Wildcat gridders struggle in opener

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

The flag football team of Sullivan Middle School began play Sept. 27 at San Marcos Middle School, but the Wildcats lost that 20-0 game.

“We had a tough game,” said Sullivan coach John Machado.

If everybody is healthy and otherwise available, Sullivan has 20 varsity players and 18 junior varsity members. That was not the case Sept. 27. “Our defense was doing really well, but we had a couple of key players on our offensive line that were missing,” Machado said.

The flag football games have eight players from each team on the field at a time. Scores of scrimmages are not recorded, but those scrimmages provide coaches with an assessment of their teams against competition. Sullivan traveled to Valley Center Middle School for a Sept. 20 scrimmage. “They’ve actually been really good,” Machado said.

“We’ve still got a lot of work,” Machado said. “They’re doing good, though. They’re really talented players.”

Machado noted that technique rather than athleticism is where the Wildcats can most improve. “They’re learning the game,” he said.

Sullivan’s junior varsity team lost to their San Marcos counterparts by a 35-21 score. “Our offense is doing real great on JV,” Machado said. Machado coaches both the varsity and the junior varsity.

Sullivan’s first home game of 2022 is scheduled for Oct. 19, when Valley Center Middle School will travel to Bonsall.