Arriving at the game two hours early, braving the cold so I could get a seat, I watch the Bobcats during warm-ups. I was already shivering, but I could tell that our players didn't feel the cold. They were far too fired up for that. I knew then it was going to be a good game. But, I had no idea.
Fyffe had looked good on film. Big, fast, and fundamentally sound. But, they had not faced the caliber of competition that we do on a weekly basis. The question coming in to the night was how good are they. Coach had mentioned to me all week that he was worried about their defense. He knew they wouldn't make mistakes, so we couldn't either.
After a 3 and out, we forced a punt deep in our own territory to open the game. However, a fumble on our next play set up Fyffe's first touchdown. But the Bobcats had an answer, and the game was tied at 7 at the half. Even on the scoreboard, the first half was really all Fyffe. They moved to ball on offense and made it difficult for us on defense.
Most people think that coaches go in at halftime and yell and scream and throw things. And certainly, some player motivation is part of the halftime routine. But, it's the adjustments the coaches make during those 20 minutes that can be the difference in the game. Whatever happened in there tonight, it worked. Fyffe took the opening kickoff of the second half, but the defense held. Our offense found a rhythm as well, and after a field goal with 5:20 remaining in the 3rd, we took the lead 10-7.
Another defensive stop put the ball back in the hands of QB Zach Barron and the Woodland offense. Mickey Howard ran the ball down the throat of the Devils defense. The touchdown drive put us up 17-7 with 1:10 to go in the 3rd quarter. It looked as though we had taken control of the game. Fyffe, however, had something to say about that. The Devils found the end zone but missed the PAT. 17-13, Woodland.
Barron drove the ball down the field, milking the play clock and relying on Howard and the other backs to carry the load. A McManus field goal, his second of the night, put us up 20-13 with 3:30 left in the game. For a second, I thought we had the game won.
Teams don't get to round 2 because they are quitters, though. And, if you want to win a playoff game, you'd better not forget how badly those guys on the other side of the ball want to win it too. Every snap, every down, every second. You had better be ready to make a play. A kickoff return by the Devils set them up deep in Bobcat territory. And, exactly one minute after our field goal, Fyffe scored a touchdown. The score 20-19, Fyffe went for two and the win. With 2:30 on the game clock, the scoreboard said Woodland 20, Fyffe 21.
I put my head in my hands and felt my heart drop. Two and a half minutes left in the game and maybe in the season. But, I wasn't ready to give up on my Bobcats. And neither were they.
Our guys were unbelievable. Starting the drive on the Fyffe 20, Barron connected with at least 3 different receivers as the Cats marched down the field. Everyone did his job. Making plays. Getting out-of-bounds. Fighting. Refusing to lose.
One minute, seventeen seconds on the clock - 4th and 4 on the Fyffe 35, the Bobcats convert. How? I still don't know. A few plays later, we have the ball first and goal with 15 seconds left and no timeouts. Barron goes to spike the ball and sees that the defender has left an opening. He carries the ball in for 6. The PAT is good. 27-21, Woodland.A kickoff and two failed Fyffe pass attempts later, the Woodland fans storm the field to celebrate. We'd done it. We'd survived. Round 3. And, it's great to be a Woodland Bobcat.
No comments:
Post a Comment