Unis 8th grade football players in action, Mohamad Basma(QB) passes the ball to Mohammad Rizk.
Big plays, big hits, and big runs. That’s how the Unis football season started at the team’s first practice on August 27. But then it went down hill. After a mid-season resurgence, the team finished with a 3-3 record.
The team lost their first two games. But the players didn’t let that stop them from playing harder. Samer Gharib, a Unis kicker and punter, said, “I think this year’s football team is better than last year’s because they take practice and games seriously.”
On October 9th, the Aviators had their 3rd game. They were playing the Stout Falcons, one of the teams that Unis hasn’t beaten in three years. Zaid Saleh, the star running back, said before that game, “The Unis football team is ready play this game and we’re not going to be 0-3.”
Touchdown after touchdown, Zaid Saleh scored. The Aviators finally beat Stout 27 to 6. The players were very happy that they had won their first game. They were practicing so hard after that game to go to city championships. Mohammad Dabaja, an 8th grade student, said after the Stout victory, “This is the best football game I’ve ever watched because Unis went out there and played football, played with heart, and never gave up.”
Ms. Wilkie, UMS Athletic Director proudly stands by the scoreboard.
After that, Unis beat Salina and Smith. The team was on a 3-game win streak with lots of momentum going into the biggest game of the players’ lives. It was win or go home for the team when they face Woodworth, and they were going to play with a lot of heart, and potential, even though Woodworth was a bigger team and has a better record. Zaid Saleh, the running back, said before the kick-off, “This is our last game. Our last middle school game. So we’re going to go out there and give it all we got so we can go to city champs and have a record of 4-2.”
“When Unis plays, they play hard,” said Younes Alghazaly. Younes is a 7th grade fan who has been to every home football game. He is one of the team’s biggest supporters, along with other students and staff who root for the ‘green’ to take it all home. In the end, though the Aviators lost 13-0 on the field, many players said that playing for Unis was one of the best experiences of their lives.
Mohamed Berro
8th grade Journalist