Enjoy it boys!

If there are any players out there sneaking a peak at this today I have a few words of advice for you.

I know it’s going to be cold out there if you are lucky enough to be still playing football tonight. But just think of your peers on the other 590 football teams across the state that didn’t make the playoffs.

Getting a shot to win a state football championship is special. So is qualifying for the state tournament in every other high school sport I was lucky. I was involved in a play off run way back in 1982. We made it all the way to the Division V state finals that year. I was a freshman and a starter and it was one of the best times of my life.

The excitement of the community, living football every day, practicing on Thanksgiving it was a wonderful experience. Little did I know I wouldn‘t get to feel that experience again. We beat McComb in the first round and Bradford (7-6) in the state semifinals, on a goalline stand holding the Railroaders on 4 plays from the 1 yardline with less than 2 minutes to play.

The following year we probably had an even better team and went 10-0. Unfortunately, Patrick Henry lost to a Delta team that finished 1-9 by a score of 2-0 and Edgerton was able to edge us out of the playoffs by a point in a time when just two teams from each region qualified.

That year McComb won the Division V state title and many including myself have always lamented the fact that we didn’t make the playoff because we thought we could have beaten the Panthers that year but didn’t get the opportunity. That’s not taking anything away from the Panthers though, they were state champs and they definitely earned it. It was always a matter of what if?

So finally here is my message to you boys headed out on the field tonight with an opportunity to advance in the regional tournament. Relish it, enjoy every single second you are out there. it’s a special time for you and this opportunity may never come again. Take advantage of it and leave everything on the field. You don’t want to be an old man at a keyboard saying what if.

NOTEWORTHY:
BLOGGING MONDAY: No blog this weekend. I am covering Columbus Grove and Monroeville tonight and sending the story from my brother’s house in Wakeman. After getting some hugs and kisses from my little nieces Saturday morning (Probably because I am bringing each of them a BIG Hershey bar) I have to drive from Wakeman to Columbus for the state cross country meet. I’ll be putting a lot of milage in this weekend so more blogging on Monday.

Hope everyone reading this has a terrific weekend and roots their teams on to victory!!

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Hopewell-Loudon vs. Liberty Center preview
Mohawk vs. Norwalk St. Paul preview