It’s been a little more than a year now since the Apalachee High School football team made the short trip to Loganville for a Region 8-AAAA contest.
Going into the game, there was plenty on the line. The Wildcats were looking to defend their state ranking and undefeated record. The LHS Red Devils were hoping to stay in the playoff chase and show it could compete with the elite in the region.
While the game certainly had the potential to be a memorable one on paper, I’m not sure anyone expected quite what happened that chilly night in Loganville. I know I’ve been going to high school football games for as long as I could walk and it was one of the special evenings that I will not forget anytime soon.
The two teams engaged in a classic battle, one best suited for a playoff game or even a state championship encounter.
Just when it seemed one team would emerge victorious, the other would dig down deep and summon a reserve of inner strength to battle back. It, quite frankly, was what high school football was all about. It was a game which made you proud to be a fan.
The two teams couldn’t settle the outcome in four quarters of action so they went to overtime. After AHS scored a touchdown on its possession and kicked the extra point, LHS then had its chance. The Red Devils would score and decided to go for the win with a two-point try. The Wildcat defense held and pandamonium ensued.
Eventually, AHS would go on to an undefeated regular season, a region championship and a trip to the third round of the state playoffs. However, the win that October night in Loganville was a big part of it. It was a game you were proud to be a witness to.
I still remember walking out of the stadium that night talking with a fellow fan saying, “I’m not sure I’ll ever see anything like that again.”
“I’m not sure we will either,” the fan said back to me.
Two fans, one a parent and one a sports writer covering the game, both realizing just how special a contest they had just witnessed.
The two teams will meet again this week in the same location. Once again there will be a great deal on the line. AHS can finish at the No. 3 seed from 8-AAAA for the playoffs with a win.
Will the game be as exciting as the one in 2009? Who knows. It will be interesting to find out though. Much is on the line again this season and another game even close to the one we enjoyed in 2009 could cement a rivalry between the schools.
Forecasts call for perfect football weather. Hopefully for Wildcat fans it will be another perfect ending as the playoffs arrive once again.
Chris Bridges is sports editor of the Barrow Journal. You can reach him at cbridges@barrowjournal.com.
