Personal Narrative: My First Grid Kid Football

It was six o 'clock at the Friendswood junior high mustang field I was playing strong safety and I had to cover the extra receiver they brought out by the snap I was already beating my man and the next thing I know the ball was sailing my way straight to me. I am 13 years old and I am on the Friendswood junior high C-football team I am a second string slot receiver and starting strong safety and I 'm also a second string strong side linebacker it was our last game of the season,so we really wanted to go out on the win or a record for the season was one way in five losses and one tie,we hadn 't had a great season so we especially wanted to go out on a win. We got the ball first on kick off and we made a touchdown on the first few drives.On

When I was 7 years old I went to my first high school game with my mom, the teams that played were Roosevelt and Flower. I will never forget that day Sept 8th at 8PM friday night lights. My older cousin Brett Pierce was the starting Cornerback for flowers, I admired him because he the starting Corner and he was ranked #23 in the Nation for his position. My cousin ended the game with 18 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 3 forced fumbles that was one of the greatest days of my life. After the game was over I asked my mom could she sign me up to play football, she told me I wasn’t big enough. My mother is very over protective of me since I am her only son.

That was the one thing I needed in order for me to say to my 10 year old weird self “I am one of the greatest football players at my age.” Now at that time I was starting cornerback on defense, but on

I start to ask coach if he could put me in, but he keeps saying that I don't have enough experience. I'm about to walk out when he says that the star running back got hurt and I need you to sud for him tomorrow. The next day came I got dressed and I was ready to play.

“If what you did yesterday seems big, you haven’t done anything today.” – Lou Holtz. This has always been my mindset from when I was in little league until now. Although, I have faced some adversity along the way, this quote always pushes me to do better and better each and every day.

Then we went and ran over how to tackle low since I was on defense this game not on offense where I would be a running back. But after that me and some of my friends were in a little group and we said that we might lose but we have a little chance of winning. It finally came to the start of the game

We went back and forth scoring on each other, every mistake costing the other team a touchdown. It came down to the final two minutes in the game we were tied with them. Our coach had said that we need a stop, somebody needs to make a play. Little did I know at the time it would be me to make it.

It began in the spring after my freshman year. Because so many people on the team were older and stronger than me, I became very intimidated and even contemplated quitting football. When I told

Having only one soccer club in Bend to play competitively on and having a relatively small population put me playing with almost the exact same group of girls in the club as I grew up. This also left me knowing everyone who plays soccer and consequently when I got to high school soccer, I was still with the same girls. We had been playing with each other for 7 plus years and had become an incredibly close unit on and off the field. Some of my closest friends came from playing soccer. Soccer had helped me break out of my shell socially and provided an outlet for stress relief. My life revolved around soccer.

During the first five minutes of the 2nd half, we scored a goal. Also, the game was very physical people were getting shoved to the ground and kicked. But during the game the ball bounced off the side and almost was a goal for the other team but we saved it and before we saved it my team and I all screamed,” Go to the ball and get the ball out of the box” After, we played a Cincinnati United team at 3:15 at the end of the game the score was 5-1

Our first two drives we scored and they did too so it was 14-12. We was up we was yelling as we got ready to kickoff i sprint down the field and hit the ball carrier, we both slid on the 30 yard on line and i got a turf burn and turf in my mouth it tasted like sour rubber. I looked up as the guys face was all red from embarrassment we went off the field. Our offense scored on the first play of the drive and we got the 2 point conversion, so the score was 22-12 we was up.

The second I was on the field I knew my team had the game won. All I could see around me was a group of men ready for war. I couldn’t be more ready for my last home opener so after I did what I do when the unexplainable happens, accept it. I ran to the 45 to the 35 to the 20, hoping to find the kick returner. 8 months waiting for this moment all the sweat, pain, 100 degree sun beaming UV rays to my face.

During practice we did this drill for the starters. As I was sitting on the silver, cold bench, coach called my name. I was very surprised and my heart started racing. “Matty you will be starting forward now”.

We received the kick with me in the back field I caught the ball as a fair catch because I didn't have anyone to block. Brady wise was or Quarterback The first play was a 7 yard post to Nate Rob it was tipped and picked off by their safety. Luckily Jerome Sedillio was there to make the tackle. Brady and Nate are at the corner position with Jerome at safety. The offense is lined up at there 10.

But to them all of it didn’t matter to them as long as the starting player’s won the game that week things wouldn’t be that bad. But when we would lose all hell would break lose. Hitting drills all practice whistle after whistle, being blown right in your ear. I felt like quitting and just sticking to my school studies.