There’s no way to know how much I paced up and down the Apalachee High School sideline last Friday night, but I think I wore a path doing so.
Playoff football has a way of doing that to you. Playoff football games that go into two overtimes certainly have a way of doing it to you, especially to me.
I can only imagine what the Wildcat players and coaches must have felt like. They seemed more cool under the pressure than I did, however. It was about more than I could take. Back and forth I walked, over and over.
By the time it was finally over, I felt a big sigh of relief, similar to when a heavy burden has been taken off your shoulders. The Wildcats had poured their hearts into this one and when it was over, everyone knew they would be playing another week.
Being involved with close games is nothing new for the 2009 Wildcats. The same can also be said for winning close games. Regular season contests against Habersham Central, Loganville and Heritage were all nailbiters but in the end AHS managed to emerge victorious. I think it helped the Wildcats this past Friday.
One also has to give credit to senior Jon Lee. At times he seemed to put the team on his back and carry it. Linebacker Jeff Haney delivered a huge tackle earlier in the contest which I believe set the tone for the AHS defense. If for whatever reason Starr’s Mill didn’t know it was in for a battle, it knew after Haney’s crushing blow.
Friday’s first-round playoff game was an old-fashioned football war. The battle in the trenches was fierce, as related to me by several AHS lineman after all was said and done late Friday evening.
In the end however, AHS would advance and record another close victory, It is becoming common for the team in 2009.
The challenges will only get tougher with each week the Wildcats advance. This Friday will be no exception as last year’s state runner-up, Marist, will pay a visit to R. Harold Harrison Stadium.
Will it be a tall order for the home team this week? You bet. Is the home team up the challenge. Of that I have no doubt either. This group of players and coaches have already represented their school and community well. Look for them to continue doing so this week.
Who knows, maybe another close, down-to-the wire victory is in the works. I’ll have to have my pacing shoes on.
Chris Bridges is sports editor of the Barrow Journal. E-mail comments about this column to cbridges@barrowjournal.com.
