The players flickered across the snowy screen, and only someone familiar with what was happening could have made heads or tails of the old film. Luckily, the quarterback was there, giving a play by play that could only have come from a remarkable memory or many hours reviewing the films of the Missouri state football championship in 1971. As he provided commentary, he was standing next to the coach of that team, a man who won a bunch of football games at our small school, so many that the stadium is named after him, and rightly so.
Many of the stars of that game were there, reliving old glories with old friends, now filled out and bent by age, but for a few minutes stars once again. The celebration of the 50th anniversary of the state championship followed yet another win by the successors of that team, now playing 8 man football with a new name and a new mascot, having had to join with the neighboring town in order to have enough players to field an 8 man team.
The local heroes are 6-0, ranked fourth in the state, and I’m surely not the only one to hope that we’ll bookend a half century with a second state championship. We’ll know much more about our chances in a couple of weeks, when we play the number one team in the state, and though we’ll be decided underdogs, there is always a chance.
Ok, so now you have to have a little patience, ‘cause I’m going to do a little grandfatherly bragging. Our grandson, Aaron, plays defensive end and guard for our local 8, and he is, if I do say so myself, a fine football player, particularly on defense. He may end up the year leading the team in tackles, and he’s amongst the state leaders in tackles for loss, along with sacks. He’s 6’1”, around 220, and his pancake block near the end of Friday night's game made me wince and feel a bit of sympathy for his very large opponent, who ended the play flat on his back. Aaron runs like his grandfather, which is to say very slowly, but he is football quick and has a good feel for the game.
Julie and I have been here before, watching our daughter Ann and her teammates spend most of the year ranked number one in the state in basketball before getting beat, soundly, in the district playoffs. That was heartbreak. 20 years later, we are, I hope, a little bit wiser. We are enjoying the journey, pray every game that no one gets hurt, and we’ll be philosophical about the surely inevitable season ending loss. We also know that we are playing sports at a level that is considerably different than what is happening in larger places with faster, bigger, more talented players.
That’s a lesson we learned with Ann. A local guy recruited a basketball team, including Ann, and entered a tournament in Kearney, Nebraska. The team was pretty salty, won most of their games including some tournaments in Kansas City, and we were feeling pretty good about ourselves as we took the court against a team that had at least two players who went on to start at Division One schools. We immediately fell behind by twenty points. Every time we got closer than twenty points, the other team put on a press and took the ball away from us, getting an easy layup. And our point guard was the point guard for a team that won the Missouri 3A championship later that year!
There are many drawbacks to attending a small school, but getting to participate in sports and theater and music make up for most of them. Aaron is having a lot of fun, and all of us are enjoying the ride with him, and however it ends, the trip has been one we’ll remember for the rest of our lives.
I guess I should explain why I was at the party. I was a member of that team, playing as a freshman. I was 4”11” tall, weighed 105 pounds, and even managed to get in for a few plays when we were winning by a large score. 5 plays to be exact, the fifth of which ended with me getting carried off the field and spending the rest of the season with a cast the full length of my leg. My football career was pretty short, but I’m in the picture hanging on the wall at dear old Tarkio High, and it was a lot of fun to see old friends and watch them enjoy that flickering memory of their success.
I was proud to be a part of the tradition oh THS. I barely understood the game of football in 1971 after my parents drove out to the entrance to town to weocome the team home, I knew I wanted to be a part of that.
We never made it to the championship but from '73 - '76 we only lost 4 games and tied one. Two 275 conference championships, one tri championship and 2 1st round playoff games. Coach P gave me a chance my jr. Year after barely "surviving" the strict practice regime he required. MY JR. year he handed me the ball and shoulder pads in the offseason during p.e. class. He taught me long snapping. I had a chance. A new wrestling program had improved my athleticism. Fall came and I was first team center. I had big shoes to fill Les Hogue and Tommy Lade. I wore 00 with pride that year. We went to state 2 years in a row but lost out. But every day I would see that picture of that special team. CONGRATS to all of you. Your legacy inspired a lot of us! I still look back at those THS football days with pride. Thanks Blake for your story. Tarkio football will always be in my heart!!
Loved your recap of the weekend reminiscing that unforgettable moment in THS football history and all the best to your grandson and team this season!