The center snaps the ball. The quarterback hands off to the running back. The running back takes three steps to the side. Who-a--o-o-m-m-p!!!!! Martin High Warrior freshman middle linebacker Garrett Persons makes the stop. WOOHOO 64!!!
And that's pretty much the way it went the whole game. Wet field. Running backs slipping and sliding in the mud. Wet ball. Quarterbacks losing the skin all over the place. Fumble recoveries on both sides. Our guys blocking the two PATs.
An hour of heart-stopping action, especially the last 30 seconds when the opposing team's final drive ended inches away from the goal line. And then the refs put two seconds back on the clock.
The twenty cheerleaders went wild with high kicks. The band in the practice field next to the stadium played louder. Both stands were full of people on their feet, screaming, SCREAMing, SCREAMING.
Again the MARTIN WARRIOR DEFENSE held 'em down!!!!!! And it was over with another game chalked to the win column.
The two teams met in the middle of the field and shook hands down the line, coaches thanking the refs and congratulating each other for a good clean (despite the mud) game, then slapping players hands as they ran off the field together.
Man!! I can't think of a better way to spend a Thursday night!! (Took hours for my feet to thaw out. Two pairs of socks and a red and black blanket are ready for this week.)
We caught up with Garrett after the game. His Dad, a little more fleet of foot than we girls, got there first and hugged him with the pride that only a father can have, and is allowed to show. His Mom, through her grin, said, "I'll hug you later." Bless her. It's ok for a Dad to hug a warrior, but Moms need to wait for the privacy of home and kitchen.
I wasn't sure what to do, not wanting to cause him the slightest feeling of unease, so just held up my hand for a high five. He slapped my palm, but then wrapped his whole big muddy hand around my thumb and held on for several seconds as he thanked me for being there. "Good job!" I told him. His answering smile said it all.
OK, I never heard a winner say "It doesn't matter if you win or lose it's how you play the game that counts." But a gramma is allowed to say "It doesn't matter to me if you win or lose" and then add the unspoken wish, "just please don't get hurt."
And that's pretty much the way it went the whole game. Wet field. Running backs slipping and sliding in the mud. Wet ball. Quarterbacks losing the skin all over the place. Fumble recoveries on both sides. Our guys blocking the two PATs.
An hour of heart-stopping action, especially the last 30 seconds when the opposing team's final drive ended inches away from the goal line. And then the refs put two seconds back on the clock.
The twenty cheerleaders went wild with high kicks. The band in the practice field next to the stadium played louder. Both stands were full of people on their feet, screaming, SCREAMing, SCREAMING.
Again the MARTIN WARRIOR DEFENSE held 'em down!!!!!! And it was over with another game chalked to the win column.
The two teams met in the middle of the field and shook hands down the line, coaches thanking the refs and congratulating each other for a good clean (despite the mud) game, then slapping players hands as they ran off the field together.
Man!! I can't think of a better way to spend a Thursday night!! (Took hours for my feet to thaw out. Two pairs of socks and a red and black blanket are ready for this week.)
We caught up with Garrett after the game. His Dad, a little more fleet of foot than we girls, got there first and hugged him with the pride that only a father can have, and is allowed to show. His Mom, through her grin, said, "I'll hug you later." Bless her. It's ok for a Dad to hug a warrior, but Moms need to wait for the privacy of home and kitchen.
I wasn't sure what to do, not wanting to cause him the slightest feeling of unease, so just held up my hand for a high five. He slapped my palm, but then wrapped his whole big muddy hand around my thumb and held on for several seconds as he thanked me for being there. "Good job!" I told him. His answering smile said it all.
OK, I never heard a winner say "It doesn't matter if you win or lose it's how you play the game that counts." But a gramma is allowed to say "It doesn't matter to me if you win or lose" and then add the unspoken wish, "just please don't get hurt."
No comments:
Post a Comment