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MM, RAL both used ineligible players in Civil War game; both teams get a loss

Sunday, November 2, 2008 1:08 AM PDT

By Rick S. Alvord

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Call it weird. Call it bizarre. Call it the strangest Civil War football result in the 62-game history of the cross-town rivalry. Call it what you want. Just make sure you call it a double forfeit.

Mark Morris’ 53-20 victory over R.A. Long on Halloween night turned out to be a frightening roller-coaster ride for all parties involved.

First, the Monarchs appeared to clinch the No. 2 playoff berth from the Greater St. Helens 2A League with Friday’s victory, in which they broke open a close game with a huge 32-point second half and finished with the highest Civil War point total ever.

About an hour after the game, it was discovered that Mark Morris had used an ineligible player and would have to forfeit to the Lumberjacks, muddying the playoff picture via a coin flip to break a three-way tie for second.

Mark Morris violated rule 57.4.0 of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association handbook. The rule, which covers specific eligibility requirements for high school football, states that “a football participant shall be eligible to compete in up to four quarters of play during any three-day period of the season.”

At question was whether the Monarchs used a player for four plays Friday, one day after he played all four quarters in the MM freshman team’s 52-6 win over R.A. Long.

On Saturday, after Mark Morris’ claim that R.A. Long had also used an ineligible player in the Civil War was found to be untrue, Lumberjacks head coach Erik Bertram realized while relaxing at home that another player — not the one Mark Morris questioned — “could have” violated eligibility rules.

Bertram checked to make sure, then immediately telephoned athletic director Ty Morris to report the infraction.

Therefore, the 62nd Civil War will officially go down in the books as a double forfeit after athletic directors from both schools — RAL’s Morris and MM’s Robert Blackman — submit “self-report” forms on Monday to league president Ed Bate of Ridgefield.

Nobody wins. But both teams lose.

“It’s been a long, weird ride for our coaches and players. I’m glad it all got sorted out,” said Mark Morris head coach Shawn Perkins, who spent a sleepless night worrying about the possible forfeit. “Two coaches made mistakes, and now we’re doing the responsible thing like trying to teach our own young men about things like this.

“I’m just glad it landed where it should have been in the first place,” he added. “We’re anxious to move on.”

Mark Morris will open the crossover district playoffs next Friday at Longview Memorial Stadium against W.F. West, the same team it was matched against before the forfeit and double-forfeit madness ensued.

R.A. Long will re-assume its No. 4 playoff spot from the GSHL, and travels to Evergreen Conference champion Centralia for its crossover game.

Woodland, the other team factored into the three-way tie had Mark Morris been forced to forfeit on its own, is the No. 3 team and will play at third-ranked Tumwater.

Prior to the Civil War, because the possibility of a three-way tie for second existed, the GSHL held a coin flip to determine the Nos. 2-4 seeds in the event that RAL won the game.

The Jacks were No. 2, the Monarchs No. 3 and Woodland No. 4.

Bertram, RAL’s first-year head coach, said he “couldn’t have slept at night” had he benefitted from a Mark Morris forfeit, knowing the Jacks committed the same infraction.

“I started to second-guess myself about another kid, and after checking, he ended up playing the final three plays of the game (Friday), which gave him five quarters,” explained Bertram, who has guided RAL to its first postseason appearance since 1995.

“I’d rather feel stupid than have a guilty conscience,” he said. “I’m relieved that it’s back to where it probably should be, after all the smoke finally cleared.”

The ineligible player for RAL played in two quarters of Thursday’s freshman game against the Monarchs.

“I knew we had him for two quarters in the varsity game. I used him in the first quarter because of an injury to another player, didn’t play him in the second quarter, then played him in the third,” Bertram said. “In the fourth quarter, in the last minute-and-a-half of the game, we were getting a young crew of guys to go out there to mop up, and he ended up going out. It was our fault.”

Bertram said it was an oversight “or maybe just stupidity,” but that the infraction was not a malicious disregard for the rules.

“There was nothing malicious on either side. With the Mark Morris kid who was ineligible, people knew ahead of time that he couldn’t get out there (Friday), but there wasn’t anything malicious about it,” he said. “Same with us. It was a mistake. Live and learn, I guess.”

