Youth Sports Post: It Was a Great Run While It Lasted

(Photos by Brent Baker, Reporter/Photographer, Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune)

I'm late in reporting that the football season is over. Last Friday, on a frigid night, on a field far away, our hometown team met its match, losing in the state quarterfinals 21 to 6.

Our opponents were a very good team, and we played them tough. We shut them down several times, and drove into the red zone several times ourselves, but we just couldn't get our game going. I was proud that Isaiah had the honor of running in our only score.

He had another good game, putting in a hard night's work of grinding runs, but wasn't able to break the big run this time. The week before he had run for 232 yards and four touchdowns, and passed for another touchdown, so we were hoping lightning would strike twice. But it was not to be.

Isaiah's take? He wished he could have done better, but was proud of his effort. He had tried his best, and gave due credit to the other team's good defense.

After the game the team was disappointed in the loss, but knew they could hold their heads high. It had been a good game, and one of the best seasons we've had in a long time. A big chunk of the team are Seniors, and they know they're going out on a high note.

So I'll close with one of my favorite photos of Isaiah. This was him a few games ago heading for the end zone and leaving everyone else behind on a 97 yard touchdown run against one of the best teams in the league.

Very well done, Isaiah.


Update: So today Jeremiah, who I'm also very proud of for his work on the football team, found out he made the varsity basketball team, so everything is basketball now for him. (I'll be so happy to be videotaping in a nice warm gym again!)
As for Isaiah, he's dreaming about an early spring and the beginning of soccer season.