I just came home from a football game where my youngest son played as a starting Line backer and a starting Running Back.
Oddly several hours earlier I had one of those tough talks with him. He had blown off getting some paperwork filled out and the head coach started burning up our phones around 0800. Had the paperwork not been completed, Chris would not have been allowed to play tonight.
Knowing his laziness could have well affected not only him, but his entire team, I said a few choice things about letting your teammates down and other things about team playing as it relates to his desire to lead men as a future Army Officer.
With that in his crawl (Did I spell that korektly?), he departed around 1700.
The game began at 1900. We played a team much larger than ours with fifty-odd players. This year we are putting out a smaller team in the 30s. Watching them work out prior to the kickoff, I made the comment that I hoped we could last three quarters against these monsters.
Talk about eating my words...My son shut down their runs with some outstanding tackles. It seemed on literally every play, number 45 was the guy who made the tackle. On one runaway kickoff return he tackled the runner on the three yard line preventing the score. Our team was able to hold them and they did not score.
Early in the first quarter I saw him run for a first down after a 15 yard penalty set us W A Y back. He caught a pass the next play for another first down, and during the next set, advanced the ball to field goal range which we scored on.
During the second quarter, Chris playing both defense and offense scored a touchdown on a thirty-something-yard run. The other team scored, but we led at the half. The third quarter they scored, but Chris ran in for another long touchdown run. He was on fire. He sacked the quarterback at least twice and made a bunch more tackles. All you'd hear is "tackle by Chris Harward" time and time again. Late in the third, that boy ran in for another touchdown, now having scored three.
The fourth quarter was a real fight. They should not be losing to our 2A team, but they just couldn't move the ball. Then once more with four minutes on the clock, Chris took it in for his fourth touchdown of the night. He ended the game by making the final tackle.
After the game, the head coach looked me up and asked me, "What in the He__ did you feed that boy this morning?" He was amazed. I told him I had gotten into an almost argument before the game, and maybe he was taking out his frustration on everyone else. Coach just shook his head and I told him, next week before the game, I'll restrict him and take away his car keys!!!!!!!!!!!!
To say I am proud of my son is a gross understatement at the moment. So proud of you Chris!
