EOMS B-team Finishes Perfect Season

GOSHEN – Coach James Kelly’s favorite saying to his players is that practice doesn’t make perfect, but that “perfect practice makes perfect.”

Brad Stephens

Team members include coaches James Kelly, Jody Herald and Clinton Deckard and players Nathan Irwin, Carson Deckard, Jack Harold, Cody Harold, Donovan Schneider, Tyler Armstead, Harrison Thomas, Matthew Duvall, Colton Kauffman, Alex Watson, Tristan Ballinger, Lane Cheatham, Jakob McClintic, Carter McGuffin, Andrew Conder, Jackson Deckard, Brody Kelly, Dominic Armango, Chase Morgan, Noah Mitchell, Dustin Patton, Tristan Boney, Seth Ford and Ryan Meyer.

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That mindset has led to a perfect year for his East Oldham Middle School B-Team Patriots.

East Oldham clinched a perfect regular season Monday with an 8-0 win over North Oldham Middle School’s B-Team at Mustang Stadium.

The 10-0 season is the first that Patriot coaches have ever found searching through records of the B-Teams (5th, 6th and 7th graders) in county history, Kelly said.

“It was a lot of heart,” Kelly said. “We had a good offensive scheme… and you can’t have a better defense than what we put on the field.     Bar none, I would say that in the state of Kentucky, this team would be the tops anywhere, offense and defense.”

Defense led to the win Monday night.

On the opening drive of the game, Matthew Duvall intercepted a North pass and took the pick back for a touchdown. A two-point conversion made the score 8-0.

From there the offense ate clock while the defense kept the Mustangs far away from the East end zone.

“Defensively, these are the some of the best kids we’ve had in my three years,” defensive coordinator Jody Herald said. “You can ask them to do anything. It’s dedication and heart.”

Team member Carter McGuffin called the undefeated season “awesome.” Noah Mitchell called it indescribable.” Brody Kelly called the perfect year “amazing.”

Unfortunately for East, there are no more middle school B-Team playoff systems in Kentucky. The Patriot B-Team players will instead suit up for the East 8th grade team when the middle school playoffs start.

“I would put these 5th, 6th and 7th graders against any A-Team in the state of Kentucky,” Kelly said. “Especially for a true B-Team, I don’t believe any B-Team in the state of Kentucky could beat us.”