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A test of courage.
Season on the verge of spiraling into oblivion.
But rescued, saved, revivified.
Wake Forest football players showed up today in Raleigh playing NC State for the 479th consecutive year.
No griping about last week. No feeling sorry for themselves for straight emotionally jolting losses in the last minute.
Yesterday, they balled. Got behind in the fourth quarter by 10. Easily could have quit, so sick of losing, presuming another crushing defeat, feeling haunted.
On fourth down on the final drive they could have kicked a field goal to tie it up.
Nah – we’re going for it.
Buck Hankmeyer dropped back, saw the blitzing linebacker ready to drive him into next year, and still hit his guy for a first down, Deuce the Juice or Wesley Snipes or whomever it was.
A hero – that’s who that receiver was. Drop that pass, Wake loses. Catch it, Wake keeps breathing.
With everything at stake: keeping the drive alive, earning another shot to score and win, saving the season that started one and four which has been more than enough to endure.
Got the first down. When they had to.
Let’s repeat because it’s so nice to relive. Got the first down when they had to.
Hankmeyer is now a hero forever in Wake Forest football lore. Took the crushing blow as he lofted that first down pass, for his team, to get the win.
It was him, Hankmeyer our Hero.
Displaying heroism like Hank was his running back, Demond Claiborne, who we might as well start calling Demond Touchdown or Breakway Jones or Touchdown Donny. Three tuddies today for Demond Touchdown.
He pulled in for the game-winner from inside the five with under a minute left. A good moment – the best moment – of this five-week-old Wake Forest football season. Hope, belief, and faith were all restored in one Saturday afternoon football game.
A few days ago I wrote that the only thing that mattered, from my perspective, was playing like it was their last football game and to not give up, bring all they had.
And they did.
A rejuvenated team, football season, and an aging man – me.
What a victory.
The love story intensifies.
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Sammy Sportface, a sports blogger, galvanizes, inspires, and amuses The Baby Boomer Brotherhood. And you can learn about his vision and join this group's Facebook page here:
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