The Memories I Keep
The Touchdown (A Short Story)
Growing up I had many happy memories at Briggs Elementary School, like playing football in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. We weren't very good. In fact, we lost every single game in the 4th and 5th grades. We didn't even score a touchdown! However, it was still fun and we never gave up. I liked the guys on our team so I decided to play in the 6th grade. It would be my final year of playing elementary football because I would be going to Junior High the following year.
We didn't have big expectations at the beginning of that year. After all, we were coming off two losing seasons, where we couldn't even score a single touchdown. We barely had enough players to field a team. I was the starting halfback, which was quite an achievement considering not only was I the smallest boy on the team but also the smallest boy in the whole 6th grade. Nevertheless, we practiced really hard; and going into the first game of the year, we had hopes that good things were going to happen.
Our first game of the year had us playing Buell Elementary. Next to us, they were the next sorriest team, but they always, somehow, managed to beat us.
We won the coin toss and elected to receive. They kicked off to us; and Mike Miller ran back a decent return where we had good field position in the middle of the field. We ran two straight plays up the middle that gained us zero yards. On third down, the play called for a sweep. Mike, who was quarterbacking, was going to give me the ball. I still remember to this day, being in my stance and having a good feeling about this play.
Mike then said, "hike"! After receiving the ball he turned to hand it to me. I took off running around the end and along the sideline. To my amazement, I had an open field. Looking back now at this play, I remember not hearing anything and It felt like I was running in slow motion, but I'm sure I was running as hard and fast as I ever had in my life because I was gaining yard and heading for the end zone. I remember just before I was to score, one of the players from the other team attempted to tackle me. He hit me so hard I spun completely around. I was able to catch my balance and I stumbled into the end zone for a touchdown!
Our team was so happy that we were jumping around like we had just won the Super bowl! I know it was only a touchdown, but we never had scored one before. We didn't know how to act. I can't help but smile every time I think about that moment in my life. I wish I could say we won that game, but we didn't. We still lost 12 to 6, however, we were all smiles after the game because we finally scored a touchdown.
That game was played on a Saturday. The following Monday morning everyone at school was talking about the touchdown I had made. I was a bit disappointed because we lost; however, everyone kept coming up to me to congratulate me. I couldn't understand at the time why it was such a big deal, but I must admit I liked the attention.
Later that week I was being punished for getting into trouble, and my Dad grounded me. He even said I couldn't play the next game. I can't remember what I had done, but I was very hurt by the fact I couldn't play the next game. All my teammates, as well as fellow classmates, were disappointed when they found out I wasn't playing. My coach even came over to my house to try to talk my dad into letting me play. He told my coach "no". But Saturday came, and my Mom talked my Dad into letting me play. (Thank God for moms.)
After Mom and I left for the game, my dad who had stayed home, said a pickup truck full of cheerleaders drove by the house yelling "We want David!" We want David!" No one knew until the last minute that I was playing. I know it sounds corny, and even I can't help but to laugh, at the thought of that happening, but it did.
We ended up losing that game, as well as all the rest of the games that year except for the very last one, which I'll save for another story.
My football career never amounted to much after that year. Other than becoming a legend in neighborhood football pickup games (just kidding), I didn't play much more. But for a brief period in my life, the smallest kid in the 6th grade was a football hero.
The end
We didn't have big expectations at the beginning of that year. After all, we were coming off two losing seasons, where we couldn't even score a single touchdown. We barely had enough players to field a team. I was the starting halfback, which was quite an achievement considering not only was I the smallest boy on the team but also the smallest boy in the whole 6th grade. Nevertheless, we practiced really hard; and going into the first game of the year, we had hopes that good things were going to happen.
Our first game of the year had us playing Buell Elementary. Next to us, they were the next sorriest team, but they always, somehow, managed to beat us.
We won the coin toss and elected to receive. They kicked off to us; and Mike Miller ran back a decent return where we had good field position in the middle of the field. We ran two straight plays up the middle that gained us zero yards. On third down, the play called for a sweep. Mike, who was quarterbacking, was going to give me the ball. I still remember to this day, being in my stance and having a good feeling about this play.
Mike then said, "hike"! After receiving the ball he turned to hand it to me. I took off running around the end and along the sideline. To my amazement, I had an open field. Looking back now at this play, I remember not hearing anything and It felt like I was running in slow motion, but I'm sure I was running as hard and fast as I ever had in my life because I was gaining yard and heading for the end zone. I remember just before I was to score, one of the players from the other team attempted to tackle me. He hit me so hard I spun completely around. I was able to catch my balance and I stumbled into the end zone for a touchdown!
Our team was so happy that we were jumping around like we had just won the Super bowl! I know it was only a touchdown, but we never had scored one before. We didn't know how to act. I can't help but smile every time I think about that moment in my life. I wish I could say we won that game, but we didn't. We still lost 12 to 6, however, we were all smiles after the game because we finally scored a touchdown.
That game was played on a Saturday. The following Monday morning everyone at school was talking about the touchdown I had made. I was a bit disappointed because we lost; however, everyone kept coming up to me to congratulate me. I couldn't understand at the time why it was such a big deal, but I must admit I liked the attention.
Later that week I was being punished for getting into trouble, and my Dad grounded me. He even said I couldn't play the next game. I can't remember what I had done, but I was very hurt by the fact I couldn't play the next game. All my teammates, as well as fellow classmates, were disappointed when they found out I wasn't playing. My coach even came over to my house to try to talk my dad into letting me play. He told my coach "no". But Saturday came, and my Mom talked my Dad into letting me play. (Thank God for moms.)
After Mom and I left for the game, my dad who had stayed home, said a pickup truck full of cheerleaders drove by the house yelling "We want David!" We want David!" No one knew until the last minute that I was playing. I know it sounds corny, and even I can't help but to laugh, at the thought of that happening, but it did.
We ended up losing that game, as well as all the rest of the games that year except for the very last one, which I'll save for another story.
My football career never amounted to much after that year. Other than becoming a legend in neighborhood football pickup games (just kidding), I didn't play much more. But for a brief period in my life, the smallest kid in the 6th grade was a football hero.
The end
