“There’s the snap.  Quarterback number one Mike “The Launcher” looks left, and then right, he see’s a man open.  Two pumps and the ball launches from his hand. 

Gary number twenty three makes the catch at the forty yard line.  He’s at the 30, the 20, the 10, the 5 yard line, he’s diving for it! Oh my God, Oh my God, he scores! The game is over!!!  The Purple Knights win the season’s ending game 21 to 20!  Unbelievable!!” screamed the announcer over the microphone to the cheering crowd.

It was our last game for the year, and my last game as a senior.  I’ll remember all of my friends both on and off the field.  My coach Mr. Walker who always told me “don’t ever give up and always feel you’re going to win son” and Mrs. Butler who always expected the best from me and my work.  Our Principal who at times seemed like a giant grizzly bear was really fair, honest and even handed when it came to “what should I do with you now”. 

They are looking at me on the field.  My girlfriend Laura is smiling, cheering, my buddies holding their helmets up to the sky in memory of the players who couldn’t play tonight that were injured in a car accident a couple of weeks ago.  This is the day that I’ll remember most.  The time that my arm and hand became the arm and fist of Thor and threw a ball like a bolt of lighting to give our team and high school the spirit of champions.

I see my mom coming towards me with a big smile.  “I am proud of Mike.  You da man and you deserve all the cheers” she began to say to me… “I got it all on video for grandma and grandpa.”  That’s my mom, she is always at every game cheering me on no matter the outcome.  I see my father running from the sideline, “Great job Mike!” he said patting me on the shoulder, “Great job!”.

We were the Purple Warriors and on this night on a green battle field we fought a good fight against a great team that made this night and this game more memorable by giving us their best.  We are now in the history books of our high school as the team that brought glory and honor.  There are no loosers tonight, only winners for coming this far and now moving on to their futures.

I’ll remember the best words that came at the end of the game when I was walking off the field with my mom… “You da man Mike, you da man”