Bronco Bowl (10-06-08)

No one ever said it would be easy.

Now, on several occasions, I’ve commented about both Ringneck and Bronco athletics. I’ve commended our brave wrestlers for their determination against incredible odds. Recently, I congratulated our volleyball players for demonstrating the power of positive thinking. Now it is time to talk football…Longfellow Middle School Football to be exact.

This last Thursday saw our winless Broncos face off against the winless Trojans from Logan. One thing seemed fairly certain; someone was going to leave this game with a victory.

Now I have had the privilege to watch each of the preceding Bronco football games this year. I am proud to report that our record does not reflect our effort. In fact, our team, coached by Greg Hamel and Scott Parker, is one of the hardest working teams I have ever seen. No matter the score, they continue to fight, and I am always glad that thus far each game has ended with no player significantly injured.

Football is a brutal sport. I suppose that is why the game is so beloved in our country. It mercilessly separates the men from the boys, and success often comes at a high price. Football players have to be both physically and mentally in shape in order to handle the physical pounding and the emotional rollercoaster associated with the game.

In fact, I have seen more football players and football teams seem to just surrender when things don’t go their way. In fact, I’ve known football teams to go into games already beat down by the knowledge that their opponent is bigger, stronger, faster, and more successful than they. At all levels, close football games are the exception. Blowouts, or at least uncompetitive contests, are more the rule.

I have never seen our Broncos give up, no matter the size of the opponent and no matter the spread of the score. I attribute this tradition of perseverance to our coaches, who are both incredibly positive individuals. They recognize that the point of Junior High football is to develop young boys into young men. They know the value of athletic competition as a teaching tool to build character and self-esteem.

Granted, while each loss provided plenty of character building, it is also very nice to win.

Both teams wanted to walk away with a victory. The Broncos scored first, but Logan answered almost immediately. Back and forth went the struggle with neither team gaining or losing much ground.

Finally, with about three minutes remaining, Logan had the ball and the lead. They began to march down the field. Coach Hamel, the offensive coordinator, told Coach Parker, the defensive coordinator, that the offense needed to ball.

Somehow, coach Parker willed his defense to capture a turnover, and the offense had one last chance with less that two minutes remaining.

What followed will never be forgotten by the players, coaches, or fans who remained to watch the final seconds. Hill City surged forward, then back, then forward again. A long run put us at their nine with the clock running, all our timeouts having been expended. The ball carrier burst around the end of the line, found the corner, and raced past the exhausted Logan defenders for one last score.

There was still half a minute remaining, and everyone, myself included, held our breath in hopeful expectation. Logan got off one good run, then another. They were at mid-field with time enough for a couple more plays.

Then our frenzied defense forced and recovered another turnover, and the victory was ours!

After the game, the players showered coach Hamel with their water bottles. Coach Parker was seen leaping high into the air in jubilant celebration. The cheerleaders and the students formed a victory line, and for one shining moment, all were united behind our battered but victorious young men.

I’ve seen many Longfellow victories. In fact, our volleyball girls had won their match earlier that same evening. But nothing compares to a hard fought, come from behind win on the grid-iron, especially when it represents your first win.

Congratulations, Broncos. You have every reason to hold your heads high and dream of more victories like this memorable Bronco Bowl.