As the football season is nearing its end, the playoff implications are growing in intensity. On Friday, October 21, R-MA found itself hosting Christchurch School, the seventh-ranked team in the state for VISSA division II football. R-MA, at the time, stood at number six.
With the playoffs on the line, every game is a must-win for the Yellow Jackets, and the beginning of last Friday’s game did not look like a promising victory. After several miscues, Christchurch School jumped out to a 12-0 lead before the end of the first quarter.
The 12-0 lead was just the slap in the face R-MA needed to wake up. By the end of the first half, the Yellow Jackets were up 21-12. It was a busy halftime for the R-MA coaches as they adjusted to the events of the game. Starting quarterback Corban Ruch ‘17 suffered an ankle sprain and the coaches needed to find a new game plan. They trusted the position to senior wide receiver Alex Blell ’17, and the Jackets went on to win the game 31-20.
The effort and character of this Yellow Jacket football team is second to none. Although they quickly fell behind 12-0 on their own field, they fought back without pointing fingers at each other. While taking the lead, they kept their composure even as the opposition earned several unsportsmanlike penalties.
Each one of these young players successfully put the team ahead of themselves. It is one thing to say you are family, but another to play like you are family.