My best football game I ever had in my life.

I remember when I played football. I played defensive end (because defense is the best), and I was the 3rd best player on the team. I remember the first close game I had ever played in. I was a sophomore, and we were playing our rival in their own stadium. They were called the Lowdnes "Vikings" and we were the Valdosta "Wildcats" aka the winningest high school football team in america aka Winnersville U.S.A. The Vikings were 10-0, and we were 10-0 (#1 and #2 respectively in the state), and whatever team won was bound to be Georgia's regular season champ. The vikings were on the verge of winning their third straight victory against us en route to their third straight state championship because usually whoever won the rivalry game usually won the state championship. There was so much hostility, hype, and emotion leading up to this game. The day before this friday night classic really ignited my adrenaline rush to get ready for this game. I was walking home from practice by myself when suddenly I seen a group of ten seniors from Lowdnes football team that were trying to jump me. They knew who I was because I had on my valdosta football undergarment. They surrounded me, and they pushed me from person to person. I really couldn't tell who was who because it was fairly dark. I was 5'11", and they were between 6'1" and 6'4". But, when they finally stopped pushing me, I was on the ground, and I remembered one of them saying, "You going down tomorrow boy!". Then I thought, "They could have beat me to death or killed me right then!", and I couldn't wait until the next day to crack their skulls! The time had come, and we were on their field ready for war and payback. They were ready too, but they did not have the fire like we did. It was a back and forth game with momentum swings carrying the way. At halftime the score was 17-0 for the vikings. I was so upset that I had to figure out a way to keep my composure. I was playing so horribly for I had no tackles, and the line was swallowing me up the entire game. But the reason for them scoring was our 2 interceptions on offense which led to the vikings 14 points. After I played the first two quarters in my head, I thought of the coach's motto:"Never never never give up". So, I decided to give a pep talk to the team and stepped up to be a leader to rally the troops and let them know that this game is not over by a long shot. WE took that field in the second half with force as we scored on our first two possessions off a kickoff return and an 80-yard explosion by our running back who had been injured most of the season. Suddenly, we intimidated them and showed them why we were ranked #2 in the state. The score was now 17-14 vikings. The momentum quickly shifted back to the vikings when they ran back a 99-yard kickoff of their own to end the third quarter. At the end of three the score was 24-14 vikings. WE still believed that we could win this game and so did I for I had tallied 5 tackles in the third quarter, but I was ever searching for that undefined moment that would establish us as victors. So in the last quarter, things got tough. The defense needed to step up incredibly in order for us to win the game, and WE did. We made two stops out of three possessions they had, and our offense scored a touchdown on one of them. The score was 27-21. There was 56 seconds left in the game, and the vikings had the ball. It all came down to this series: everything that I worked for and all the hard work put in during the off-season came down to this series in the epic rivalry between these two high-powered high schools. And that undefined moment that I was looking for had finally come. It was kind of ironic because the dude that had told me that I was going down today was staring me right in the face at tight end! I knew that I had to find a way to make a huge play. The ball was on the 36-yard line (my number) and I was ready like a lion on the prowl for food. The center hiked the ball high over the quaterback's head, and me and the defensive tackle ran a stunt and the hole was wide open for me. I ran full speed ahead to try and pick up a precious gift that would deliver our team of redemption. The quarterback was closer to the ball than I was, and he tried to fall on it but he ended up kicking it about 10 yards which left it all up to me, 17 yards, and the endzone to win it. I scooped it up and I ran into the wide-opened field into the endzone. Our fans and students went crazy every yard I captured, and I was so so happy. I pointed the ball to the stadium to proclaim victory, and all the kicker had to do was make the extra-point to put the icing on the cake. He made it, and all the players congradulated me on a job well done. The score was now 28-27 Wildcats. The only thing was: the game wasn't over; there was 36 seconds left in the game. Vikings had the ball, and their quarterback had a great game until the next play. He threw a hail mary to a supposed wide open receiver, but he put too much air under it, and our safety picked it off! We ran out the clock, and celebrated our glorious victory. I had 8 tackles, and the miraculous fumble recovery touchdown which engraved our victory. It was the best game of my life.