The difference in this year’s Pioneers? Heart

If you missed Friday night’s football game between the Pioneers and Rebels, then you missed one great game.

As I pace up and down the sidelines, I try not to get too caught up in the excitement of the game, especially since it’s hard to show much emotion when you have a five-pound Nikon camera around your neck. But from time to time I can’t help myself.

Friday was one of those times.

Some of you may have caught a glimpse of my excitement after Tony Garibaldi’s winning field goal split the uprights. As one person told me after the game, he hadn’t seen me jump that high in 20 years.

Fans showed their enthusiasm after the game, by rushing the field to congratulate the team as players celebrated the victory. And 30 minutes after the game was over several fans continued to hang around the stadium as chatter of the Pioneers’ 3-0 start was the main topic of discussion. Fans were so excited they didn’t want to leave.

The Pioneers proved one thing ‘ and not just to me, but to many fans who watched them come from behind after Franklin County took the lead late in the game: This team will never quit.

When you’re on the sidelines, you can get a sense when players are ready to give up or just don’t have the confidence to fight back after being down. Not this team. Never once did I see one Pioneer player hang his head or say anything that showed me that they weren’t going to win that game.

As I’ve stated before, winning comes from the heart, and this team has plenty of that.

It was mentioned after the game as fans were already looking forward to this week’s match-up against White County, that maybe a caravan to Sparta might be in order.

Now, two years ago I suggested the same thing when we traveled to White County. I wasn’t too sure just how many folks would meet and form the Pioneer caravan. I was hoping for 10 cars, but boy was I surprised when over twice that many showed up at the Three Star Mall parking lot.

I’m not sure how many fans we can convince to do the same thing this year, but it sure would be nice to roll into White County with a convoy of Pioneer supporters.

Last time we filled the parking lot at White County High School. Fans showed up with coolers, baskets of food and several took a grill and did a little old-fashioned tailgating before the game.

Intimidation can go a long ways. With the Pioneers’ three-game winning streak and Pioneer fans taking over the White County field, it will just put more pressure on the Warriors and that’s something they just can’t handle.

So if you plan on going, get in line and follow the team up to Sparta. Come out and car pool with friends. The team bus will be rolling through around 4:30 p.m., so make plans to be at the Three Star Mall parking lot no latter than 4:20 and join the Pioneer caravan.

Let’s continue to show our support for the football team, and cheer the Pioneers to victory.