Two days later, the emotion was still evident in David Wagner’s voice.
His Winder-Barrow High School football team was so close to victory, yet in the end, that elusive first win was denied, grabbed away like a bully stealing your lunch money.
“It was a tough evening,” said Wagner, whose team led 21-0 at one point in the contest. “It wasn’t any easier going back and watching it the second time around. We started on a high note, but couldn’t finish it. I will say we never had a letdown in effort the entire time.”
In the end, Madison County was able to get off the canvas and would outscore WBHS 42-14 after falling behind by three touchdowns. It took overtime to do it, but the Red Raiders would stun the Bulldoggs, who continue to look for their first win since 2009 and their first of the Wagner era.
“When you go up 21-0, it’s human nature to think you have a pretty good chance of winning,” Wagner said. “However, we tried not to change anything we were doing that allowed us to take that lead. Suddenly, a missed tackle here, a missed tackle there and an interception returned for a touchdown, gave Madison County the momentum. I just hate it for our team. The players have put in so much time and effort. The true measure of success doesn’t come just in the final score, although I know that’s what most people look at when they judge you.”
As tough as the loss was, the WBHS players and coaches will have to put it behind them. The Bulldoggs are off this Friday and the off week comes at a great time, Wagner said.
“Our main goal will be to get everyone healthy,” the head coach said. “We will review our basics and stay fresh on everything. I would be very surprised if our players didn’t show up ready to go back to work. In two of the three games this season we have really hurt ourselves with things we’ve done. If we eliminate four plays in two of our games, we are 2-1 right now.”
Football coaches at all levels are quick to tell you how tough it is to teach winning. Blocking and tackling are so much easier to learn. However, a team that is not used to success often does not know how to handle it, even in small amounts.
The WBHS team is knocking on the door of success. It’s probably time the Bulldoggs just let it all out and kicked the door in. There’s been enough knocking and pounding on the door. The door to victory needs to be crashed through. The next chance comes Sept. 23 when the team faces defending region champion Clarke Central. It won’t be easy, but few things in life worth having are.
Chris Bridges is sports editor of the Barrow Journal. E-mail comments about this column to cbridges@barrowjournal.com.
