1.2 seconds.......

Wow. I just experienced a true emotional roller coaster ride. Jason & I spent the latter bit of our afternoon as two of the many Pleasant Grove Viking football team spectators. After a great 9-1 season, unbeaten (9-0) in their region, and a sweet victory over Brighton last week in their first playoff game, they faced Syracuse today. Tribal pre-game ritual


The game started off with a nice little field goal to take us up 3-0. Then things started to get a little iffy.... A little traffic back-up


We missed several opportunities to move the ball down the field and get back into field goal range. We entered half time down 3-14, if I remember correctly. Then, after losing our possession at the beginning of the second half, Syracuse scored another 7 points to go up 21-3. It looked pretty dismal, but our boys RALLIED with 2 touchdowns and a 2 point conversion to put us at 18-21. A field goal would tie us up and a touchdown would put us out of range unless they could somehow manage a touchdown. NO FEAR



Well, by skill and determination, with only about two minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Vikings let fly and we witnessed a spectacular catch in the end zone by Marshall Nielson. This and an extra point meant the almost better-than-you-could-hope-for situation of being ahead 25-21, with little time on the clock. I have to say, I think our team did an amazing job of trying to hold the Titans back. I could swear I was going to have a panic attack as I watched Syracuse inch down the field, utilizing every second they had to their advantage. Until it came down to this: 1.2 seconds left. Syracuse on their own 8 yard line. Our defense was pumped as high as they could go. The crowd as into the game as they could be.....knowing that the outcome of the final play of the game was going to be based on an even balance of skill and luck...on both sides.

It seemed almost too easy. Our eyes could not be believed.


As Syracuse drilled a pass straight into the end zone to win by two points.

I was on the phone with Sid when it ended. Giving her the final outcome of a game she hated to miss. Wishing that the words coming out of my mouth were not real. 1.2 seconds. I hope the boys don't beat themselves up for too long. They had an amazing season and when I shove the depressing ending of this final game out of my mind, I just feel proud. Football is pretty fun when it's people you care about.


Shout out to Bryce...
I could tell he wished he had been on the field every minute of the game, the way he paced the sidelines. He seems to be the only one on the team who can't just stand there and watch. It was fun watching you play.

To the whole team: Congratulations on a season to be proud of.