Heartbreak across the Crossroads
September 11, 2010
One of the best parts of covering sports at any level is watching the thrill of victory. One of the toughest things is watching the agony of defeat.
Over the last two weeks, we've seen three nearby teams lose very close games. Last week it was Calhoun losing on a desperation pass with just eight seconds left in the game.
On Thursday this week, Victoria West lost a 13-0 lead and missed a chance to win with a field goal late in the game.
Last night, the Victoria East Titans took a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, only to see it shrink away just a quarter later. A late onside kick recovery was called back for a penalty and East lost their chance for a comeback win.
Everyone who's played in high school or college, or even just been a part of team that came up short, knows what it feels like to have a victory snatched away from you. It's hard enough to watch, but it's even harder to experience.
The hope is that these kids can learn something from the tough losses, and carry that with them to a victory.
I covered a football team in Missouri last year that had a good season and made the playoffs and hosted its opening round game. They experience an entirely different kind of feeling. They lost 42-0.
For many of those athletes, it was the final football game they'd ever play, and it was an awful way to go out.
At least players from Calhoun, Victoria East and West, and any others that have suffered a tough loss this season, can take some comfort in the fact that there will be more games to be played, with more changes to experience that thrill of victory.
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