First let me set the stage for the game: Frederica Academy (designated "we" in the narrative below) were playing for the State championship in their division. Their opponents, Robert Toombs Christian School, from Lyons, GA, (designated "they" in the story) had been the loser in the regular season by a 28-0 score. Sounds like a ho-hum mismatch, right? Maybe.
An aside; Mayre and I went to the game for a couple of reasons. We had not gone to a regular season game and several of the players from Frederica go to our church. It was a pleasant night for football and the game was only a few minutes from our condo.
As the players came onto the field for the opening kickoff, I could not help but notice the difference in the sizes of the players. They wore white uniforms and looked like a really big high school team. We, on the other hand, wore all green and looked like a middle school squad, or smaller. The question in my mind was "how in the world did we skunk them the time before?"
They kicked off, we fumbled on the first series, and they drove relentlessly down the field and scored, 7-0.
They kicked off again, and again a fumble ensued on our next possession, and again they drove down and scored with little trouble, 14-0. Their big offensive line, and they were big, were just pushing the green team all over the field, and it looked bleak, and it was only the first quarter.
In the second quarter, they scored again, but missed the PAT and led 20-0. The green boys got a long run and pushed in a score to make it 20-7, before the big boys in white got a field goal to make it 23-7 at halftime.
Home and hearth looked good at that point, but we were sitting with friends from church, which included families of boys on the team, so we stayed in our seats. During the half, I remarked to two of my golfing partners, that it sure did not look good for the home team. Our boys were not going to gain any weight in the 15 minute reprieve, and the white guys were not going to shrink either. We were being overpowered. They were in our backfield for the whole half, and we were making tackles 10 and 20 yards down the field on most snaps.
I confess, that when a lady came up to our part of the stands where several parents of players were sitting and asked them to join her in a prayer, I thought it was silly. Was God going to stop this slaughter just because some of the players and parents were Christian? After all we were playing a Christian school no less. I did not join in the prayer, but could hear some of it from where I stood. The prayer was essentially one of asking that "our boys" play up to their potential, not give up in the second half, and to let the result glorify Him. A good prayer, but underneath it all I heard, in my current state of mind, "please let us win". I was not thinking of miracles, just the obvious truth that were were over matched.
The second half started with a continuation of the first, a score by the visitors that made it 30-7. The other side of the field was jumping and our side was pretty quiet. 23 points behind, going into the 4th quarter, now that is a hole.
As the last quarter began, we scored one more time to make it a respectable 30-14.
Another long pass, a score, a try for a 2 point conversion that failed, and the score was 30-20.
The green defense was playing lights out, giving up some yards but stiffening when they needed to. The little boys in green were swarming the ball carriers, but it was already deep into the fourth quarter.
Then another long run and the score was 30-27. Was it possible? By this time the clock was running down into the 5 minute area, but if we could get a field goal, the game would be forced into overtime where anything could happen.
The little guys in green were playing hard and the big guys in white were seemingly a little tired, but it was down into the 2 minute area and the clock continued to run.
The green team got a drive going but it stalled down near the opponents goal. It was 4th and 4 yards to go, but a field goal would tie it all up. Lo and behold, a white team player lined up in the neutral zone and was called for offsides before the kick attempt. After a 5 yard penalty, it was first and goal for the greens.
TOUCHDOWN and the score was 34-30, home team.
The stands where I stood were going wild, but the other side was pretty quiet. What seemed like a certain victory for the white team a few minutes before now looked bleak for the visitors. But there was still a minute and 40 seconds left. Anything could happen. There was still hope for them and they did not give up.
But, alas, it was not to be. A long pass was broken up in green territory, and then the next one was intercepted. Two kneel downs and the State Championship came to St. Simons. The home crowd rushed the field and the celebration began. What seemed impossible just a few minutes back, was a reality.
As I sit here this morning, going over all of this in my mind, I go back to that prayer at halftime. God knew the outcome of the game. He knew all the people involved. Did He answer one school's prayer and not the other? Was one school somehow better? Were there greater lessons to be learned by all that did not relate to the final score or how the game played out?
I know there are some great theological points to be made from all of this. There is a life to be lived beyond football. Players and fans will remember the game and the emotions, but the great significance will be made up in how each lives, from that moment forward. That will be true for the winners and for the losers of this one game. After all, it is only a game.
But what a game!
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