaris Spiller, # 55 John Costa, # 94 Doug Hudik and #28 Lee Harris, who on special teams took not one, but two punts back for a touchdown, but unfortunately only was credited toward Harris’s day as a holding penalty against the Bucs took one of the returns away.  I didn’t see a holding penalty said Jackson, what I saw was a group out there on the field doing their jobs”.
The Buccaneers offense looked impressive again, with field general # 9 Quarterback Jake Range at the controls.  Range again had a good afternoon with his arm throwing pitch and catch to numerous receivers all afternoon long. “You know my receivers deserve the credit, I just throw them the ball and they do the rest,” said Range. The Buccaneers receiving core amounted for half of the Buccaneers total offense, but the running game was again stellar as well with veteran running back #20 Tim Mackessy. Mackessy is a good running back, and he’s a major contributor to this offense said Jackson. We also have another veteran running back #24 Mike Ingram, that will pound the ball when needed, and he’s also a big part of our offense Jackson exclaimed!
With this being the last preseason game, before the start of the regular season starting on July 10, this was the last opportunity for the Buccaneers rookies to impress the Head Coach and show what they can do for this July. This will be a long season, said Jackson. As we (Coaches and Players) know that injuries are a part of the game, and we need everyone able and ready to contribute at a moment’s notice.
The Buccaneers will open on the road July 10 in McHenry County against the Pirates, who was a league playoff qualifier last year. The Pirates beat the previous year’s reigning league champions and made it to the Western Conference Championship Game against the eventual league champions Racine Threat. The Buccaneers will have their hands full with the pirates, as this will be the battle of the ships.

6/27/10

Buccaneers Clip the Hawks

Wisconsin - The field conditions were terrible, there was sloppy play on both sides of the ball from both teams, but yet the Buccaneers managed to win their second straight game of the season behind a strong offensive of showing and a stellar defensive of play Saturday afternoon in Wisconsin.
The Buccaneers got on the board first, with a strong running game from veteran running back #24 Michael Ingram who helped march the ball down the field, after the Hawk’s first series was three and out for the Hawks offense. Ingram scored on a three yard run off the left side of the offensive line, and the Buccaneers never looked back. “The field conditions were bad, said Ingram, but that is the nature of the beast, you have to adapt to the environment and go out there and play football”, Ingram said.  Buccaneers Quarterback Jake Range had what you would call a good game tossing three touchdown passes to three different receivers one was to veteran # 2 Eric Glover, another to Rookie wide-out  #12 Julius Holland and the last to veteran  wide-out  #85 Josue Teo to finish out his day. Range threw one Interception on that afternoon, after being flushed out of the pocket and throwing on the roll, as the Buccaneers were looking to score again in the first half.  “I was trying to make a play Range said. The field was a mess and my first option was to run, but I was looking at an open receiver that was behind the defensive back, that’s why I threw it, I just under threw it Range exclaimed!”
The Buccaneers defense on that afternoon got into the act of scoring, when a fumble was picked up and ran back by Defensive Lineman #15 Rickey Winfield. It was Winfield’s first game back and he wasted no time getting back to his old ways of harassing opposing quarterbacks. Rookie Defensive back and former Joliet Township player # 23 Jared Grencher notched his first career interception and almost scored, but was tackled just yards short of the end-zone.  “It felt great getting in front of the ball and taking it away from the offense”, Grencher said. “I doubt that this will be my last, as I think our defense will be good this year”, said Grencher.  Head Coach Jackson was pleased with the effort of his defense, as it was apparent after the game, letting the players know how proud he was of them for forging through the elements. “This game was another step to where we want to be at come September” said Jackson. “We still have some work in progress, but all in all a victory at the end of the day is what you want.”
The Buccaneers return home to play the River City Rattlers from the Wisconsin State Football League on Saturday June 26, at 1pm at 4100 Saratoga Ave Downers Grove, IL 60515. It will be the last tune up game before the Buccaneers begin their regular season play of the Mid-States Football League on July 10 against new division rival McHenry County Pirates in Algonquin, IL.

June 20, 2010

Buccaneers open the preseason in a thriller!

