CBC’s quarterback throws the last play of the game to his running back. Everyone holds their breath as the pass flies over the receiver for an incompletion. Students start to flood the field full of excitement, but are stopped in their tracks. After getting pushed off the field to finish the last nineteen seconds, the scoreboard finally hits zero and KHS gets to rush the field. Nov. 15, KHS took down first seed CBC in the class six district championship 28-26.
Carson Lindquist, senior and linebacker, said the feeling was extraordinary. He said he couldn’t match this win with any other in his career.
“It really means a lot getting to say that this was the first Kirkwood team to [beat CBC],” Lindquist said. “After everyone rushed the field, I was off in the corner by myself just taking it all in.”
Lindquist said once the team entered the locker room they turned up the speaker, everyone smiling out of pure joy. Cortland Griffin, running back coach, said he and the other coaches are keeping the boys focused on their future performance and not getting caught up in past games.
“Every dog has his day, but after winning that game, you have to move on and prepare for the next one,” Griffin said. “We’re going to keep building on what we have been all season long until [we get] perfection.”
The next team KHS played was Jackson High School who previously beat Seckman High School 49-28. KHS beat JHS 45-35 punching their ticket to the semi-finals.
“I’m trying to tell myself that there’s a bigger goal in mind,” Lindquist said. “Ultimately, I want to win a state championship. I believe that Kirkwood will come out and will perform like we have all season.”
John Blaskiewicz, senior, said he always believed that KHS football would get this far in the playoffs. He said the team’s talent and their practice schedule makes KHS a dangerous team.
“Obviously I was happy, it was a big win for the program, playing [CBC] for the last three years and finally getting the win means a lot,” Blaskiweicz said. “We had the opportunity to go deep in the playoffs, some guys definitely had their doubts about beating CBC, but in the end we were on top.”
