Heart Counts
When football fans read the box score from Friday night’s game, it hardly describes what exactly transpired. Caring a 2 game losing streak, the young Knights looked the #3 ranked D2 team in all Ohio right in the eye and accepted the challenge at hand. In the week prior to this game, the Warriors defeated the #1 ranked D3 team in Ohio in Bishop Watterson out of Columbus.
The entire week our challenge to the players has been, “this is your last chance to get better in preparation for our Conference opener”. But more importantly, this game would measure many more things not tracked or documented. This game measured pride, effort, and most importantly, heart! Winton Woods’ offense was powerful. Easily the best we have seen to date. Their defense was to be almost as stingy as their offense was dangerous. But on the night, the first half was nothing short of a shootout. When the half ended, it would read Winton Woods 5 TDs and Kings 3 TDs. Suddenly, our lockeroom at the half was buzzing with coaches making even more offensive adjustments. The look in the player’s eyes was one I have been waiting on all season! Their look could be described as a combination of fun and confidence!
What coaches and players have been working toward over the last 5 weeks finally showed signs of life! The Warriors were visibly upset as the visitors scored more times in the first half than any team they have faced this season. Although we were outscored on the night, the confidence gained by the players on this damp evening could be seen on their faces throughout the course of this contest! As stated in last week’s “Coaches Corner”, it was made clear the amount of challenge this years’ schedule presented. But the effort demonstrated Friday night simply proves that the players and coaches put their best foot forward in games 1-5 and look to put all of our efforts and heart into defending the 2008 conference title when we welcome Amelia to the Castle for their last encounter with Kings as they move to a new conference in 2010.
See you at the game!
Coach Olds
GO KNIGHTS!!!