Good times, bad times

Saturday was a great day for both myself and helmet and pad wearing young'ns. I got to watch some football, and they got to play. It was the Sullivan-Okaw Valley-hosted JFL Jamboree.

While students and teachers go crazy(in a good way) when school's out, I, as the News-Progress sports editor, become sad. Although I'm working to change things and expand our coverage during the summers, when high school lets out, so do varsity sports, which is our bread and butter here in the sports department. I have been left to watch the dust settle and see what's on the other side. Now, don't get me wrong, it's been a lot of fun this summer and I've always found ways to fill my day, but it has been dusty from time to time.

And as the wheels on the school buses are beginning to go round and round again, most kids are crying, and I am smiling. And so are several parents.

And Saturday was just what I was hoping for. The stands were filled, the players were nervous, and the parents were excited. And there was lots of food served, but I didn't buy any, only because I'm not on a very loose budget.

The spectacle was good. I stood on the sidelines and watched the seventh and eighth graders, Heavyweights, plug away at Arcola, and the team's defense looked especially good. People were getting tackled, and both me and the parents were smiling.

The JFL has more members than ever, and that is indicative of a good football program here in Moultrie County, right up to the high school varsity level. The Redskins' new coach, Nate Lorton, was also on the sidelines. He is especially interested in working on and the little things, making sure they are ironed out, and it may take a little while to really get the varsity program up to the level Nate is envisioning, but with a solid JFL program churning out quality, disciplined players, that will mean more resources for coach Lorton to work with and less time dedicated to the small stuff.

I watched Heavyweights coach Kris Wheeler work with his team, and it was obvious that he also stressed the small stuff. I am not sure yet of how streamlined things are, but I certainly imagine the S-OV JFL program wants to complement the varsity program.

Check out this week's News-Progress for an in-depth article about the Jamboree and the upcoming JFL season, or go to the program's Website, www.sovjfl.com, for more.

The pictures above and below are of the Heavyweights games against Arcola and Clinton, and they were provided by Jay Traber.