Final on "Best of the South"

Best of the South

Have you ever done something you’ve dreamed about for years but no one else thought it was possible? Have you ever been able to accomplish your dreams or have the opportunity to do so? I can recall a time when I did. That day was one of the biggest days of my life. People predicted that the Potosi football team would beat us for sure, but we had different plans in mind. De Soto is known for having heart and determination when it comes to football. We always have a good work ethic and know when it’s time to get down to business. Many of our parents won state when they were in high school so the team wanted to make them proud. We all had fun when playing but took every play seriously. Playing Potosi was one of the days that I knew made my dad proud and knowing it was possible, we stepped on that field and played every play as if it were our last. I personally wasn’t going to let anyone of my teammates down.
My senior year of football was my first real year of starting football on the varsity level. I never really had a chance during my junior year to prove myself against the other quarterback but since he was a senior and I was a junior I would have to wait. When it got to be my turn to be quarterback I took advantage of it to the fullest. Before the season started I knew we would have a great team. We are known for having a strong running game but I knew this year we would be passing the ball a lot more. The coach and my teammates had faith in me to make big plays when needed. I did make some mistakes but no one is perfect. I know though that I did my best and left it all on the line when I had to.
The season went by way too fast for all of us. We all hated two-a-days and wanted to be lazy, but we all picked each other up because we knew our team was something special. Every kid on that team knew this would be the year if any to go to state. We never really had a challenge throughout the whole season until we played a nonconference game against Belmont. We were losing 14 to 0 at halftime but we knew we could beat them, and did. We won 28 to 14. We then realized we needed to pick our game up a bit and work harder. We went into the playoffs undefeated and once again met Belmont at Level 2. This time we played at home on our new football field. We ended up going into 4 overtimes on a muddy field that wasn’t ready for such an intense game. The ball was so muddy and wet that I could hardly throw and nobody could run without falling down it was so muddy. Finally in the 4th overtime we did a trick play that we just made up in a timeout. I completed a 20 yard touchdown pass and also a 2 point conversion. Now we just had to stop them from scoring and we would win the game. On fourth down we intercepted the ball and won what I thought to be the best game I’ve ever been a part off. I thought for sure that was going to be the best game of my life. Little did I know that the next week we would make history.
Potosi was ranked number one in the state preseason rankings, and we were ranked tenth. We thought we deserved to be ranked higher because we knew that we were contenders for the state title. Many of us were a bit scared of how big and fast they were. We all hoped to play them at state and not along the way because we all thought they would give us a huge challenge. I knew that Potosi would be tough but I never expected them to be so big and fast. Belmont is in the same conference as Potosi and they wanted a second chance at them because they thought they were so cocky. I was so happy to beat Belmont but also felt bad for them at the same time because they tried so hard and never gave up after a muddy four overtime battle. Potosi was also undefeated and since they were more popular got the first seed which meant we had to play them at their home field. This is known to be a disadvantage to the opposing team but we didn’t feel that way.
It was an abnormally hot day for playing football in November. We all stepped onto the field at Potosi with butterflies in our stomachs. We were all extremely excited but nervous at the same. Their players were huge. They all looked like grown men playing football. I will never forget the opening kickoff where our running back went running down the field as fast as he could and went head to head with another kid. He knew he had a minor concussion but still wanted to play so we didn’t tell the coach. The first half went back and forth between the both of us and Potosi scored just before half time making it 7 to 0 them. We all talked at half time and we all realized that we weren’t scared of them. Yea they were big and fast but so were we. We knew we were smarter than they were and that was what was going to win us the game.
Coming out of half time we knew we were going to go home winners. We weren’t going to give up for anything. We put too much sweat, blood, and tears into the game to give up. It wasn’t until late in the third quarter that I threw a touchdown pass to one of my good friends, Andy Lee. The kick was no good so the score was 7 to 6, in favor of Potosi going into the 4th quarter. We then kicked the ball to Potosi and our defense held them, and they were forced to punt. On third and six I mad a bad decision which could have turned the game around. I thought I had a man open so I threw the ball as I was getting hit. Potosi intercepted the ball and I was devastated. I got up from the ground and saw a flag on the ground next to me which usually means it’s a holding penalty. However, it was a call against the defense for roughing the passer when a kid hit me in the head with his helmet. You’re not supposed to hit the quarterback in the helmet when tackling him which meant we got the ball back. After a sigh of relief, we continued to march down. It was once again third and long and we decided to try a screen to the left. A screen is when some of the lineman let the defenders go by them in which they try to sack me. I then have the responsibility to throw over top of the defenders to my running back in which the lineman then run down field and block people. We tried this play for the first time all season to keep it hidden from our opponents. We used this at the perfect timing in which our running back ran 50 yards for a touchdown. We then ran in the 2 point conversion to make the score 14 to 7 us. After our defense came up with another big stop on Potosi’s 25 yard line Potosi had to try and get the first down or the game would for surely be over. Potosi’s quarterback went back to pass but was sacked by 3 of our lineman. The crowd went wild. We then had the ball on Potosi’s 20 yard line. I handed the ball off to another one of the running backs and he drove his way in the end zone for a touchdown. After the extra point was good it made the score 21 to 7 us with 2 minutes left. We knew at this time that we had just won the game. After scoring that touchdown and hearing our fans going crazy, I immediately got chills. Potosi gave it one last effort to throw the ball but we intercepted it to seal the deal.
I never really looked at the crowd until we won the game. I had never seen so many people at one football game in my life. I never got nervous when I was playing, only before the game. I then realized that I led the team to a victory. I read many comments online about how we wouldn’t be able to throw against Potosi because they had such good linebackers and cornerbacks. I will admit that they stopped our running game but they couldn’t stop me from passing. I ended up completing 15 of my 21 passes and had 246 passing yards. That game was the best game of my life and I will never forget it. I had so many happy emotions from this game and knew that I made so many people proud knowing that I did my best. I felt really happy for having the community and all of my friends behind me and supporting me throughout the whole season but especially this game.
After beating Potosi we had to play Catholic Central for the second year in a row to make it to state. We ended up losing that game by a few touchdowns which was so disappointing but we all gave it our best. We were able to say that we did our best and that simply wasn’t good enough and that was o.k. When I look back I don’t like to think of losing to Catholic Central, but rather the beating of Potosi. I was just glad to be a part of something so special and unique. I grew up with all of the guys on that team and made many memories with them that I will never forget. A state championship would have been nice, but I’ll take a remarkable season with my friends over that any day.