Frank Workman on Sports: Sometimes something magical happens

By Frank Workman

Late in the day at work on Friday, a co-worker asked what I had in store for my weekend.  I explained I’d be going to the Friday night high school football game between visiting Marysville-Getchell and Shorewood.

She replied that she has never  ‘gotten’  sports – that it all seems so senseless, making such a big deal out of playing a game.

I responded that for me the charm and appeal of sports, especially at the high school level, rests in the fact that for the kids who are playing, nothing in their lives will ever be this important, or matter as much to them, at least until they have children of their own.

And, I said, sometimes something magical happens  that you never forget.

I was looking forward to being on the ‘chain-gang’ for the game.  I’d be holding a first-down marker on the far sideline, fully expecting to be on the same side of the field as Shorewood, which would give me a perfect opportunity to watch their passionate and patient coach Rob Petschl up close, as well as better acquaint myself with the boys on the team.

There was an ounce of disappointment when I realized Shorewood had opted to occupy the near sideline, meaning the chain gang would be on the M-G side of the field.

Funny how things work out.

Getchell is the new school in Marysville; this is just its second year in existence.

When it looked like they would take a 9-0 lead into the locker room at halftime, I asked one of their coaches if they had won any games last year.

He shook his head no.

The Chargers’ players were fired up when they took the field for the start of the second half.  It’s not every night you get to win the first game in school history.

Their defense was stout through the third quarter.

The T-Birds clawed their way back, scoring a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to make it 9-7.  Very much anybody’s ball game. Later, when they got the ball back with just under 5 minutes to play and hit a long pass inside the Chargers’ 30, it looked like Shorewood was going to break the Chargers’ hearts.

But Kaleb Seymer intercepted a pass for the Chargers and took it 70 yards to the house. The PAT gave Getchell the insurance point it needed to make it a two-score game, 16-7.

Pure jubilation was evident on every young face on the sideline, and the wide smiles were contagious.  It was impossible to not be happy for them.

It was magical. And I will never forget it.

And THAT is what I love about high school sports.