It's been a while

Athlete diary

Friday, Oct. 30, 2009

I know it has been a while since Great Mills has had the chance to say that.

We dedicated that game against Chopticon [last Friday] to two people, Will Smith and Joey Manear. Chopticon was the last school both Will and Joey played in their high school careers of football.

Will won in the last seconds of his game, but Joey had to be airlifted out of his. So this game meant a lot to the team.

Before the game, Joey came up to Kevin Molitor, one of the other captains and one of Joey's best friends, and gave Kevin his varsity football letter. He wanted it to be with Kevin on the field so Joey could say he was part of a win against Chopticon.

After the game, Joey came down on the field happier than I have ever seen him before. Kevin took out of his shoe Joey's letter and returned it to him. Joey was a part of that win.

After an emotional time together on the field, we were able to enjoy the bus ride back home as winners.

That Monday after practice, [head coach Bill Griffith] treated us with Cici's, and we got our grub on. While there, we saw Will's aunt and got the whole team together to go over and tell her how we had dedicated the game and the season to her nephew. I could really tell she appreciated. Hopefully we can continue to win and make it to the playoffs for him as well.

We have North Point and then Huntingtown next. These will be the toughest teams we have played all year, but I believe that we can play with them.

Beating them and making it to the playoffs would definitely be the highlight of my senior year, and probably it would be the highlight for the rest of the team, as well.

We just have to practice hard and play hard for two weeks straight.

As it went in the movie "Angels in the Outfield," "It could happen."

Derrick Petett