Downers Grove- In what had supposed to been a tune up game for the regular season, turned out to be a heart pounding exciting 60 plus minutes of football action for the Joliet Buccaneers. The Joliet team opened its preseason game with a thrilling 20-14 overtime win against the Chicago Grizzlies from the Alliance Football League.
The Grizzlies jumped out in front of the Buccaneers on their second possession of the game coming off Buccaneers Quarterback and former Romeoville High School Quarterback # 9 Jake Range, just minutes into the first quarter of play. The Grizzlies scored on a long pass to go up 6-0. On the assuming PAT the Grizzlies went for 2 and failed on the conversion. The confident Bucs would get the ball back; but failed to put together a long drive, causing another Bucs turnover by the Grizzlies Defense.
I was like a deer in head lights said Range the new Buccaneers Quarterback. The game was moving very fast, and I hadn’t had time to settle in yet said Range. The Buccaneers Defense would get their first turnover of the afternoon, with a botched punt attempt which was bobbled on the snap, #21 Defensive Line Travaris Spiller and 2009 Team MVP chased down the punter as he attempted to run the ball on a long loss from scrimmage. The Buccaneers Offense was in business with a first and goal at the 3 yard line. The Buccaneers wasted no time scoring as rookie running back former Joliet Township High School player # 34 Jerome Sharpe runs off the left side to the goal tying the game up at 6-6, PAT was good 7-6.
The score remained 7-6 as the Buccaneers Defense forced a fumble and was not able to capitalize off the turnover that had given them great field position. We can’t allow that to happen again said Head Coach Joshua Jackson. Who enters his third year, as the Head Coach of the Joliet Buccaneers! It takes timing said Jackson, it takes a lot of timing, as the offense starts to gel at practice more, and having each player there helps, as you get to know the next man to your left and right said Jackson. We’ll get there, I have faith exclaimed Jackson.
The Buccaneers would take a one point lead into half-time, as the Bucs would prepare to receive the ball first in the second half of play. The second half saw veteran Quarterback # 7 Daniel Rodgers using his feet and arm get out of a jam or two during the drive. Rodgers connected with Rookie and former Romeoville High School Wide Receiver #13 Cliff Harris on a big play netting a first down. After brief play where Rodgers was shaken up, Range returned to throw a strike to rookie Wide-Receiver #12 Julius Holland, which netted another first down. On the next play Range hit a streaking Wide-Receiver veteran # 2 Eric Glover on the sideline for a huge gain setting up a first and goal from the 3 yard line of the Grizzlies. The Buccaneers offense collapsed on all four plays, and was stopped from getting into the end-zone. On a crucial fourth and goal the offense jumps causing a false start. You have to give credit to where credit is due said, offensive Line Coach Russell Saley said. They (Grizzlies) denied us from crossing the goal-line and right there, which is unacceptable. A former offensive lineman, now turned Coach, Saley takes pride in the offensive lines play on the field. Saley went on to say that he was pleased how well the offense controlled the ball for most the entire 3rd quarter that was awesome!

The Grizzlies would get the ball back at the 3 yard line late in the 3rd quarter moving the ball down the field. In a yet another crucial stance, the Buccaneers defense was face with a 4th and long 3 yards for the Grizzlies, in a run attempt that was stuffed by a surging Buccaneers Defense not allowing the first down. The Buccaneers offense breathed new life and chance to go on top again. Range threw his 2nd INT of the afternoon to a Grizzlies defender, which setup a Grizzly’s pass over the middle of the young Buccaneers defensive secondary to score again through the air. It was miscommunication said veteran Defensive back and former Joliet Township player # 28 Lee Harris who had a great game for the defense. The 2 point conversion for the Grizzlies was good, giving the Grizzles a 14-7 lead midway through the 4th quarter. A short kickoff set the Bucs in business as Range hit a slanting # 7 Daniel Rodgers to the 1 yard line setting up a first and goal from the one. Range called his number going behind his offensive line to bring the Bucs within one point, PAT Good! Now it was up to the defense to shut the door and give the ball back to the offense, the defense struggled, but was able to stop the Grizzlies from moving the ball past mid field, that resulted end of regulation and into overtime.

June 7, 2010