On Saturday July 26th, I played in my first ever semi pro football game. After 4 months of practice, a REAL game was finally at hand. The Central Ohio Lions (my team) battled the Miami Valley Panthers on the Central State University football field.

The Miami valley Panthers were not supposed to be a good team. We were supposed to destroy them. We were supposed to beat them by 20 or 30 points. In the first quarter, it looked like that was going to happen.

The Panthers received the kick off. Our defense was strong. We forced them to punt. Our offense took the field. A few plays later we were in the endzone. 7 - 0 in favor of the Lions. Our defense holds the Panthers a second time and forces them to punt. The Panthers pin us back at the 5-yard line. Two plays and 95 yards later we score. Our extra point attempt is no good. The Lions lead 13 - 0. The blow out has started. We are on our way to a huge win.

The second quarter starts and the Panthers offense begins to drive down the field. They inch closer and closer to the endzone. They eat up a lot of the second quarter on their way. A timely interception by our defense at the goal line gives us the ball. One play later, our star running back fumbles the ball. The Panthers recover. They once again slowly methodically move down the field. Their drive sputters. The Panthers attempt a field goal. The attempt is no good. So our shut out is still intact. There is very little time left in the second quarter. Our offense quickly tries to get down the field. We quickly move the ball down to the 20-yard line. Time expires before we can score.

The Omega (#83, standing) blocked an opponent to the ground.

At halftime the score is still Central Ohio Lions 13, Miami Valley Panthers 0. Our locker room was frustrated. The defensive players were exhausted. They spent almost the entire second quarter on the field. They didn't have much gas left in the tank. Offensively, we were frustrated because hadn't been on the field for more than 6 plays in the second quarter. Our special teams unit was frustrated because they gave up 3 huge kick off returns. We wanted put the Panthers away. We wanted a blow out.

The second half (3rd quarter) started and we received the ball. The offense put together a nice slow drive. We were steadily moving down the field. There was a good mix of run and short passes. We moved the ball down to the 10-yard line. Our offense stalled. We could not get in the endzone. On fourth down, the field goal unit is called upon. This is a short kick with very little wind. This would put more points on the board. This would extend our lead. The snap was perfect. The hold was solid. The kick was straight... into the face of a charging defensive lineman. The ball bounced off the defender's helmet and started rolling toward endzone. It became a foot race to the ball. There were 11 Panther players running after the bouncing ball. Our kicker was our lone hope. He was sprinting as fast as a kicker can toward the ball. The Panthers were closing in on him and the ball very quickly. Our kicker dove on top of the ball. The ball in total bounced and rolled about 40 yards.

The Panthers took over on offense in tremendous field position. They slowly worked their way down the field. They scored a touchdown. Their extra point attempt was successful. The score now stood Central Ohio Lions 13, Miami Valley Panthers 7.

The game was too close for comfort. Our frustration level was rising. We received the kick off and slowly moved down the field. The coach calls my number. The pass play is designed for me. I know the ball is coming my way.

The ball is snapped. I run my route. I am running a cross pattern in the middle of the field. A defender falls to the ground in front of me. I side step him. The ball should be in the air. I look toward the line of scrimmage. I see the quarterback's eyes. He throws the ball. The ball is behind me. The ball is way behind me. There is no way on earth I can catch it. Worse yet, a linebacker who is sitting in the zone has moved to the ball. The linebacker intercepts the pass.

Crap! It is the first time all day the ball has been thrown my way and it gets intercepted. The linebacker gets some blocks and tries to return the interception. I weed through two blocks and try to strip the ball. We fall to the ground with me trying to strip the ball.

The Panthers take over on offense and have a chance pull ahead. The Panthers are energized. They take the field with a purpose. About 3 plays into the drive, the Panthers running back fumbles. We recover the ball.

Our offense takes the field. The Panthers defense is hungry. They desperately want to stop us. We inch our way down the field. We score a touchdown. We attempt a 2-point conversion to further extend our lead. Our attempt fails. The score stands Central Ohio Lions 19, Miami Valley Panthers 7.

The Panther receive the ball. The Panthers march down the field. The Panthers score a touchdown and successfully connect on the kick. The score stands Central Ohio Lions 19, Miami Valley Panthers 14.

We are in the fourth quarter. With about 10 minutes left in the 4th quarter, we receive the kickoff, clinging to the lead. Our offense struggles. We somehow manage to get down the field. We are faced with a 4th down and 7 to go from the 10-yard line. We go for it. The quarterback drops back. He finds an open man in the middle of the field. He throws... the pass is caught. First down at the 1-yard line. A couple of plays later we are in the endzone for the fourth time. We once again attempt a 2-point conversion. We once again fail. The score stands Central Ohio Lions 25, Miami Valley Panthers 14.

Time is running down. There is less than 2 minutes to go. Miami Valley needs 2 touchdowns to win the game. Our defense is ready to roll. Our defense crushes the Panthers on first down. We thwart the Panthers on second down. On third down and 15, the Panthers throw over the middle. The pass is complete for a gain of 17 yards. The Panthers are still alive. Our defense tightens down. We once again hold the Panthers on first and second down. The Panthers are faced with a 3rd down and 8 yards to go. They complete a pass for 10 yards and another first down. The clock is ticking away. There are only about 10 seconds left in the game. The Panthers throw over the middle. Our defensive back stumbles and falls. The receiver is off and running... Touchdown. The Panthers 2-point conversion attempt is successful. The score stands Central Ohio Lions 25, Miami Valley Panthers 22.

There are only 3 seconds left on the clock. It is a given, they will attempt an onside kick. If they recover the onside kick, they might have time for one play.

Our coach throws together a "hands" unit. Guys with good hands are placed up front to recover the kick. I am one of the front line guys. We place 5 players one side of the field. I stand on the opposite side of the field with a receiver. The two of us stand there feeling all alone. The receiver looks at me and says, "You know, if the ball comes this way we are going to get crushed right?"

There are only two of us on this side of the field. Odds are the ball is going to be kicked toward us. The kicking team breaks their huddle and quickly moves toward the ball. Sure enough, the ball is toward us. I scoop up the ball and fall to the ground so that no one can strip the ball.

Time expires. The final score Central Ohio Lions 25, Miami Valley Panthers 22. We did NOT destroy them. We did NOT soundly defeat the Panthers. We squeaked past them. But, the victory still counts. We are 1 - 0. We are one step closer to a league championship.

Looking ahead...
This Saturday's game will be interesting. We are scheduled to play the Madison County Colts. They are new to the league. They do not have a website. They have not played a game yet. There is no video footage of them to scout. We enter the game blind. We have no idea what to expect offensively or defensively. They could be a great team or they could suck. We simply have no clue.

I will miss the game. I will have to wait until Sunday to find out the result. My wife and I are attending a wedding in Youngstown, Ohio. Ordinarily, I would not skip a football for a wedding. This is a special occasion.

This column is too long as-is or I would explain. Perhaps my next column will explain the significance of this wedding.

Yardbird Posse still represents!