In more capacities than I will sit here and launch, I have seen my share of football. It has just turned out that way. My Dad coached the game. I played the game. I remember the game. Today, as my dear wife, Carrie, and I were driving to Salem to buy paint, sundries, and groceries, I looked around at the changing leaves left on the trees, inhaled the cool air through my nose, and drove north up Indiana Highway 135. Up that same road on a similar day 29 years ago to the day, I rode up to Bloomington with my Mom and Dad to watch the Indiana Hoosiers play the Iowa Hawkeyes in a what I still call the most entertaining college football game I have ever seen in person. Final score: Indiana 45 Iowa 34. It was a classic.
Speaking of classics…it has been a long time since I was so impressed with a game that I witnessed the night before that I spent much of the next day reliving some of the moments from the previous night. I would say it is safe to say that most of folks in Ramsey, Indiana attending the high school football game I attended last night did the same thing today.
North Harrison 20 Batesville 19 Final.
The Cougars won the game in the most dramatic finish I have ever seen in a high school football game…ever. You never expect a season or a game to come along to allow you to declare such a thing. For it to happen twice in one season is nuts. I thought the same thing earlier in the year when the NH Cougars bested Brownstown with a field goal on the last play of the game. In that game North got the ball with 9 minutes and 43 seconds remaining in the game and they kept the ball the entire time on a meticulous, solid-blocking, in your face…we own your field tonight against the home-standing Braves. That drive featured two fourth down conversions and ended with a Ben Waynescott field goal. I was so inspired by that play, I got an 8X10 photo of the kick matted and had the snapper, Garrett Gunter, the holder, Zane Armstrong, and Ben sign it for me. Last night, it was even better.
With a 14-13 lead, the Cougars gave up a touchdown in the 4th quarter with 26.3 seconds left. Batesville 19 North Harrison 14. North got the ball back with no timeouts remaining. A few pass plays later NH finds itself making progress. The Cougars are on the 25 yard line of Batesville with 1.5 seconds remaining and an NH ball boy with the good sense to reach into the ball dry bag during the drive and pull out a ball that resembles a football instead of a water-logged cantaloupe. The way the offensive line was protecting the quarterback during the last drive, you would have thought they were trying to protect a weak-kneed Joe Namath. But on the last play, with 1.5 seconds left, Avery Blocker took the snap and stood tall taking a five step drop as Skyler Wetzel made his way downfield trudging through the mud (it rained the whole night) along the NH side of the twenty-five yards between the line of scrimmage and the goal line along the East end zone. Avery threw it toward Skyler and folks… Avery paid for it. He got stuck. I doubt he saw the reception. Reception? Yes, there was one at around the 2 yard line and Skyler, in a blue jersey, is the one who caught it. Immediately after he caught it, Drew Kuerzi was there to help aid him across the goal line on the game’s final play. Hollywood could not have produced a better script. North Harrison 20 Batesville 19. The North faithful went crazy. Hugging each other, crying, cheering, trying to catch their breath. A friend of mine in Brownstown listening to the radio advised me via text message to get some heart pills during the final drive.
What did I learn? Well, nothing. I made the comment last night that Carrie, who was on the fence close to the scoring play…and she was feeling it too. The comment? I was never in doubt. Neither was she. As long as NH had time Carrie and I knew NH had a chance. That is a great lesson. But that is what this year’s resilient NH Cougar football team has given us. They have given us a reason to believe until the end. If I could give you all the symbolism value this means to me we would be here for a week. The thing is this team has risen to the occasion on defense when they needed a stop. The offense showed us how to control a clock and keep it away from the Braves for that victory. This time it was just the offense’s turn in a time of urgency. It was the offense’s turn to find a way. I never doubted they would. That kind of faith is hard to come by. Thanks to Coach Williamson and his staff, these players have that.
Now NH is hosting Lawrenceburg in the Sectional Final next Friday. The Tigers come calling to Ramsey at 7:30PM.
My game day was special. I will share it with you in pictures.
On most mornings before school, as I get there by 7 AM without much fail, I meander out to the track to get a few steps in. Usually there is a mile involved. Long before the skies clouded up and then opened up with buckets of rain, the day was quite pleasant.
A little after 7:30 AM, we were a little late this morning, given we had no kids in the building on Parent-Teacher Conference Day, this was the first photo I took.
Early morning may be my favorite time of the day when I am outside. There is something so optimistic about the start of the day. The goal line is in sight.
See what I mean.
Later, around mid-day, I went out with Athletic Director Extraordinaire, Hal Pearson, and helped him set up for the game. This was a great opportunity to take a few more pictures.
From the top of the press box. What a lovely day!
The field “was” in great shape early in the day. In fact, as much rain as it took on from later afternoon until the final play, it held up rather well.
A great look from behind the East end zone.
My hand on one of the game balls that Hal and I tossed around for a short while. Hal has a good arm. I was impressed.
Yes. It rained and the field was a sight. The teams handled the conditions very well.
North setting up for a successful extra point.
The preceding touchdown that brought on the PAT.
After “THE PLAY” that won the game, there was a celebration.
Brett Rudolph came looking for his Dad, Jeff. Jeff Rudolph is the guy I will always refer to as the greatest Cougar of them all. “Root” hit me harder back in the day than anyone else. He was like a piece of iron. The iron melted a little…and for good reason.
This is what it is all about.
My brother, Darrell, and his million dollar grin. He loved it too. He understands.
For me, it continued on Saturday morning when I shared the video of the game with my parents. I hope and pray I can get Dad to the game against Lawrenceburg on Friday night.
There is plenty of work to be done for this North Harrison Cougar Football team. The season is far from over. Dad and I watched the Greensburg-Lawrenceburg video and hammered out a few things between the two of us. That too was fun.
We know what it is about.
Speaking the rights…
Danny Johnson