W.F. West coach Bob Wollan was understandably miffed Saturday.

After his team blanked Black Hills 28-0 on Friday, he spent the rest of the night breaking down video of the Monarchs, whom he believed his Bearcats would meet in next week’s playoffs.

Then word came of the Monarchs’ forfeit. So Wollen halted his Mark Morris preparation and spent all of Saturday morning “cutting up video” of R.A. Long.

Later Saturday, after learning of the double forfeit and that his team would again be matched up with Mark Morris, Wollen responded: “You’re kidding me. We just wasted an entire day (of preparation). That’s quite a mess down there.”

There has never been a forfeit in the history of the Civil War. R.A. Long continues to lead the all-time series 38-21, with two ties.

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Rubicon wrote on Nov 1, 2008 6:23 PM:

" If a jv or frosh kid plays in the 4th quarter when the game is out of reach, "who cares". They have nothing to do with the outcome of the winner or loser. "

louie wrote on Nov 1, 2008 6:33 PM:

" Well what a great way to teach our young athletes right and wrong. This is disgusting and should never, ever happen. Shame on the coaches...they knew better. "

chapstick wrote on Nov 1, 2008 6:42 PM:

" Wow!
I can't help but laugh. After watching the fans from both schools attack each other's integrity all day it seems coaches from both teams missed something in the game. Good luck to both teams in the playoffs! Go Monarchs! "

MW wrote on Nov 1, 2008 6:47 PM:

" Well now all you R.A. Long blogger's saying how Mark Morris "cheatd". I guess you folk's "cheated" as well. Are all the deragatory thing's you were saying about the "mice"(I'm a MM grad and find the term indearing)and it's coaches now true about yourselves. Bottom line is all is as it should be and good luck to both team's in their upcoming playoff battle's. I wish both team's success. "

An observer wrote on Nov 1, 2008 7:00 PM:

" I am sure both coaches were trying to play ever kid dressed, just what most parents want. A mistake which had nothing to do with the outcome was made by both... so why all the garbage. A double forefit is just as wrong. One team got thier fanny thrashed. Nothing to be a shamed about, both coaches take ownership of their error, folks like "Louie" should learn from these two good men, who have your kids best interest at heart. "

MW wrote on Nov 1, 2008 7:06 PM:

" I forgot to add that I applaude both coaches for their honesty. To those who say shame on them for setting a bad example, I say they have set a fine example of what it takes to be honest regardless of the outcome. Go Monarchs and good luck to the Jacks "

boosters wrote on Nov 1, 2008 7:16 PM:

" Nice! Maybe The officials should look into ALL the games Mark Morris and R.A. Long played this season, but, I'm sure Friday night was the ONLY time it ever happened, right? Ha! "

Thought wrote on Nov 1, 2008 7:18 PM:

" You can take the win away but RA bottom line got their butts kicked. "

educateyourself wrote on Nov 1, 2008 7:22 PM:

" MW, I agree that what was said by RAL fans about MM was deragatory, and uncalled for (I'm an RAL grad). What people need to realize is that neither coach was trying to cheat. The game was out of reach at the point each player was in the game. They both broke a rule, and are suffering the consequence (though league standings are as they should be). I have a feeling each coach will pay a little more attention to these details from here on out, because ultimately, it's the kids that are effected most. Good luck to both teams, as a good showing from our area will help establish Longview as a good all around football town. Hopefully the community at large will back both schools and wish them well. "

Caddyshack wrote on Nov 1, 2008 8:03 PM:

" The only good news here is that the playoffs will not be affected from two meaningless elibility situations last night. Tough fall sports season for for both schools as far as using ineligible players. RAL did it twice...one in volleyball (loss to Hockinson) and once in football, and MM had the football incident. Time for the MM and RAL coaches and ADs to sit down and review the rules a little closer. "

BUGGSIE wrote on Nov 1, 2008 8:08 PM:

" I always thought people who held higher levels of responsibility were supposed to have higher levels of integrity and character. Everyone blames the parents for the difficulty with the children...maybe it is some of the coaches/teachers/other influences in their lives. This teaches a double standard. NOT ACCEPTABLE. COACHES NEED TO BE PENALIZED. If nothing else, but to make a public apology at a student body gathering. "

