The below is from MaxPreps…
| Sean Konoske #41 | |
| Position: FB, LB Height: 6’0″ Weight: 200 lbs. Class: Senior | |
| Defensive | Statistic Definitions |
| Tackles | Tackles | Assists | Total | Tackles/Game |
| Season Totals | 24 | 14 | 38 | 7.6 |
| Sacks | Sacks | Sacks/Game |
| Season Totals | 1.0 | .2 |
| Game by Game | Tackles | Sacks | ||||
| Date | Opponent | Result | Tck | Ast | Tot | Sak |
| 9/8/2006 | American | W 15-6 | 4 | 1 | 5 | |
| 9/15/2006 | Tokay | W 34-27 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 1 |
| 9/22/2006 | Armijo | W 10-9 | 6 | 3 | 9 | |
| 9/29/2006 | St. Patrick/St. Vincent | W 34-28 | 6 | 3 | 9 | |
| 10/6/2006 | Fairfield | L 20-27 | 4 | 4 | 8 | |
As you can see from the score, it was an ugly game Friday. But what you can’t see is Sean’s strong individual effort. In my humble opinion, the Panthers’ defense was there and ready to go, but it took at least a quarter before the offense was warmed up. The Rodriguez Mustangs, however, came out strong, scored quickly and effectively shut down two of Benicia’s best offensive players. Sean did have one carry for 2 yards and played on offense quite a bit this game, but it was on defense that he once again came up with several good stops, as well as forcing a fumble. It was good to him feeling and knowing that he put in a strong personal effort, even if this one didn’t go into the win column.
Chris’ Celica
Chris got his first car this weekend. He had begun to search Craigslist about a month or so ago, about the time he started working at Safeway. Though I had thought he’d want to wait longer, he was itching to get “something to work on,” even though he had yet to get his drivers license. So, we started looking. I couldn’t not believe what people tried to pawn off as “decent” or “good” cars within Chris’ price range. We look at one 1974 Toyota Corrolla that we should have been paid to take away! Then there was the 1990 Honda CRX in Pittsburg that had oil leaks, bondo over an entire front fender panel, cracked CV joint boots, suspicious wear on rear tire, a check engine light that was always on, and a non-working speedometer…and that’s only what I saw. But on a lark, we drove a bit further to Antioch after talking on the phone to the seller of a 1978 Toyota Celica GT (Chris adds more specifically that it’s an RA42 GT.) Apparently it was originally purchased by the father of the seller and has remained in the family since his passing four years ago. Sure, it looks like a 28-year-old car, but is in good shape and with a new carburetor, alternator, clutch, rear end, radiator, water pump and tires. (And everything except the radio is original…it even came with the original owner’s manual and window sticker!) Sure, Chris will have to put some work into the interior, and there a few things I’ve specified need to be fixed before he can drive it daily (including getting his license), but I think he found a good first car for a good price.
It was a clash of defenses Friday night, with the Benicia Panthers taking on the Hogan Spartans. Unfortunately, defense alone can’t win a championship. But it can sure help a team along. The Panthers forced five turnovers, with Sean in on forcing one fumble that put his team in Spartan territory. Best of all, Sean finished the game without an injury to his shoulder! (He also had about the normal number of tackles, which is quite a few.) Because he didn’t participate in contact during practice, he didn’t start the game, but it wasn’t too long before the coach put him in. He and his defense — he’s a captain — did a great job of not only keeping Hogan from scoring, but in putting the Benicia offense in position to score. In the end, Benicia won 20-6, but it was a tough offense game for the Panthers. Next week, Sean will go head-to-head with his step brother as Rodriguez takes on Benicia at home.
Guess I’m getting to know the fishing grounds of the Eastern Sierra. I’m no expert, but any means, but I passed what I know to a co-worker and he ended up enjoying a fishing trip to the “Eastside.” This tale is excerpted below:
…we released everything we caught. The Walker is very low at this point. There were a couple of sizeable pools right by the campground, but those two were the only ones we really found, at least at the West Walker. I caught four 10-12 inch rainbows at those pools with a small, black Panther Martin.
We tried a couple of other spots with no luck, but finally had some solid bites on powerbait at the lower Twin Lake. I caught three decent-size rainbows at the lake.
The most exciting, however, was the East Walker in Bridgeport. The East was very low as well, but I found a pool about four feet deep downtown. I saw a few small fish hovering at the surface, and on the first cast (a small gold spinner) I saw a ferocious 12-incher chasing the lure. It bit and, voila, I had my first Brown. I ended up catching five more fish, mostly browns and one bow.”
I’d said they had a good first experience in the Eastern Sierra…
Though the Panthers couldn’t sustain their winning streak, I think Benicia’s defense has every reason to be proud of their performance. The defense not only score almost half of the Panthers’ points (8 points on a touchdown and safety), but it make the Fairfield Falcons earn every point. It was a seesaw game into the half, with the score at 20-20. As usual, Sean was in the thick of it, stopping or helping to stop the run numerous times. In the end, it was a fumble by the Panthers offense with less than two minutes on the clock that sealed their fate. Unfortunately, as has happened in games before, Sean end up nursing his arm through the last quarter. After a visit to the doctor, it was determined that he’s feeling the efforts of typical football injury, commonly called “stingers” (medically referred to as brachial plexus injury). While he will attend practice, he’s supposed to stay away from contact for most of the week. Let’s hope all’s well next week, when the games begin to count!
