By Staff
Just one yard. If you were at Brewton Municipal Stadium Friday night in the rain, you know exactly what I am talking about in that first sentence.
One more yard and the Tigers could easily be planning their trip to Birmingham this Thursday.
After the game, T.R. Miller Tiger head football coach Jamie Riggs said that was the best game he had ever seen in his 30 years of coaching. I am sure if he said that, he really meant it.
Coach Riggs has been in a lot of games as a head coach and an assistant coach.
I may not have 30 years of coaching on my resume, heck, I have not even been alive for 30 years, but I would have to agree with Coach Riggs about that game being one of the best if not the best football game I have ever seen.
It has to rank as one of the best but could easily be the best high school football game I have seen.
Not to replay the whole game or retell the whole game story, but to be down 34-14 and tie the game at 34-34 with three straight touchdowns and take the lead at 35-34 only to have your season end with a fumble at the 1-yard line has to hurt.
To show that much determintation to come back after being 21 points down means a lot. Those players could have easily given up and let Cordova just have it, but they stayed in the game and gave the defending state champions all they wanted…and more.
I have never played football before on the high school level, but saw my close games in baseball during my high school years.
But this column is not about me, it's about the 2008 T.R. Miller Tiger football team.
After a 5-6 season last year, the first losing season at T.R. Miller, the team named this season “The Comeback.”
I would have to say that they named it pretty well. Wouldn't you?
Four games decided by three points or less this season, a 13-game win streak, semifinals, region championship, beating arch-rival W.S. Neal after a two-year losing streak: All that was left to get was that coveted 3A state championship crown.
While the 15 seniors on this year's team led with all they had, I am sure they will be missed. I don't know if any of you noticed, but the Tiger paws on the T.R. Miller sideline had 15 on it for the 15 seniors and for 15 games.
Once the playoffs started, the first 10 were painted black to signify the 10 wins the team had already earned prior to the playoffs. With each and every win, one more Tiger paws were filled in to signal the win.
Coach Riggs said this was the best senior class he had everyhad.
This season was also coach Riggs 20th season as head coach at T.R. Miller.
Not to put words in Coach Riggs' mouth, but even though this season did not end with another blue state championship trophy for the Tigers, this season was sure enough one to remember for him.
While the 15 seniors will be missed most assured, next year's team will obviously be stacked to make another run at the 3A crown.
According to the roster this year, next year the Tigers will return about 20 seniors. If those seniors are anything like coach Riggs said this year's seniors were, I am sure they will be ready to lead and the team will be moving on to Birmingham.
Congrats T.R. Miller on a great season. I know this loss will hurt for a while, but you had a great year.
Well, now that football season is over and done for this season, it is time to dive head first into the 2008-2009 basketball season.
On a different note, I hope all had a great Thanksgiving and did not eat too much turkey.
Until we meet again here or out in the world of sports, God bless.