Football Saturday

I was treated to a football cornucopia on Saturday.  The high school where my son attends defeated the nationally ranked Oscar Smith Tigers (Chesapeake, VA) in a state semi-final matchup.  I say treat because I came home, toes nearly frozen, and witnessed the great Horns victory the very same evening. 

Now, most of you will not care too much about this story because it's not Texas High School playoffs.  But let me tell you, I've been to my share of games (S.A. Robert E. Lee (Tommy Kramer) v. Wichita Falls Rider; Highland Park (McIlhenney) - Plano; Dallas Carter - Odessa Permian; etc.) and this was the best H.S. playoff game I have witnessed live to date.  And you all know the stories of the great players the Virginia tidewater area produces so I do not need to explain when I say how impressive the victory actually was.

And the cherry was to see the raw enthusiasm of players, students, their families and friends rush that mudhole of a field after the final TD was made.  Thrilling!

You can read the game recap here.

And you can see the game slideshow here.

[Update] Another great site posting video highlights of game here.

Thomas Dale coach Vic Williams is confident in his club:

"This team is mature. They work hard and they do what they need to do," Williams added. "What we talked about all year is being able to put our equipment away on our own terms, instead of letting somebody else decide. We can do that now."

I am posting this to ask if it is any kind of omen that the Oscar Smith all-american QB Phillip Sims, who will be attending the University of Alabama next fall, was the losing QB.  I feel for a team that finally gets run after a 27 game win streak but he will not make it in the SEC playing like he did Saturday.  A very raw talent.  So is it an omen that I got to witness a highly touted athlete fall to an opponent that was basically given no chance of winning who in turn was given a Bama scholarship?   Hmmmmmmm.........

In any event, the Thomas Dale Knights ascend to the Virginia State Championship game next Saturday at UVA Scott Stadium. 

Congratulations to Coach Vic Williams for leading a scrappy bunch of kids to a championship game. 

All in all, a very satisfying day.