CR RES. wrote on Nov 1, 2008 8:47 PM:

" BOTH TEAMS SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND I WOULD HOPE THE COACHES WOULD GET SOME SORT OF PUNISHMENT. WHAT POOR SPORTSMANSHIP. SHAME ON ALL OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

somedude wrote on Nov 1, 2008 8:53 PM:

" This is a game...it's only a game.... have you seen how the so called adults are acting over this "game" played by kids? So many other things in our world right now to worry about but no, you people choose to flip out over a Game played by school children? Are you people serious? Good God no wonder why nothing positive can get done when you people are worried about a game played by children "

greenbean wrote on Nov 1, 2008 8:59 PM:

" I just wonder what is going on with both coaches? If they can't keep track of who is playing when, they should be fired! "

Soon to be WSU Grad wrote on Nov 1, 2008 9:10 PM:

" At least the Beavos fans will be happy because now they are in the third position like they should have been. I personally would have liked the fourth seed because you would be playing Centralia and not Tumwater, who was #3 in state prior to losing Friday. "

my 2 cents wrote on Nov 1, 2008 9:30 PM:

" That's what you get for playing on Halloween! "

CONCERENED wrote on Nov 1, 2008 9:58 PM:

" RULES RULES RULES!!! FOLLOW THEM PEOPLE!!! YES, EVEN AT HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL! SHEESH!!! "

CONCERENED wrote on Nov 1, 2008 10:02 PM:

" RE SOMEDUDE? YOU FROM RAL? I NOTICED YA REPEATED YOURSELF IN BACK TO BACK SENTANCES? HMMMM MAYBY YOUR KID WAS ON THE LOSING TEAM ? JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT, WE WILL NEVER KNOW , IM SURE !!! "

Real Jock wrote on Nov 1, 2008 10:02 PM:

" Listen to all of you...most of which have never played, and if at all, sparingly- and obviously never coached at a level beyond Little League, if that. You have two teams that made mistakes- these mistakes were not made by the head coaches- they were made by assistant coaches, who were trying to get kids into a ball game. Granted, there are only 35-50 players on each sideline to keep track of. This is a task that most of you experts could easily handle, along with all of the other aspects of the game. Instead of whining about honest mistakes, that have no consequences, you all should be addressing the coach(es), that blatantly disregard recruiting rules, and weaken local programs, for local athletes. "

MW wrote on Nov 1, 2008 10:28 PM:

" Please CR RES, give it a rest. Mistakes were made. I am a single dad that has raised 3 children on my own for 12 year's. I had trouble keeping track of THERE schedules. Imagine overseeing 75+ kid's and trying to remember who played when. It was simply an unfortunate err. I believe the emphasis should be on both coaches willingness to self report and the integrity it teaches these young men. "

mkb617 wrote on Nov 1, 2008 10:50 PM:

" Ok this is pathetic all these people saying the coaches cheated. They made an honest mistake it seems to me. They were trying to give their freshman a chance to play in a game that at that point was over and they were trying to let the parents see their kids play. it sounds like the coaches should be more aware of when their students have already played but there was nothing sinister here. And to those saying there should be punishment. They already lost the game what more punishment should there be? According to the rules that should be their punishment and any more would be cheating "

CRSA wrote on Nov 1, 2008 11:29 PM:

" BUGGSIE & CR Res: Get a life! "Teaches a double standard???" "Poor Sportsmanship?" It's unfortunate that this happened but get serious.

Kudos to both coaches for trying to get their benches in a lopsided game and an even bigger Kudos for having the integrity to admit it when a mistake had been made even though it potentially could have cost you and your team dearly. THAT was the lesson here that your players will remember. That doing the right thing is more important than winning or losing. I'm impressed by both of you guys! "

Rubicon wrote on Nov 1, 2008 11:51 PM:

" RA Long will get steam rolled again this week anyway. If MM can figure out how to play 4 quarters of football they will win. "

CommentJunkie wrote on Nov 2, 2008 1:59 AM:

" WHY ARE YOU ALL SCREAMING!!! "

DW wrote on Nov 2, 2008 7:34 AM:

" Sounds like a bunch of 10 year olds that can't get along on here sometimes. "

ltown wrote on Nov 2, 2008 7:48 AM:

