After an undefeated season, being ranked #1 in New Jersey, shutting out half our opponents, going to Nationals, nothing could stop us. These thoughts angered me as time ran out with a score of 21-14 during the semi-finals. I paced the field, raging, and complaining on how it was cowardice to take a knee.

This was my second season with the Huskies. My first year in fourth grade, we were unstoppable. We demonstrated what New Jersey football was all about. At Nationals we all learned the meaning of being a big fish in a little pond. Although we were the best in New Jersey, we were nothing compared to the other teams which couldn’t hurt more. It was painful getting shut out and then losing 35-14 and it left a mark on us. Towards the end of our last game the announcer said, “Texas has proved that they have the best football in the country, not New Jersey.” I was enraged and ever since this moment I made it my goal to make it back to Nationals next year and prove New Jersey had some of the best football around and that we belonged there.

After our last game, the commissioner of the American Youth Football League shook my hand and handed me my trophy for not first place, or second, or third, but participation. He could tell I was upset, so he said, “ Best of luck to you next year son.”

I responded with, “Don’t worry, we will be back next year to prove a point.”

My cadet season began to roll around and we began practicing in early July. We dominated our first couple scrimmages throughout August, shutting out the majority of the teams. Thoughts of Nationals went through my head after each scrimmage. Week one was approaching, and the only thing on my mind was Nationals and proving my point.

We overpowered our first four opponents in the regular season. We were all over confident and joking about Nationals and the thought of winning. Midway through the season, we played an out of conference game against Long Branch, a potential playoff threat. The game came to the last couple seconds. With less than five seconds to play, we ran a hail mary that failed. We ended up losing by six. This was a wake up call for all of us, we needed to step our game up, and we had a long way to go before even thinking about Nationals.

The next week we played Manalapan, defeating them by a minute margin. After the game, I went up to my coach and shook his hand as he said, “Good game, but you mark my words, we will play them in the playoffs and it will be a much closer game.”

I began to worry and work even harder in practice. The last three games we won against Neptune, River Plaza, and Wall. The first round of the playoffs was a breeze. Our next game was a nail biter that we managed to pull off. My confidence began to rise again and I was eager for revenge on Long Branch.

After the game, we all sat in the parking lot waiting for the results of the Long Branch vs. Manalapan game. The results came in, and Manalapan had won and everyone began to cheer, but I worried.

My coach was right, the fact that they beat Long Branch meant that this was a new Manalapan team that we would be facing. I asked my Dad what he thought. “Dad, do you think we will be able to beat Manalapan again or do you think they’ll give us a run for our money?”

“Well based on the fact that they beat Long Branch I would have to guess that it won’t be a breeze for you guys.” my Dad said.

It was finally Sunday, all the waiting was over. I woke up got ready for the game, drove down the shore, went through weigh ins, and then warmed up. I went out to the fifty for the coin toss  with butterflies in my stomach, thinking about how the winner of this game would most likely be the team representing NJ in Florida at the Cadet level. This was the best football in the country.

The first half began and it was a stalemate, we would drive down the field, get, stopped, and then they would do the same thing. We would score and then they would score. Everyone was silent during half time as our coach spoke to us.

“You guys are playing great a couple flaws here and there. Other than that all I would say is leave no doubt, leave it all on the field, and give it all you’ve got.”

The second half began, and they started with the ball. The same repetition occurred, right up until the fourth quarter. With five minutes left, the game all tied up, they drove down and scored. With not much time left, we began to go no huddle, and we were quickly driving. With one minute and thirty seconds left on the clock, we entered the red zone. The next play, we turned the ball over. They took possession and ran the ball right up the middle twice to get a first down. Then, they began to take a knee, and that was it.

Manalapan ended up winning at Nationals and winning by a large margin during the championship game. This proved New Jersey did have the best football in the Country, but now it was our turn to go down to Nationals and to prove that New Jersey had the best football in the Country.