It was David & Goliath, Cinderella, Remember the Titans and Rudy all rolled into one night. Two starting running backs and a starting receiver hurt and not even suited up. Overcoming a 29-point deficit in the second half. Awesome defensive stands that made the overcoming possible. Two clutch receptions in the last 3 minutes of the game to keep hope alive. Lots of passes that shouldn’t have been caught, but were. Quarterback scrambling that should have ended behind the line of scrimmage, but went for 20 yards instead. An opponent that should have cakewalked into the playoffs, but now goes under a scenario they never figured on. A team and coaches and fans that almost gave up, but never could totally. A team that can truly share in this victory, because it wasn’t up to one guy, or even three or five guys. It was everyone’s game and a textbook display of teamwork that will be a model for seasons to come. Last home game for seniors, and a scoreboard that will stay lit in their minds for a lifetime. Oh yes, and a trivial blocked extra point with 3 minutes left that was the game difference.
Final score: First Baptist Academy Saints 56, Parish Episcopal Panthers 55.
However much testosterone there was on the field – and there was A LOT – there was 10 times more emotion. The cheerleaders got the fans back in it in the 3rd quarter, and we didn’t sit in the 4th. When the 56th point went on the board with 3 ticks left, the yawns that had turned to cheers and pumped fists then turned to almost primal screams and unsightly jumping (parents in their 40s have no business trying to leap up and down on a 10 inch wide metal seat – but we did it anyway).
We’d ask each other on Saturday if we dreamed it. Truly, we’d been a part of a history-making game at FBA. In 20 years we’ll all sit around at Luby’s and embellish the story while our grandkids roll their eyes. What fun that will be!
OK, it’s just our little small private school world and we are but a speck compared to the big ol’ public school football machine here in Texas. But I guarantee there wasn’t a more exciting game in this state on November 9.
No matter how the playoffs end, all I can say is “Go, Big Red, Let’s GO!”
