5:25 p.m. It’s more than two hours before kickoff. The coolness of the November air can be felt by all those standing outside the Apalachee High School locker room.
Coaches and trainers talk about how cold it seems even though the sun is not down. Additional layers of clothing are being put on. There doesn’t seem to be a fake sense of macho in the group. Everyone seems to realize it’s going to be cold as the Wildcat team prepares to battle for the playoffs.
6 p.m. The first group of AHS players take the field for pregame warmups. A few brave Wildcat fans began to take their seats on the visitor’s side in the metal bleachers which no doubt have to be cold. An assistant coach talks with a visitor about what it would be like to be at a football game in Montana and similar places.
6:20 p.m. The AHS staff and student trainers are setting up the sidelines, making sure all the equipment is in place, the water bottles are filled. While it may seem odd that water is a concern on a night as cold as this one, players still sweat during football games when there is a chill in the air.
6:25 p.m. More Wildcats are on the field going through pregame drills. On the opposite end of the field, Loganville High School players are going through the same routine.
6:45 p.m. All AHS players are on the field. Stretching, clapping, anticipating what is about to occur for the night. It’s all on the line. Months of work, practice, weight training. It all comes down to this.
7 p.m. Wildcat players, coaches and support staff return to the dressing room. A taste of warmth for a little while.
7:20 p.m. Captains take the field for the coin toss. AHS wins and defers to the second half.
7:30 p.m. Kickoff time. Wildcat defense forces LHS to go three and out. The AHS offense begins to put a drive together but stalls. Guy Hunt delivers on a 37-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead. Unfortunately, it would be the only lead the team would have.
8:15. Halftime. LHS leads 14-3. Back in the locker room Wildcat head coach Shane Davis talks with his defense about what adjustments need to be made. The head coach tells his players they’ve only given up 157 yards and 103 are to the quarterback.
“We’re not playing bad men,” Davis said. “We just have to make a play on the quarterback.”
Davis, whose left arm is in a sling after surgery, diagrams plays on the dry erase board. He erases things with his hands and draws formations up again. Offensive coordinator Joel Miller is next. He goes over what needs to be done against the Loganville defense.
Nate Holton takes his fellow offensive linemen into a separate area of the locker room for a meeting. They emerge a few minutes later.
8:45: Things just aren’t happening in Apalachee’s favor tonight. The magic they seemed to possess a season ago just isn’t there. It’s the nature of football. A young team overall has had some growing up to do in 2010.
Holton is seen late in the second half on the sideline. Scars cover his helmet, a sign of battles in the trenches. The back of his helmet is covered with “Pride” stickers, symbols of individual and team standout plays.
9:30 p.m. The game is over. Loganville wins 35-10. The Red Devils will be going on to the playoffs, the Wildcats will not. In the postgame huddle Davis addresses his players.
“Men, I couldn’t be prouder of you. You make me a better coach, a better father, a better husband. I wish it could have ended better tonight, especially for the seniors. Underclassmen, you have two days off. We will be back at work Monday. I have great pride to be associated with each of you.”
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The Barrow Journal thanks head coach Shane Davis and his coaching staff for granting the paper complete, open access to its program. It allows articles of this nature to be written.
