Cumby vs. Detroit

 

 

The following text about Friday night's games, as well as the pictures were supplied by David Stribling, Jr., teacher and yearbook advisor at Cumby High School.

 

 

It was only fitting and proper that the players colors that adorned the field were Maroon , White, and Blue under the Red, White, and Blue of Old Glory standing firmly at half-mast.  It was a beautiful deep blue sky marked by a flag flying at half-mast under the Friday night lights that found all the participants of the night standing in an extra moment of silence after the playing of our National Anthem.  As the announcer asked the fans, players, refs, coaches and all others involved to please pause as we remembered the lives lost and the events of that fateful day  8 years ago.  That got me to thinking that almost all the players involved would have been at most 10 years old or 4th graders.  While at that time, they were not old enough to realize the tragedy that was unfolding, now that they have matured and each have faced their own struggles and hardships they have a better understanding of what a “cheap shot” that was to our great nation. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just after 1 minute and 59 seconds of play, with a profound play, the Eagles had scored their first touchdown.  Little did we know at that time that it would be the first and last of the night for the Eagles as the Trojan defense really stepped up to the line after that play and did the ever toe the line the rest of the game, “clipping the Eagles’ wings” at each play except for only two that stand out in my mind towards the end of the game that gained them over 20 yards on each pass. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With Timmy Cook back in as quarterback after being out with injuries and having both Michael Morris and Timmy Cook to trade off, the Trojans were unstoppable.  With 15 seconds left in the 1st quarter, the Trojans made their first touchdown of the night.  You remember early me talking about “cheap shots” to our country, well that is when the Eagles took the first of many “cheap shots” at the Trojans, which cost them dearly at the line.  In fact there were about 4 personal fouls in a two minute period near the end of the game.  The Eagles even earned a double penalty , something I had not seen before, and that sent them 25 yards back at one setting and, if 25 yards of penalty was not enough for a first, the call itself gave the Trojans another 1st down.  I was very proud of the restraint and character shown as each time our boys picked themselves up, dusted off the dirt, pulled up their bootstraps, and just turned the other cheek.  I even heard the ref comment about what a great team spirit our boys had and walking away from each personal foul basically cost the Eagles the game and allowed the Trojans to walk away with a huge win.  I have always told our boys to win or lose with character so that either way they can be proud to wear the jersey and assume the leader roles that so many do while in our day to day community life. 

 

 

 

 

 

At the end of the first half the score was Trojans 14, Eagles 8.  With 4:21 left to play in the 3rd quarter, the Trojans scored a field goal bringing the score to 17, 8 Trojans.  With 7 minutes left to play in the 4th quarter Rodney Hobbs (4) scored one of two touchdowns he made during that quarter.  #33 “Cancun” ran the ball 30 yards with only 2:12 left to play and Hobbs ran it on in to bring the final score to Cumby Trojans 31, Detroit Eagles 8.  What a great night of high school football.

 

 

After all the plays, runs, and tackles made, it was time to go to the huddle ..... and as the helmets were held high it was “Family on 3. 1-2-3- FAMILY!” And yes I am proud to say that they played like a family tonight, a family that I am honored to be a part of. Congratulations Trojans!!!

 

 

 

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