" I know that the coaches care about these kids they spend a lot of time and energy with them, through the good and the bad a lot of emotions go into sports. It might just be a game but life lessons are included with sports. I am a fan of the jacks and wish they could have won beileve me those boys have heart just as much as the monarchs do lets remember one thing before we bash all these teams their kids and they work hard and beat their bodies up. "

ltown wrote on Nov 2, 2008 7:50 AM:

" At the end of the day no matter what side you are on you should congradulate the other team for the effort and hard work they have all been through this season. Coaches, Players and Parents. "

homer wrote on Nov 2, 2008 8:24 AM:

" Im a big MM supporter, and i find it funny how all the blogs have changed today. Yesterday all the blogs had how MM is a bunch of cheaters, and they need to investigate all the game and players because they are known for recruting and cheating. then today all those RAL lovers are singing a different song. The only losers out of all of this is the MM football team... because they are the team that got the big win taken away from them. Both teams really didnt do anything wrong. the players that played made no difference in the outcome of the game. Yes, its a rule. And a rule is a rule. So I guess next year MM doesnt pull there starters, so RAL doesnt have to count qtrs. By the way, MM only has 3 senior starters this year... Its going to be ugly next year. "

gmcpanel wrote on Nov 2, 2008 8:37 AM:

" Well, at least everything is back to normal in the playoff picture. I feel good for Woodland. (Does this mean that since there technically wasn't a game we get our gate fee refunded?) MM does have a third string freshman quarterback, (He backed up Pedersen last year at Mt. Solo) and it is pathetic for RAL that they have to limit a good defensive player on a bad freshman team because they need him on varsity. I have coached kids from both teams in youth sports. Because of questionable dividing lines and an imbalance in transfers, some of the "opponents" are practically next-door neighbors and many of them are good friends. My son plays for RAL but we have gone over to MM to watch games because he has many friends on their team. We believe in rooting for LONGVIEW. We as a community should feel good about any team from Longview representing our community in a positive fashion. This incident makes Longview look pretty bad, both in coaching ability and fan reaction. (Present party included) We need to learn from this and realize that as a small community, which could actually survive with one high school, we need to be supportive of both schools no matter who comes out on top. "

MMFAN wrote on Nov 2, 2008 9:09 AM:

" This game won't go in the books as a win for Mark Morris but those boys know they had a great game. Kudos to the coaches for being honest. Good luck Monarchs and Jacks in your next games!!! "

DVC Mom wrote on Nov 2, 2008 9:33 AM:

" Longview has always been a sports town of sorts. The Dad's who helped with coaching thier kids sports always got thier kid on the All Star Team. It has always been about the grown ups in sports never about if the kids are having fun or want to be on tournement teams. As grown ups we must all follow the rules so that our childeren will follow the rules as they grow up and move on with thier lives. With all the assitant coaches both teams have why did this mistake happen friday night at the RAL and MM game. The coaches need to be benched. If it had been a kid doing a school assignment or senior project, they would of been giving an F and not allowed to move on to graduation. RAL and MM are both good schools. Lets pay attention to making sure our childern are having fun. "

mole wrote on Nov 2, 2008 9:41 AM:

" SPORTS ARE OVER RATED,ANYTHING GOES JUST TO WIN !!! I THINK THREE OR FOUR KIDS HAVE GONE ON TO PRO BALL FROM THE AREA !!! RAL 1968 AND SPORTS WAS OVER RATED THEN . "

sentinel wrote on Nov 2, 2008 9:46 AM:

" It appears that many of you have never made a mistake before. It must be nice to be so perfect in every way that you can be so judgemental. Get over yourselves and get a life. This was just a game and the young men who played it have nothing to be ashamed of. "

Don't Believe The Hype wrote on Nov 2, 2008 10:19 AM:

" Reality check: This is Cowlitz County. Your schools are 2A, with Kelso being 2 1/2A. The athletes are 2A. And, without exception, no matter the sport, the coaches are 2A(if this were not the case, they would be coaching at a 5A, or 6A school). Folks in your area really need to get over themselves! "

An observer wrote on Nov 2, 2008 11:38 AM:

" DVC Mom and others: Ever burn a meal or dish, ever forget to pay a bill, ever make a mistake? By your blogs I would guess that you are perfect. Get a life!! The same goes for rest of you perfect people living in you are. your utopian world, how lucky you are. "

