"A Victory, 2006, by Drew Easland"

From MemoryArchive

Who:Drew Easland
What:First win in 2 seasons
When:
Where:McFarland, Wisconsin

The stadium lights, the cheering fans, and the overwhelming feel of nervouses that always seems to find its way to set it. It was friday night; it was game night. Cambridge, the defending Capitol Conference champions had made their way onto our home field, and were about to wage war with us, the McFarland Spartans, who hadn't won a game in what seemed like an eternity. The national anthem began and already the midset began to set in; it was time to win. As the last verse of our nation's anthem was spout out by the performer, the adrenaline shot through my veins like I was trying heroine for the first time. The kick return team was summoned onto the field, and the game was almost underway.

Cambridge started off the game with a vengeance. Like every other team we've ever faced, they did everything they could to keep the ball out of my hands. A fumbled catch and a weak run, and already it seemed like we were down on ourselves. Our opening drive had begun, and there was no turning back. With their most dominant athlete on our best receiver, we were forced to look towards our ground game for answers. A senior tailback took the field for his last home opener, hoping to make a great impression on the fans. Nothing would feel more sweet than a victory, and no one on that McFarland team would settle for anything less.

As we took the opening drive all the way down to the 10 yard line, it was decision time. On 2nd and goal, the coach puts it into the hands of the kid that was determined to make a name for himself; me. With the hole cluttered up, the run was bounced outside and with room to run I made it 8 yards into the endzone for the first score of the game and the only score of the half. After what seemed like an endless war of field position and goaline stands, the first half came to a standstill. The score hailed McFarland ahead for the first time in a dozen games, and no one wanted it to end any differently.

It's hard to say exactly what went on in the Cambridge locker room during the extended halftime, but it was clear that they didn't like the feeling of losing. After receiving the second half kick off, Cambridge's offense took the ball 70 yards to the house to rack up their first touchdown of the game; a touchdown that would normally get the Spartans down with the taste of defeat in their mouths. However, I had other plans. What seemed like a slip up on the call of the Cambridge special teams players put the ball back into my hands. My first kick off return in such a long time, and I wanted to make them regret forgetting just how dangerous I could be. With my heels at the 22 yard line, I began my quest. The blocking effort was tremendous by everyone on my side of the ball, the entire team seemed to fall apart as blockers came from left and right laying them out. As it seemed like time had frozen, I saw exactly what we practiced; I felt like moses spreading the red sea as the kick off team was pushed to either side of me. My afterburners kicked in and I was afraid to look back. With one man to beat, I outran their saftyvalve; the kicker. The momentum wave had shifted, and it was time to take advantage.

After a few slip ups and misshaps on the defensive side of the ball, we found ourselves on the downside of the scoreboard. 18-14, and no one felt like going home the loser that night. With a huge block, I took the ball 38 yards on an outside sweep and setup a huge touchdown to put us up by 3. Cambridge refused to quit, and began what they wanted to be a final drive to secure their first win of the season. However, our defense had other plans. A huge strip and the ball had come loose; a huge recovery turned the tide and made every single player's heart start pounding. With goosebumps on my arms, I took the ball from 12 yards out, and put the final touchdown onto the scoreboard. The stadium erupted; no one there had seen a win in almost a dozen games, but we had done the unthinkable.

As the clock finally hit double zero, the student section in its entirety appeared on the field beside us. The night was ours, and no one could rid the feeling we all felt that night.