25. Chapter 25
Chapter 25
Tyler
December 1992
W e roll into Valdosta, a town in South Georgia, and the support for their high school football team has my mouth hanging open as I look out the window of our cushy chartered bus. Valdosta High School is known statewide as a powerhouse and there are messages of support for the team all over town. Their mascot is the wildcat, too, so I just pretend that the paw prints painted all over town, leading to the stadium are for us.
When we pull up to the stadium, Brian's focus is outside. "Geez, look at this place. It's huge."
"Seriously," I reply as I stare at the stadium that could be that of a junior college. "Ours only has seating on one side, they have three sides of bleachers."
"That's all they've got in this town," Adam says from across the aisle. "High school football is practically a religion down here."
Coach Harbin stands up from his seat behind the bus driver. "Welcome to Valdosta where the players are big, but the mosquitos are bigger." Coach makes us all chuckle which helps all of our nerves, I'm sure. "We'll head into the locker room and get settled. Just remember, you deserve to be here as much as they do. Let's do our thing and play this game like we have all the others. One play at a time."
Assistant Coach Beecham gets up. "I would say Wildcats on three, but since that's their mascot, how 'bout Dunwoody on three. One, two, three!"
"Dunwoody!" We all scream and clap, then start standing up and gathering our stuff.
Brian looks at me. "Still feelin' good about this?"
I nod. "Absolutely. Coach is right, we earned our place here. Besides, our defense is so strong."
"Defenses win championships, baby!" Travis Suggs, our massive D-lineman hollers from behind me, causing the rest of the defense to roar.
I smile because I love my teammates, but also because Sloane uttered that same phrase when she said that she thought our team could go all the way to State. She was right about that, now we just have to bring home that W.
***
If you had listened to the pundits, they would have told you that a school in the suburbs of Atlanta didn't have a shot against a powerhouse team from South Georgia where football is second only to God. Coach was right, they do breed guys big down here, but we have some huge guys ourselves and some real competitors. We've held Valdosta to a field goal, but they've held us to a goose egg. We haven't been able to score and it's starting to get under my skin. I missed one tackle when the guy stiff-armed me in my face mask, and even then, I got up and assisted in the tackle. Other than that, I've been on fire. It's like I can see the ball tonight and am so fast upon the snap. I'm staying in my zone and taking care of business.
I look at the scoreboard. The clock reads 2:43 in the second quarter and Valdosta is driving. When the ball is snapped, I can see that it's a pass play. Their quarterback drops back and throws a quick pass down field about twenty yards. I watch as the ball is caught on the opposite side of the field. I run in the direction of the play, even though I'm the farthest defender. He runs five, ten, fifteen…crap, twenty yards and is approaching the goal line. I hustle and watch as one of our fastest guys, a safety named James, catches up to him and tackles him at the three-yard line.
As Valdosta huddles up, I tell my teammates, "We're only down by three, we can't let them score before halftime."
We line up and stand firm as they try a run play in my direction, but I'm ready for them and so is Travis. No gain. We line back up. Second down. They try another run play, this time to the other side, but we stop them again. Third down. They run again, this time, back towards me. Travis lunges at the runner and misses, but makes him stumble. I manage to do the same, but merely trip him up. I land flat on the turf but jump up to continue after him. Thankfully, Andre and Justin take him down on the two yard line. Fourth down. "Yeah!" I holler as we line back up.
"They're going for it!" Travis hollers and we line back up.
This gives me an adrenaline rush. They think they can score off of us. We stopped them from getting in the end zone three times and instead of kicking a field goal for three points, they're going for it. They think they can get past our defense! I know my guys are as pumped as I am to stop them from the two-yard line. They snap the ball quickly and try to run up the middle, but before I know it, I see #74 charge through and wrap up their running back, driving him back three yards while we swarm them to assist with the tackle. But we don't need to. Little 74, a sophomore handles the tackle on his own.
"Woo!" I holler and grab him by his shoulder pads. "Way to go, Andy! Good job!" My fellow players congratulate Andy as we head to the sideline and the clock ticks down ending the half, sending us to the locker room.
***
During halftime, Coach Harbin reviews the plays that are working and those that are not while Coach Beecham pumps us up to go out and finish strong.
"We can do this!" I tell Brian as we jog back out onto the field.
