... that wasn't so full of Grace.
Friday Night took 5 years off of my life. I've never been more wrapped up into a football game, and watching the Bulldogs on Friday was probably my Favorite experience at a sporting event ever.
The whole week Dan's been telling me that they can win this game, Portage is good, but we've beat them already this year, and it's a home game... no need to worry. The Bulldogs were not going to lose in the first round of Sectionals this year. The entire first half was back and forth. Portage looked good, and they have a super star on their team. After a down pour of rain right before halftime the score was tied 14-14.
The second half starts, both teams not looking too hot. With four minutes left in the game the Bulldogs are down 17-21. The defense blocks a Portage field goal attempt, which gives us great field advantage to "march down the field" (that's one of Dan's favorite expressions) and score the winning touchdown. Our quarterback had different intentions and decided to make the game more exciting...well really just nerve racking for everybody in the stands. We have the ball, he throws an interception, we all thought for sure the game was over. Next play, Portage fumbles the ball and we recover. Bulldog ball with three minutes left. Quarterback once again throws an interception. The defense could have give up, but 4 plays and only a couple yards gained by Portae later, we have the ball back. ~Disclaimer - I'm not making this part up at all...~ The quarterback throws another interception. There are about two minutes left on the clock, the stands are clearing out... and the Bulldog defense takes the field.
These kids play with more heart than I've ever seen in high school sports. Portage offense runs four more plays, and the defense stopped every single one. With seven seconds left Crown Point gets the ball back. Unbelieveable, people are walking back into the game, everyone is on their feet. It's up to the quarterback... the same kid who has thrown a total of 4 interceptions the entire game. I can still see this play in slow motion. The ball is snapped, he's dancing around looking for an opening. He throws the ball... into the endzone... into two Crown Point players, and two Portage players. The ball is tipped by a Portage player, the time on the clock has run out, and the ball just falls right into the Crown Point players arms... in the corner of the endzone. Final Score Bulldogs 23, Portage 21.
Unbelieveable really, I've never witnessed a game that has actually ended in a hail mary. I've never seen a team celebrate the way they did. It was awesome. We were all hugging and crying in the stands, thankful that we wouldn't have to go home to coaches that had just given up the best sectional draw they've had in years. It was such a great game, one I will always remember... now hopefully we'll have a few more weeks to celebrate this way.
The picture on the front page of the paper Saturday morning. The ball is tipped by the Portage player, right into the arms of Mouse, in the corner of the endzone, just waiting for the ball.
V-I-C-T-O-R-Y, that's our Bulldog battle cry, Gooooooooooo Bulldogs!
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