On Saturday, I was at Lang field for a District Tapps 2-1 game between the St. Anthony Yellow Jackets (6-1) and the Antonian Apaches (7-0). Usually when you have a game that features an undefeated team and a one-loss team so late in the season, it should get a lot of coverage and that is exactly what happened as I wasn’t the lone media person at the game. But, I really think it happened because of the Antonian Apaches. St. Anthony doesn’t get the respect that they deserve and it’s a shame because the Yellow Jackets have done a lot more than a lot of other teams this season — all under a 1st year head coach.
I was a bit distracted at the game because my wife and son came with me along with my parents. St. Anthony; however, wasn’t distracted. They had RED (red and blue are the colors of Antonian) in their minds since the last win last week against TMI, they were focused on football and nothing else, they were prepared physically, mentally, and emotionally, and they had absolutely no fear about playing an undefeated team (who were ranked in the top 10 by the San Antonio Express News.
Even though St. Anthony lost the game by a score of 18 to 15, I am so proud of them and everything they have accomplished. They come so close to beating an undefeated team!!! They had the ball with under 2 minutes remaining and only trailed by a field goal. I really wanted to ask Brandon Johnson, the St. Anthony kicker, what his range was but I didn’t want to jinx it had they called upon him.
Olin Vining, III, had 34 carries for 218 yards and 1 touchdown. On the season, he has 1,294 rushing yards. You can definitely tell that Olin is the leader of the St. Anthony team whether it be on the field or on the sideline. I really should start doing some college recruiting promoting on my website because I would love to have Olin and several of his teammates on my team (if I was a college scout).
After the game ended, the players and coaches exchange handshakes. Instead of a congratulory thank you from the Antonian head coach, Coach Smisek was told, “Let me tell you what your kids did.” Coach Smisek told his team, “You know what that means? That means it’s not your kids played hard, you guys did a great job, keep up the hard work. You have arrived as a football team and gave them everything you had.” Coach Smisek continued, “St. Joseph is faster and as hard you think Antonian was, St. Joseph will be harder. Don’t hang your head and don’t feel sorry for yourselves. And, understand, I’d never been more confident.”
If you want to see all the photos from the game, please visit: https://thestatmanspeaks.smugmug.com/St-Anthony-Yellow-Jackets/Football/Antonian-at-St-Anthony/
Here are some of my favorite photos:
St. Anthony plays the Brownsville St. Joseph Bloodhounds in district play at Lang Field next Saturday. Follow St. Anthony football, presented by Little Caesars Pizza, all season long on the Texas Sports Radio Network atwww.tsrnsports.com online or on your phone by downloading the TSRN Mobile app.
Here are the games I plan to attend:
Week 10
10/29 Brownsville St. Joseph at St. Anthony
Week 11
11/4 St. Anthony at Central Catholic
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