Photo By Sgt. Brandon Anderson | Desean Morgan, the quarterback of the Smith Middle School Leopards Football Team,...... read more read more
FORT HOOD, Texas - The quiet evening tranquility of Fort Hood Stadium was shattered by cheering and the sounds of heavily padded opponents crashing into each other as the Smith Middle School Leopards met their on-post post rival the Audie Murphy Middle School Falcons Tuesday evening.
During the first of two games, the evenly matched B Teams went back and forth with strong running plays from both sides eating up the gridiron, but ultimately as time ran out the game ended with a draw.
Game two started out with a strong showing by the Leopards as eighth-grade quarterback Desean Morgan, son of Charlie and Celena Espinal, leading his team down the field time after time that ultimately ended with Leopards beating the Falcons 20 to 6.
Morgan, a multi-sport athlete, said the hard work and dedication instilled in him by his stepfather Charlie Espinal a Soldier stationed here, is what inspired him to become the athlete that he is.
“Charlie’s help is incredibly important to me,” said Morgan. “He gives me pep talks and tips on how to improve my game.”
Morgan’s mother, Celena, said that he works really hard both academically and athletically as his daily routine consists of making sure his homework is complete before spending hours practicing his numerous sports endeavors.
Head coach for the Leopards Daniel Wood said he emphasizes being a winning athlete starts by giving 100 percent in the classroom as well as on the field.
“My players have got to understand that they’re student athletes,” said Wood. “The student comes first and foremost. If they don’t pass, they don’t play.”
Wood said, the teamwork he tries to instill in his players is one where they take care of each other both on and off the field.
“Football is all fun and games, but our main focus is creating young men and mentoring them to become better people,” said Wood. “They’ve got to care of business in the classroom before they come out and play.”
Staff Sgt. Richard Doherty, the father of punter Jeremiah Doherty, echoed Coach Wood’s sentiments about the lessons being taught to his son by participating in sports saying the game is teaching him about team work.
“I’m proud of my son,” said Doherty. “Through participating in sports, he’s learning how to work as team and not just as individual.”
Ultimately it was the team’s hard work and dedication that propelled the Leopards to their win.
“I feel good about how my team played the game,” said Wood. “Audie Murphy came out swinging, but we made the proper adjustments that ultimately led to the victory.”
Wood said he was proud of his players' effort, and that effort was on display with his team’s win.
“They gave the coaching staff, Smith Middle School and Fort Hood everything they had, and that’s why we came out on top.”
| Date Taken: | 09.23.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.25.2014 12:28 |
| Story ID: | 143263 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 110 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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