It has been a fast two days down here in San Diego. Most of the time has been filled by the airport wait, the flight, the shuttle ride and the conference. It’s been a learning experience, that’s for sure. I do have to say it’s nice to take my walks along the edge of the San Diego Bay (I’m on Shelter Island.) during sunrise or sunset. And I did have a great dinner last night at the Bali Hai. I had meant to visit this restaurant during my last visit, but never got there. Last night, Dan, a co-worker, and I took the 30-minute (leisurely) walk to the other end of the “island,” and the Bali Hai. The restaurant is centered around a Hawaiian island theme, with windows overlooking the bay. My teriyaki scallops were cooked to perfection and Dan’s salmon Wellington looked great. Well worth the walk.
Two more meetings this morning and it’s back to the airport for me…
If the first three games of the BHS Panters’ football season are any indication of how the rest of the season will turn out, most fans will be without fingernails in November… AGAIN, the game was a squeaker! The defensive lines of both teams were nearly evenly matched, especially during the second half. The ball was turned over both on fourth downs and by punts by both the Panthers and St. Patrick-St. Vincent’s Bruins. Sean — despite receiving a big hit that apparently bruised his shoulder — was all over the field, making some good plays. Let’s just say that the announcer has said his last name often enough to know how to pronounce it. A couple of times he and his fellow teams ensured St. Pat’s ended up with negative yardage. Just like the Lodi game, this one came down to the wire. At the half, it was tied at 20-20. With Benicia leading 34-28, the Bruins got the ball on their own 25-yard line with 1:21 left in the game. The Bruins drove the ball into Benicia territory, and with 6 seconds left, St. Pat’s QB threw an interception which left 1 second on the clock. Sean told me this afternoon that he’s doing fine, but he sure toughed it out under the Friday night lights…
Perhaps for the last time this trout season, Chris and I made a quick trip to the cabin, got some shuteye for about five hours, then headed over Sonora Pass to wind up to the Tioga Pass area about 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23.
It’s amazing the difference three weeks can make. We first stopped at Saddlebag Lake, where the chill in the air and the cold breeze that would follow us all day bit into our fingers. Our visit earlier in the month wasn’t this cold! I don’t think the temperature rose much about 68°F. Generally, the water level seemed to be almost perfect. New pools to target, but still enough water to allow the fish to move up and down the streams.
We ignored the possibility of frostbite as we settled into the rhythm of fishing. At Saddlebag — which we have never fished before — we were teased by some bruisers cruising the shoreline near the dam but they paid little heed to our flies or spinners. A few rose to my son’s flies and a few chased my spinners, but none would commit to a strike. (Next time maybe we’ll head across the lake to the inlets or even hike up to some lakes behind Saddlebag.) Regardless of the lack of catching, it was beautiful…
After an hour and a half, we headed over to Lee Vining Creek (South), where we just knew we could find some trout. Sure ‘nuf, skittish brookies were skittering up and down the shallower reaches, where Chris was able to pull in five of the fish with flies (small, as to be expected in the high elevations), but fun nonetheless. I also convinced a brookie to grab a small Panther Martin. We wandered up and down the creek for about four fun hours. I eventually pulled in two wild rainbows and two stockers, as well as being surprised by another brookie in the bend of the creek just before it heads under the road. Just as important, it was great to be in one of my favorite places. Even my modest lunch seemed to taste better under the clear blue skies.
During our descent we stopped at the lower Lee Vining Creek, near Poole Power Plant, but didn’t stick to the more usually fished areas and instead headed upstream a bit. After fighting our way through some bushes, I was rewarded with a heck of a strike in a small pool and Chris got a fish on, but it didn’t want to be landed, and wasn’t.
There was just enough time at the end of our day to stop by Pickle Meadows. It was amazing the number of boulders and rocks that have appeared since June. We fished up and down a few spots with the only action being a smallish rainbow that snagged my lure in one of those pools I tend to think holds only water. Always a surprise to get a fish in one of those! In the end, Chris pulled in nine fish; I landed seven. Not bad for a beautiful day in the Sierras!
Here’s to hoping we’ll get in one more trip before mid November. After that, we’ll have to settle for planning for next year…
Another squeaker! This football game came down to the last three minutes or so, with the score at 7-9 in favor of Armijo. Armijo had the ball but couldn’t move it past the first-down marker, and rather than go for it, decided to punt into fierce winds that were a heavy influence that evening. The center hiked the ball which, caught by a sudden breeze, sailed over the head of the kicker. The kicker chased the ball down and landed on it near the 20-yard line and he was immediately smothered by few Benicia Panthers.
Taking over, Benicia tried to move the ball into the end zone. At the 2-yard line Sean got the ball for a short 1-yard gain. On a third down Benicia unsuccessfully tried to pass the ball for the score. On fourth down, with less than five seconds on the clock, Benicia’s kicker nailed the field goal and the game. Sean’s stats for the night exemplified the whole team’s strong effort: 10 tackles and at least four assists, and one field goal block! Good job all around and one heck of a game!
fishing for words 