South Alabama Seminoles versus Crestview Thunderbirds

Win / 27-24

Crestview Thunderbirds hosted the South Alabama Seminoles on Davidson Middle Schools field.  This was a battle of 0-4 versus 0-4.  Both teams needed a win and this was a nail biter of a game with neither team ever having a comfortable lead over the other. 

Seminoles received the ball and it was give and take all first quarter with neither team scoring.  By half time the score was in our favor 15-8.  First time in our team's history we were ahead on the score board.  Half time and the coaches were busy making defensive and offensive adjustments trying to get us ready for second half.  Spirits were high but this was definitely anyone's game. 

Second half and we kick off to the Seminoles again.  By the end of the third quarter, we're trailing again. 

Fourth quarter is upon us and the tension is thick on both sides of the field.  We score again and in the lead but there's still about 3-4 minutes in the last quarter and Seminoles have the ball.  Everyone knows that another touchdown on either side will end the game.  Seems that no one is smiling and the tension is high as we watch the Seminoles get closer to the their end of the field.  Finally they throw an interception and with about 25 seconds on the clock, that ended the game with our first victory!  Players dancing on the field and celebrating our first win.

We went out and shook hands and then held the group prayer.  After that, we all gathered in the middle to celebrate as Carson dumped ice water on Coach Taylor.  Hope someone got a picture of that.

Somewhere along the way, I got bit on the bicep – still not sure how that happened. There’s not enough room in between the facemask and their head for my arm to fit and I don’t remember anyone running around the field with the helmet off trying to bite people. Peculiar...but for sure, I see teeth indentions in my arm.

In the end, we still have some real hard teams ahead of us and we know that there's still a lot of work to do and adjustments to be made.  However, in the first three games, we managed to score three points.  In the last two games, we put up 53 points.  And just think, this was our first year and a building year.  Coach Taylor and I met today about next year's tryouts, coaching arrangements, and game plan.  We're coming boys, the Thunderbirds are coming.