Metcalf upbeat about FSMS teams

Fort Scott Middle School head football coach Alvin Metcalf is encouraged by the progress of his Tiger football teams.Although the seventh-grade Tigers are 0-2, they played both Pittsburg and Coffeyville-Roosevelt close, losing by two points each time and allowing only two scores in each game.

"The boys are coming along well," Metcalf said. "We've been close in both games."

Early standouts have been quarterback Brody Bowels, running back Cooper Bradbury, and defensive end Andrew Payne.

The eighth-grade Tigers fell to Pittsburg 28-6 but rebounded against Roosevelt for a 14-6 overtime victory.

"Against Pittsburg, we didn't have our alignment set up," Metcalf said. "But with (Roosevelt), we came back with a great game. We scored in the last 16 seconds to tie it and force overtime, and then did what we needed to do."

The Tigers play at Pittsburg on Sept. 9 and at home against Roosevelt Sept. 18. They played at Independence Thursday night. A report on that game will be included in an upcoming edition. They play at Parsons Oct. 2.

Metcalf has been happy with how his players have taken to the coaching staff's instruction.

"It's only the second year for us and we're getting better," he said. "There are always things to correct each week. But the boys have been following directions pretty well."