MINDSET-MASTERS

Mindset Masters Central League champions.” In my heart I’m thinking, “Ok, we have a whole quarter to win the game and the title, let’s get it done!” You could cut the tension with a knife. After the kick off, on the very next play of the fourth quarter, Bob McLaughlin (QB) hit Brian Fili (RB) over the middle for a 66 yard touchdown pass which put us back in the game to make it 14-­‐12. We were juiced up, and so was the screaming crowd! To tie the score, we attempted a 2-­‐point conversion but it didn’t work. I’m thinking, “Ok, we have 11:11 on the clock, there is still time to win and accomplish the mission of being champs!” Time was running out. I couldn’t believe it. My team mates were losing heart and their attitudes were in the toilet. I’m telling everyone, “No, no, there is still time on the clock. Come on, we can still win this!” I looked up at the play clock and noticed we still had a minute and a half left in the game, but the problem was Ridley had possession of the ball. As one of the defensive captains, my job was to rally our troops and keep pressing forward. We had two options; get the ball back to the offense, or score a defensive touchdown. Neither option happened. Ridley took the final snap of the game, bent a victorious knee capturing the win and the Central League title. We were crushed. Even though we lost the title and game that night, there were valuable lessons to be learned from the whole experience. The first major lesson I learned was to never, ever give up on a worthy mission. Your ambitions, dreams and goals may not 108