"Totally," Brian says as he runs next to me. "I want a reception."
"I know. Their defense hasn't given Sam much of a chance."
"They're covering me tight, too." Brian puts his helmet on and snaps the buckles in place. "I have to get open." He walks with purpose over to the offensive players to listen to coach before kickoff. We get the ball first which is awesome.
For the next seventeen minutes and change, it's a slog. This is one of those games that announcers hate because it's a defensive battle. No flashy scores, no long runs, or punt returns. While I'm glad we've been able to defend well, I'm frustrated that we haven't been able to score. With every tackle, I try to cause a fumble, but can't make it happen.
With just under seven minutes left in the game, the score is still 3-0 Valdosta. We've just forced them to punt again, and I head over to the offensive bench. "We just need a score. Just one score. Come on, we can do this!" I try to pump up our offense, but they look pretty tired. We're able to get a couple first downs, but are ultimately stopped again. I look at the scoreboard. 3:48 is left on the clock and Valdosta has the ball.
We kick-off and Valdosta runs the ball up to the thirty-eight-yard line. I'm on special teams, but the runner is on the opposite side of the field. Valdosta has adjusted their plays and they try not to run where I am. I'm flattered, but chomping at the bit to make a play.
On first and ten, they make it across the fifty-yard line, ending up at the forty-six-yard line. Again, I'm on the other side of the field and can't make a play. Their next play is a running play and they try to go up the middle. I'm off my block and on their running back fast as Travis and I make the tackle. Second and eight. Their next play is a pass and all I can do is watch the ball sail to the twenty-yard line, right into the hands of their wide-open receiver. "Crap!" Our coverage was off and our defender threw himself at the receiver, just missing him. There's no one else even close on our side and their receiver runs into the end zone, scoring a touchdown. Their stands erupt in glee and I head to the line to defend the point-after. The snap is good, the kick is good and now we're down by ten with just two minutes and thirty seconds left in the game. The State Championship.
Our offense gives it a valiant effort, but ultimately, we're only able to get two first downs but can't score. Even if we did, we'd have to score twice and against this defense, we'd need a miracle to pull that off. Their team runs onto the field to celebrate their win as I watch from the sideline. A group of their players dances on the far side of the field and I can only watch and wish it was us who were celebrating. I turn my back on the celebration and look up at our fans who traveled all the way down here for this. I wish we could have given them something to cheer about. I know my parents will meet me by the bus after we meet with coach. I look up in the stands and see Sara chatting with some of the popular girls she's become friends with recently. I continue to scan the stands and see Sloane walking down the steps with her best friend, her big blue eyes meet mine. She gives me a sympathetic smile and I hold up my hand in a wave. Her smile brightens and she heads toward me, and I walk to where the bleachers meet the field.
"You okay?"
I nod. "Yeah, just bummed we couldn't get that win. They were tough."
"You should really be proud of yourself," she says encouragingly. "You were all over that field tonight and holding them to two scores is pretty impressive."
I huff out a laugh. "You sound like Coach." I smile up at her and her face brightens more.
"Y'all really played well," her friend Maggie says softly.
I smile at her. "Thanks." I look back at Sloane. "Thanks for coming all the way down here. Having all our fans here was great." I make sure to look at Maggie, too.
"We wouldn't miss it," Sloane says.
I look up into the stands and Sara is still chatting with her friends and I try not to show the disappointment on my face. "Well, I should get going for our meeting with Coach before we get on the buses."
"See you back in Dunwoody," Sloane says with a sweet smile taking some of the gloominess away from my current state of mind.
"Bye," I smile at Sloane and Maggie then jog over to Brian who is coming from the field. "Socializing with the enemy?" I joke with Brian who seems to know someone everywhere we go.
"Just congratulating a few of the guys I went to that summer skills football camp with." He gives me a look like I'm in trouble. "What about you? I could ask you the same thing."
"What do you mean?'
Brian laughs at me. "I saw who you were talking to, and it wasn't your girlfriend."
I laugh off his comment. "Come on, man. I was talking to a friend and her friend who happened to be walking my way. Besides, my girlfriend wasn't in any hurry to come talk to me." I know Sara and I had planned on meeting at the buses after the game, but the fact that she was so busy talking with her new, popular friends, not even looking for me did hurt.