The Grizzlies came into the championship game full of determination, grit and self confidence, they had become football team.They didn't let just anybody in that club, it took every ones full heart and sweat and blood,
to get to wear those game day jersey's down the hall, the Kings of school.
The Boys of Fall.
The Grizzlies were going up against the Burlington Stampede, a team that beat he Grizzlies last year 55 to 0, the boys were ready. In his Facebook post the tight-end for the Grizzlies ( and the only tight end in the league) number 77 Jimmy Murphy had this to say to his teammates "all of the training, running and practices have come down to this game. The AAA Championship. Let's Go Grizzlies!!!!"
Well it's turn and face the stars and stripes,
it's fighting back the butterflies,
It's call in the air alright yes sir we want the ball
And it's knockin' heads and talking trash,
It's slingin' mud and dirt and grass
It's I got your number, I got your back,
When your backs against the wall.
You mess with one man, you got us all.
The Boys of Fall.
The Grizzlies came out of the locker room marched into the field and took that heart, soul, sweat and blood and ...at the end of the first half it was Grizzlies 14 Burlington 12. The game was full of incredible offense and defensive plays, the boys on both sides of the ball played every down like it was the last and the fans were in awe of the performance and the game. It truly was a once in a lifetime game...
In the second half the intensity went up. Jimmy played flawless football, caught 2 key passes ran each for a first down and set up a run that got the Grizzlies to the one yard line and after 3 quarters the Grizzlies were up 20 to 12.
Well it's turn and face the stars and stripes,
it's fighting back the butterflies,
It's call in the air alright yes sir we want the ball
And it's knockin' heads and talking trash,
It's slingin' mud and dirt and grass
It's I got your number, I got your back,
When your backs against the wall.
You mess with one man, you got us all.
The Boys of Fall.
The Stampede, the number one team in the league were not in first place by a flook, they are a great football team and with just 3 minutes to go tied the game 20 to 20. The Grizzlies fumbled the ball and the Stampeded got it back with a little more than a minute to play and two plays later they too fumbled the ball. The Grizzlies threw a pass to their tight-end (Jimmy) who ran the ball down the field to about the 50 yard line and the game was over, tied and into overtime.
The way over-time works is ...each teams gets the same about of possessions to try and score. Meaning if the first team scores, then the opponent gets a chance, if they don't score the game is over if they do then it goes into another overtime until there is a winner.
They didn't let just anybody in that club, it took every once of heart and sweat and blood, to get to wear those game day jersey's down the hall, the Kings of school.
The Boys of Fall.
The Grizzlies won the coin toss and after a near turn over and loss of 15 yards', came back to center. Hand off to the running back, great outside blocking and the Grizzlies were up again 26 to 20, the point after was blocked. The Stampede came out strong and after a hard fought battle scored and they to missed the extra point and the game was tied again at 26 apiece.
In little towns that's all they got
Newspaper clippings fill the coffee shops
The old men will always think they know it all
young girls will dream about the boys off fall.
The second overtime starts with the last team to have the ball. The Stampede came out and drove the Grizzles back and after 2 first downs and two near turn overs, scored and took the lead for the first time on the game, they missed the extra point and the score was 32 to 26. In his Facebook post the tight end for the Grizzlies summed up the game with this:
"The championship came down to the wire. The game went to double overtime. We scored, then they scored, then they scored again. Then we were driving to tie the game. We hand it off to our running back, he plowed forward for about 7 yards, then all of the sudden the ball is on the ground they recover it and that was the game. Coaches debated with the ref but his decision was final. Final score of the game was 32-26. Great game and an overall great season. Get them next year boys"
We are proud of the Grizzlies and Jimmy. The team played hard and stayed in there and never, ever gave up. However we were never more proud of Jimmy than when he came out of the locker rooms tears coming down his face, his head held high and high 5'ing his teammates. Coach Ron cam up to Jimmy and said 'I am proud of you stand tall you are a winner'! Jimmy's Offensive Coach, Coach Ainsley was unable to talk he was choked up and gave Jimmy a hug and barely got the words " Thanks for great season" out of his mouth. They didn't let just anybody in that club, it took every once of heart and sweat and blood,
to get to wear those game day jersey's down the hall, the Kings of school.
The Boys of Fall.
Way to go Grizzlies!!!!!
