EHS:
A Class Act
By: Josh Beavers 11-19-02
Press-Herald
Sports
Springhill, LA
Before Friday night, I didn't know too much about the Episcopal
Knights.
In fact, the only thing that I knew for sure was that they
were a 6-4 squad out of Baton Rouge that had the unenviable
task of traveling into the hostile confines of Baccum-Farrar
Stadium in Springhill.
Their opponent, the heavily favored Lumberjacks, was a team
bent on claiming championship gold.
However, there was only one problem, Episcopal came to play
and play they did, taking a stunning first round playoff victory,
20-17.
I know a lot about Episcopal now. I know that Episcopal played
the hardest of any team I've seen take to the football field.
I know Episcopal held together as a team when they were down
by 10 in the fourth quarter. I know Episcopal never gave up
and found victory despite a rowdy crowd, some of what's members
came to the game with chainsaws as noisemakers.
Simply put, Episcopal is not just a fine football team, they
are also a classy one.
Within 30 seconds of notching probably the biggest win in
school history, the Episcopal players were consoling downtrodden
Lumberjacks, who had just had their championship dream yanked
rudely out from under their feet.
After all, it wasn't supposed to go down like this in Springhill.
Oh sure, the team had some issues and weak points; points
that were exploited in two regular season losses to Benton
and Homer. However, a first round loss to the smaller and
less talented Knights wasn't even considered a possibility
by the Lumberjack faithful.
But that didn't matter. Episcopal believed and that's all
that did matter.
Take no shame Lumberjacks in falling to this South Louisiana
squad. They worked hard to pull off the upset and deserve
congratulations.
Amid the tears from the Lumberjack side of the field, I doubt
many in the crowd could appreciate the opponent. But now that
the shock has worn off a bit, think back to the behavior and
attitude of the Knights.
From the stands, you can't hear the trash talking that goes
on during a football game. From the sidelines, however, one
can hear the verbal cat and mouse game as plain as day.
Yet, on Friday night, my ears were oblivious to any such behavior.
Not because I was ignoring it, but because it wasn't there.
The Knights didn't partake and instigate such talk, as is
normally the case for teams that play Springhill.
The Knights were more worried about sprinting to every play.
The Knights were more worried about hustling to and from the
field during change of possessions. The Knights were more
worried about execution.
This is the way football is meant to be played and I for one
was glad to see every member of a team concerned with fundamentals
and not appearance, as is the case for most in today's game.
Make no mistake, I'm not taking anything away from the Lumberjacks.
This squad played their hearts out week in and week out; however,
in the end it just wasn't enough.
I've enjoyed the 2002 football season covering both Minden
and Springhill. And now that it's over, remember kids that
as long as you played to the height of your potential each
and every play, no matter what the final outcome, the season
was a success.
The sting of a loss will hurt, but it will fade and soon spring
will return as too will football.
Remember, there's always next year.
Josh
Beavers is managing editor of the Press-Herald.
Mr. Beavers played on four state championship teams representing
Haynesville at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.
Copy used by permission.
The Minden
Press-Herald is published Monday through Friday
afternoon by Specht Newspapers, Inc. at 203 Gleason Street,
Minden, Louisiana 71055.
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