Have you ever watched a game and known, in real-time, that you would always remember it?
Occasionally, we see a moment and instantly know we will remember it for the rest of our lives. For Southern football fans, there are the classic memories shared by all of us. For younger fans, there was the 2nd-and-26 from Tua to Devonta that won the 2017 national championship. Or how about last year, when Mississippi State shocked the reigning national champion LSU Tigers?
Just a few years ago, there was the ESPN GameDay in Oxford when Katie Perry called out the Ole Miss win over Alabama.
For more seasoned fans, there was Herschel Walker’s first game as a freshman, when he literally ran over Tennessee’s star defender Bill Bates, a future Dallas Cowboy.
Auburn fans hold the miraculous Kick-Six of 2013 as a lasting memory.
Friday night in Clarksdale brought one of those unforgettable moments.
It was fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line with less than a minute remaining in the game.
Covering the game for the Press Register brought the opportunity to stand directly on the line of scrimmage (off the playing field, of course), and watch as the Wildcats prepared to run the game’s decisive play against Louisville.
So many outstanding plays had placed Clarksdale in a posture to possibly win the game. An acrobatic catch by Demarlo Chatman was memorable, as was a crucial third catch by tight end Kaleb Maddox. The tough inside running and receptions by Leroy Boulton created great problems for Louisville. And of course, there was the running of quarterback Kelley Jones, for which Louisville had no answer.
Of course, the defense played with a ferocity that dominated the game and held Louisville to their lowest point total of the year.
So the stage was set for that one play, and as you might have heard or read, the 12 Louisville defenders stopped the 11 Clarksdale players from scoring.
The play was decisive, but it wasn’t the entire story.
High school sports aren’t just about what a team is; they are instead about what the team and its players are becoming. The seniors will move on with their lives after high school, having learned to prepare and precisely execute a plan as they work alongside others in their chosen careers. For the younger players, they have another opportunity to work year-round to achieve a three-peat as district champs and pursue the state championship.
Yes, the officials should have flagged Louisville for playing 12 defenders and placed the ball half the distance closer to the goal-line with a first down for the Wildcats. Of this, there is no dispute.
But even through that, the Clarksdale players will see their coaches handle great disappointment with class. If they learn just that, they will be far ahead of many.
But the lessons don’t stop there. We can all learn something from that fourth-and-goal moment.
For the rest of us, that moment brings another reminder of a great American truth. High school athletics bring the same type of excitement that you see in college and the pros. They bring drama, suspense, and to borrow an old television line, they bring the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.
You should really consider attending local high school games if you’re not already. It doesn’t matter which school is yours, and if you’re not from here, pick any school and enjoy yourself. High school games bring huge fun at affordable prices without the inconvenience of traveling to some far-away game.
Friday night brought a moment that will live in the lore of local sports. My hope for you is that you’ll be there when the next one happens.
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