Sabino didnt make it

Sabino didn’t make it. They were soundly defeated in the finals of the State championship football game. Glendale Cactus was simply a better team with a few better players and they also out-coached us. The better team won.

The kids were sad after their defeat but if they could only understand how many kids, how many teams did not make it this far. I sat with a group of old “flag football” friends. Their kids all play high school football now. All of them are very good football players and many play on very good football teams.  None of their teams made it to the finals. I’m not saying that to brag about my kid or to put anyone else down.  The point I’m trying to make is that not many get the opportunity to play in such a game no matter how good they are as a football player or how good their football team is.

It was great that so many people that had touched Michael’s life were there to support and cheer for him.

Michael has led a very blessed life as far as football goes. When he was 11 years old his “flag football” team made it to the first ever flag football championship held at Disney World in Orlando, FL. The NFL flew 6 members of our team to Orlando after we won the regional playoffs in San Diego, CA. We did not expect to win.  One of our players broke his leg just before we flew out. We had to go with 5 kids and broken legged Blake gave moral support from the sidelines. We also were the only “co-ed” team that bothered to follow the rules and actually had a girl on our team.  She ended up catching the winning touchdown pass with 17 seconds left in the championship game and we became the first ever “National flag football champions.”  ESPN was there filming it all and they produced a half hour show about flag football (sponsored by the NFL). There were other teams that won their respective age group championships. Our team got most of the publicity in the show because the NFL was trying to promote girls to play flag football and our little girl (Logan Hall) made the winning touchdown. Combine that with a cliffhanger of a game and you get a great story. It was shown several times on ESPN, ESPN2 and it became”filler” for when they ran out of programming.  This proud father watched it several times.

The boys on that team now all play high school football and all do very well. Their teams all did well this season. None of their teams made it to the State finals though I’m sure a couple of them will be there next year. There are better football teams and better football players than the ones at Sabino but they did not make it this far in the playoffs. Count your blessings Sabino.

What was great was that all those friends, the fathers, the mothers, the kids that played flag football, their brothers and sisters and their friends as well as Michaels aunts, uncles, and cousins came out to cheer on Michael and Sabino’s football team. It was very heart warming to experience. Thanks to all of you for your support.

So lift your heads Sabino. With a little hard work in the off-season and a little bit of luck you should be back next year and you can give it another shot. You had a great season and all should be very proud of your achievements. We’ll get’em next year.

Salutations to Palo Verde High school. They were the only Tucson area team to win a state championship in football this year. They played on the same field just before we did. They beat Cottonwood Mingus 15-7. Read more about their game here http://www.azstarnet.com/sports/105278.

Read more about Sabino
http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/105102
http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/104822
http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/104827
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/sports/youth/113005c1_hs_bolasky
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/sports/youth/112605c1_prepfront
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/sports/youth/120105c1_sabinofeature
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/sports/youth/120205c1_hs_sabino_preview
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/sports/youth/112905c1_hs_sabino

and finally the story of the last game;
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/sports/youth/120305c1_hs_sabino