Today, I went to the high school football game between the school I teach at, Desert Pines and Chaparral two teams in the Las Vegas Valley.
There were only about 500 fans at the game between the 2 teams, maybe if you include the band, cheerleaders and parents.
While there were so few fans, especially when you compare this to small town schools or larger schools in middle class and well to do neighborhoods, the players played their hearts out and the game was exciting as college or professional game.
The game boiled down to the 4th quarter, with Desert Pines leading 23-22. Desert Pines is a small, athletic and fast team while Chap. is a big big team. Chap had the ball for all but 1 play in the 4th quarter and the one play Desert Pines had the ball, they fumbled.
The first drive by Chap was about 80 yards and Desert Pines stopped them on a 4th and 1, then DP fumbled.
With just under 2 minutes to go, Chap had the ball on the DP 40 yard line or so, and the converted about 3 4th downs. They got down to DP 10 yard line and tried a field goal, but DP got a penalty for roughing the kicker.
So, a first down on the 5 yard line with about 20 seconds left, Chap passed on 1st down and got sacked and they called time out. The quarterback, who suffered a horrendous hit on the previous 4th down, got hurt again and a sub was sent in. On second down and they had incomplete passes.
On 3rd down, Chap passed and the receiver caught the ball on the 1 yard line and had momentum to fall into the end zone but the DP cornerback put a big hit the receiver and drove him back, setting 4th down.
On the final play the Chap running back, who weighs about 300 pounds, got the ball and ran straight up the middle.
The DP defense tackled him on about the 2 inch line and DP won the game.
On the last play of the game 2 DP players gave their all and ended up injured and needed help off the field and into the locker room.
So, the newspaper will put a paragraph or 2 in the paper about the game, but they have no idea how hard both teams played, how close the game was or how hard the players played.
500 fans showed up, even though between the 2 schools, there are about 4000 students and about 300 school staff, so there isn't much support from the students and teachers. 99.99% of the Valley doesn't care about the game but still, both of these teams put on a very good game and should be very proud of themselves.
And now DP plays Moapa next Thursday in Moapa- both teams are undefeated and it should be interesting. A urban inner city large school vs a rural small school. Should be a great game.
High school doesn't get any better than that. Correction, football at any level doesn't get any better than this.
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