CowlitzSounding wrote on Nov 2, 2008 12:24 PM:

" It's like none of the three local big teams played. And did you like the Kelso story? LOL "

Real Jock wrote on Nov 2, 2008 1:56 PM:

" Finally!! There is someone in your area that gets it..."mole" accurately portrayed the situation. And, of those 3 or 4 kids, not one was, or is, a "major" player. People in your area "believe your own press"!! "

ralongfan wrote on Nov 2, 2008 2:46 PM:

" Hey Homer...It won't be ugly next year. That Ralong squad is a majority of sophomores and and Juniors. Yordy and Nusbaum will lead the team to a great season next year. Seriously, with Bertram being such a great coach I can't wait for Ralong to thrash mark morris like the past. It is so annoying of how Perkins speaks about his team in the paper, like they are so great. I would even encourage him to run up the points on mark morris. Mark Morris people, be scared because the days are coming soon. "

stag wrote on Nov 2, 2008 3:21 PM:

" I think that if you break the rules on anything you should pay the piper. I have never seen any two schools that did the samething and then tell on each other. I just wish that I could send this to my daughter's boyfriend that goes to the U. of W. in Seattle. We both where in shock. "

mkb617 wrote on Nov 2, 2008 4:20 PM:

" Actually mole couldnt be more wrong. This had nothing to do with winning as the game was basically over. This had to do with getting the kids some playing time who wouldnt normally get it "

MM fan wrote on Nov 2, 2008 5:09 PM:

" Both coaches did the right thing by owning up to their mistake. It shouldn't be considered "cheating" because even if the ineligible players did not play in Friday's game, MM still would have won. The coaches were just trying to give each player the varsity experience. Obviously the players in question weren't the best players on the team if they played in the freshman team game. Kudos to the coaches for being honest. And good luck to both teams ! "

Real Jock wrote on Nov 2, 2008 5:14 PM:

" No, mkb617, the mole was right. The reference was to sports in general- not this particular game. And, apparently, the athletes that are in question, got quite a bit of playing time this past week. It is always nice to have the opportunity to play those kids who don't usually get much playing time at the Varsity level, however. "

Howdy wrote on Nov 2, 2008 6:30 PM:

" You really would think if your job is to maintain the integrity of the game, you would know how to manage a team in a professional manner and not hault all of the hard work put into a program. The bottom line is Perkins, and and all of the oter members of the coaching staff did not pay attention to detail. Thus, the question is should they be held accountable? Only the shadow knows for sure! The R.A. long couch at least had the class to call it himself. On the other hand, in the opinion of the people who pay taxes in the community these men are obviously not ready to take on such a resposibility. It really is sad the oversight of a couple people affects so many of these great student athletes! Coaches, oh you will sleep again, but I bet you will never forget your ignorance over this one. The funny thing is, neither will this great community. Carpe Diem "

homer wrote on Nov 2, 2008 7:35 PM:

" hey ralfan... so mm and ral are going to put the same teams out next year because both teams are so young. Do you really think that ral is going to get that much better than mm in one year? did you watch the same game as i did on fri? because the game i watched Perkins was doing everything he could not to run the score up. Kids got in that never played varsity football before, because MM was trying not to put up 70. The fact is, MM violated the WIAA rule because he didnt want to beat RAL so bad. So what do you think is going to happen next year when we are up by 39 pts in the 4th qtr. You can bet you wont see a back up... "

mole wrote on Nov 2, 2008 8:05 PM:

" mkb617: I did not say anything about playing time,you actually prove my point.If the game was not so lop-sided do you really think the,not so acomplished players would get to play???? sports are taken way to serious,every kid who makes the squad should get the excact,play time as the better players,to make "them" better.But for the love of "victory",we will allways have bench warmers,to bad it is the same still,those star players would be at the mills,if we had mills.SO WORK ON EDUCATION !!!! "

mkb617 wrote on Nov 3, 2008 7:38 AM:

" I agree that sports can be overrated at times but you said anything to win. This problem had nothing to do with winning as the game was already decided. That was all i meant with my comment. "

duckguy wrote on Nov 3, 2008 8:06 AM:

" Wow Mole, spoken like a true bench warmer yourself. You really think that all players should get the exact same playing time regardless of the effort they put in. Some kids bust their tails to get better and be ready to play vasity football while others just breeze through and see football practice as their only social endeavor. Would that really prepare kids for their future, the idea that working harder gets you nowhere? You sound like a bench warmer that now has a union job. "

mole wrote on Nov 3, 2008 9:30 AM:

" no I was not a bench warmer,never turned out for after school sports,I had to walk home,to willow grove.just wrestled,intermural[sp]with in the school.IF THEY MADE THE TEAM THEY ARE GOOD ENOUGH TO PLAY !!!! DUCKGUY,UNION JOBS,WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH SPORTS.I AM RETIRED.MKB617,THAT IS JUST FINE TO PLAY THE GAME AS YOU DESCRIBED,IT IS AFTER ALL A GAME !!!! "

onmymind wrote on Nov 3, 2008 11:21 AM:

" All this garbage over a mistake made at a high school "game". Whats important is that there are students at two schools who are learning an important lesson about honesty and integrity from two coaches. Imagine wanting children to learn these values at school. Given some of the comments on here, some of the kids sure aren't going to learn them at home! "

football 4 wrote on Nov 3, 2008 11:32 AM:

" As a parent of a RAL player I think that most of you are clueless on the situation. watching the coaches out there every friday,monday and thursday night they have alot going on and I feel they do a great job keeping a handle on things. I feel that this year is only the beginning of great things to come for the LUMBERJACKS football team and coaching staff.GOOD LUCK FRIDAY NIGHT !!!! TRY COACHING A TEAM BEFORE YOU TRASH BOTH THE MM AND RAL COACHES!!!!!!! "

TheGenius wrote on Nov 3, 2008 11:54 AM:

" Well, this sucks for both sides. I can't believe this is how it ends. Both teams forfeit because the coaches lost track of who was playing when. I feel bad for the seniors on both sides. Really, they're the losers in this one. Good luck to both sides in the playoffs. "

ralongfan wrote on Nov 3, 2008 12:47 PM:

" Dear Homer, I think ralong will improve to be better than mark morris. I think Bertram will do what he came to do at ralong. If you look at Wahluke high school, where he coached before, it is similar to ralong. A lot of diversity. I'm just saying the days are coming again soon where RAlong will completely thrash mark morris. People are just going to have to deal with it. I am going to enjoy ever second of it as well. I'm sick of the mark morris mentality around town where they think they are so much better than us. "

TheGenius wrote on Nov 3, 2008 1:26 PM:

" ralongfan- No, Mark Morris alums and fans don't think we are better than everyone else. We just have a better grasp and understanding of the English language. "

American First wrote on Nov 3, 2008 2:32 PM:

" As far as I'm concerned coaches on both sides are good & honorable having made not an error but at worst an oversight. In either case I don't believe there were any questionable intentions and both sides definitely undeserving of such accusations as cheating. Save that accusation for the election tomorrow, then you may be spot on. Onward Monarchs!!! "

an observer wrote on Nov 3, 2008 7:22 PM:

" Double forefit.... A tie......They say a tie is like kissing your sister. What is the feeling when you just had your fanny whipped and now you have to kiss your sister!!!! Move on folks Good luck to both teams on Friday. "

blondeohvb wrote on Nov 4, 2008 3:07 PM:

" RAL won't be beating MM for quite some time. MM will just be getting better, they football players coming in next year are really good. As for the double forfeit, oh well, they both deserved it I suppose. GO MONARCHS! "

blondeohvb wrote on Nov 4, 2008 3:09 PM:

" ralongfan--you just wait, mark morris will be dominating "

Dirby23darkvisor wrote on Nov 6, 2008 10:29 AM:

" Im a player at ral and i personally guarentee a victory next year. Mark Morris' junior class is garbage! They have a horrible back field, decent offensive line, short defensive backs, and their quarter back is mentally weak. They dont stand a chance against us next year. Even if they do recruit some more athletes. In fact they tried to get me to come over last year but i told them im a jack for life! They can keep trying to do what it takes to win but its not happenning because we got Justin wison and Jordan Kilgore and Bo Peterson... Beware Monarchs "

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