Print it the ball was in the air. Another floater. Our guy had a step on the defender and also had a couple inches on him. The ball was there and he made the catch. 39 seconds left and counting. Ball was placed on the 21-yard line. We were only 63 feet away from a victory.  The boys hustled down field to and called for a spike. The quarterback rifled the ball into the turf hard enough to kick up some rubber pellets. 33 seconds left, 2^nd down. I called a simple play giving the quarterback three different deep options and one safety just a ten-yard out. The ball was snapped, cracking against the quarterback’s hands. He dropped back not seeing the free safety blitzing from the left side. He went to throw the ball to his deep flag route. A split second before the ball left his hands that blitzing safety blindsided him causing the ball to shoot straight up in the air. It was anyone’s now. It was a mad scramble as all 22 people were going to try and make a play for the ball. It seemed to have a mind of its own floating harmlessly out of bounds. We escaped another disaster, at this point it seemed as if we were destined to win this one. I called a similar play just switching up the routes. The quarterback looked poised in the backfield his eyes scanning the entire field looking for his best option, he found him. Our middle linebacker number 25, Tyler James who was sometimes put in as a tight end because of his good hands snuck through the defense and was wide open around the ten yard line. The ball was lined through the maze of defenders hands and found Tyler who was tackled inbounds at the nine-yard line. Nine seconds left. Players ran to the line so we could spike the ball and send out the field goal team.

The field goal team rushed out on the field with four seconds left and a chance to send this season finale into overtime. Our place kicker hasn’t exactly been what you would clutch, in some cases in did us better to go for it on fourth down rather then send out our field goal team. Coach Moore didn’t think so tonight. Maybe he had faith in his toe tonight, or maybe, he just didn’t want tonight to end. The team lined up kicker got comfortable. Whistles blow. The Patriots call their final timeout in an attempt to ice our young kicker. God I hope that didn’t work. The boys got a shot of water and headed back onto the field. Ball was set; we were ready. Good snap. Good hold. Ball is up but gets tipped at the line. It may still have enough power to make it. For the third time in the past two minutes time seems to stand still I watched the ball float through the air towards the uprights and thought of Coach Moore. This game meant so much to him and to our community I wanted nothing more than for that ball to float through those posts.

Coach Moore’s post game speech was brief; he let the boys know they had nothing to be ashamed of. He was proud of how hard they fought, we all were. The kick fell about 3 yards short of the crossbar. St. Peters would move on to the playoffs and we would start collecting gear on Monday. The boys got dressed and walked out of the locker room. I watched them all as they loaded their gear and got aboard the bus, everyone handled losses differently. Most were quiet but there were some that were joking, laughing about something completely unrelated. As soon as Coach Moore boarded the bus all laughing ceased. It was a short ride home and the press was already waiting for us, acting as if they just wanted a post game interview but everyone knew they were there because each of them wanted to be the one that heard Coach Moore’s official retirement first. None of us said a word to the dozen or so cameras and microphones that were lined up around the locker room.

“What do you think Coach?” Coach Moore asked me as I walked into our office.

“They fought hard, wished we could have pulled this one out for you Coach.” He looked at me and smiled,