Throughout history, too many times are winners and losers remembered for one play. But in the game of life, we are not defined by one moment in life but by our daily thoughts, actions, and lifestyle that reflects who we truly give our life too.
Yesterdays football game had all this highs and lows of any game I've ever been apart of and the true colors of the Tigers were shown. Upon receiving the opening kickoff, the Tigers drove the length of the field to score on it's first possession.
The defense went to work and they were looking like the scary defense that has plagued teams all summer, but after a few exchanges of the ball via muffed offensive drives. The Invaders tied the game at 7 while the first quarter was nearing it's end.
While the mid-second quarter rolled around, we Tigers found ourselves down 14-7 for the first time in roughly 8 weeks. But with minutes before the half, thanks to a long run after the catch, we tied the game at 14. But more excitement came when the reffing crew blew an inadvertant whistle just prior to the Invaders kicking a field goal as time should've expired in the first half; they missed it. But because of the whistle, everyone realligned for a second attempt which they made, so the Invaders were leading 17-14 at halftime.
We'll say that this halftime talk was one of the loudest ones I've ever heard, and because some of the guys were fired up and talking; I had no idea what was being said for the majority of it. But we'll say that our team mentality was changed for the second half.
With the beginning of the second half, the D came up with a quick shut down of the Invaders offense and within a few minutes of the third quarter, we were back on top 20-17. Before the Invaders were able to score again, we took a 26-17 lead in the third quarter. But the game was far from being closed out, which the next events would have raised the blood pressure of anyone watching.
Mid 4th quarter, it almost got to be too crazy. The invaders drove the field and finished their drive with a field goal. 26-20 and we had the ball inside our own 20 with roughly 4 minutes left and the lead. 3rd and short came up and an option to the right ended with the Invaders popping the ball out from sure handed Deans.
Invaders ball, inside our 40, down 6 with just over 3 minutes left. On separate occasions we had them with 3rd and long, but were unable to stop them and with about 1 minute left they punched the ball into the endzone and completed the extra point to take a 27-26 lead.
Flashback to our first game of the season, we're playing Hildeshime Invaders and we're down 17-18 with roughly a minute left and we drove the length of the field to win 25-18.
Back to saturday's game, we got the final kickoff and were stopped on our 30ish yard line. Scenario: down 1, 1 minute left, 2 timeouts and 70 yards to go. After 4 passes later, first 2 complete; we're faced with 3 and 10 from the 20ish with about 30 seconds left. I turn to coach B and remind him it's third down and let's just get half of it so a final field goal would be more manageable. But a field goal wasn't needed, 3rd and 10 turned into a touchdown. With a successful scamper by Dennis to complete the 2 point conversion, we took the lead 34-27 with under 15 seconds. That's how the game ended.
Tigers are 7-3 and have a bye week this week; which again will be nice to heal up the wounded.
Joshua Aakre
God's power, glory and awesomeness was truly shown yesterday; a prayer truly answered. He is alive...
Joshua 24:15, "But if serving the Lord
seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you
will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates,
or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
We don't belong to this world, just have to live in it for awhile. But might as well bring Heaven to earth as we do live here.
