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Is leaving it all on the field enough?  The answer is “no” and “yes.”

Our Stillman Valley football team came up an interception short on Friday.  With under a minute to play, Stillman began a drive to win a state championship.  Quarterback Dane Green first completed a pass to running back Nate Bond.

Green then delivered a downfield strike to Bryce Dixon.  Dixon has been sure handed all year, whether holding for the kicking game or receiving.  He brought Green’s pass in and got out of bounds.  Stillman was seven yards from knocking a win through the uprights.

But, hopes of a game winning field goal ended when Illini West’s Ser Whitaker picked off a Green pass.

No one can question whether Stillman left it all on the field.  They did.  The effort of the 2010 Stillman Valley team is still on the Big Ten turf of Memorial Stadium.

The question is, “Was leaving it all on the field enough?”

On the one hand, where football is concerned, the answer is “no.”  If you don’t believe me, just ask the players.  They will agree.  Just playing hard in the state championship isn’t enough.

Some might counter, “Well over time the loss will soften and the players will accept it.”

I don’t think so.  Not this group.  In fact, I’ll bet you if they live to be 98 years old it still won’t be enough.  I’ll be long gone, but if you see one of them in 80 years from now in a retirement home, ask him if it was enough to play hard in the 2010 State Championship.  Duck when you do because he will probably his chuck his bingo card at you for even suggesting it.

For the record, I’m with them.  I’d throw my bingo card too.

But there is football, where leaving it all on the field is not enough, and then there is life.  And, where life and character are concerned, the answer to the question is a different one.  Was it enough to show character and resolve and grit, to never give up until the final whistle?  The answer is, “yes.”  Representing our community, playing in front of our state, it was more than enough.  We couldn’t be prouder.

And, if our football team can take such character and apply it to whatever is next for them.  If they can pursue the development of Christian character with such energy and commitment.  Then it will be enough in life too.  Those same qualities will serve them well, even 80 years from now playing bingo in a retirement home.

For most, Thursday is Thanksgiving. 

Here in the Valley, it’s Thanksgiving and State Finals Eve.  On Friday we play our worthy opponent, Illini West, led by speed merchant Ser “the blur” Whitaker (see the Quincy Whig and the Burlington Hawkeye). 

In anticipation of State Finals Eve, I am posting 6 illustrated football thoughts.  You don’t have to read the “preaching.”  But, at least glance at the stuff in bold and enjoy the pictures.

1.  The more joy is shared, the bigger it gets.  If you play only for yourself, then your joy will be a very small thing.  But, if you play for your entire community, then you will know massive joy.

What I like about this picture of Dane Green scoring our first touchdown against Immaculate Conception is that you can see our crowd beginning to celebrate in the background.

And, a lot more people are involved in SV football than just the players.

2.  Life is a smash mouth game.  Everybody gets knocked down.  The question is, “Are you going to get back up?” 

Part of the heart of the reason we are proud of our SV team is not because we score every time we run a full back dive. Our style is more three yards and a cloud of dust. 

But, even if some linebacker punches us (figuratively speaking) in the mouth we get back up and run it again.

It’s the same deal in life. Righteous men are different not because they never fall. But, because they get back up. For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.(Pr 24:16).

Of course, sometimes we need help getting back up. That’s why we have coaches and trainers, pastors and a community – - to help if we need it.

Adam Cox played through pain to score this fourth quarter touchdown against Tolono Unity.

3.  The people in the trenches don’t get enough credit.

Our style of football requires winning the war in the trenches.  Our linemen have done an incredible job.  Kody Harriott, Russell Stone, Clay Kruger, Logan Lersch, Gregg Ballard have dominated.

Such is life.  For every out front person, there are four working in the trenches.  And, that’s where the game is won, as seen in this big SV line push against I.C.

Notice that our linemen made an “Aurora Christian sandwich” here so Adam Cox could get loose.

4.  Work hard.  “Fly around” and good things will happen.  In the below pictures, I don’t think A.J. Dobson or Jordan Tanaglia actually tipped any of the balls.  That’s okay.  Keep flying around and eventually good things will happen. 

Dobson and Harriott hit.  Wold recovers. 

Jordan Tanaglia scooped up this ball for the score after a blocked punt.

5.  Be ready.  You never know when you will get in the game.  Abraham Lincoln famously said, “I will prepare and someday my chance will come.”  Proverbs 15:19 says that for lazy people, the path is blocked.  But, work hard and some day your chance may come.

We’ve seen that time and time again in SV.  Earlier this year, Jeff Cialkowski did a great job starting at quarterback against Oregon.

6.  Nate Bond is not the only one who is quick; Life goes by pretty fast too.  As the book of James says (James 4:13-17), life is a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  This football season is over in the blink of an eye – - and so goes life – -like Nate.

We’ll see what happens on Friday.  With Stillman having won four state championships previously, this year is  “the drive for five.”  We have rings for our fingers, now we need one for the thumb.

 If you missed what excites me most about SV soccer, see here.

I don’t know if it’s the greatest.  But, it’s pretty good.