I have seen a lot of football in my years as a journalist.
Too many to count.
But, on Tuesday, I saw one of the most exciting games in one of the best atmospheres in a long time.
The strange thing was that it was a middle school football game.
Let me preface by saying that I have not been able to attend many middle school football games just because of scheduling and the like.
The varsity schedule keeps my feet running plenty, but last night was a little different.
After receiving e-mails and phone calls on Tuesday afternoon about the Southeast Junior High Lancer eighth-grade football team and their shot at becoming undefeated for the season, I made a check of my schedule to see what my agenda had in store.
Looking back, I was fortunate to have a free moment to attend because I bore witness to a very good football game.
Heading into their game, the Lancers had outscored their opponents 202-24 and they were facing the Girard Trojans.
I later learned that a loss by Southeast would create a logjam atop the CCCJL football standings with Frontenac taking on Baxter Springs that night.
That peaked my curiosity.
Imagine my surprise when I got to Southeast and the score was tied 0-0 after the first quarter.
Both teams seemed poised on defense but, in the back of my mind, I was anticipating big things.
With their first possession of the second quarter, the Lancers utilized a strong running game with quarterback Bryce Burdette, Quinten Tyree and Morgan Johnson to drive deep into Girard territory.
That set up an option run by Burdette into the end zone from 5 yards out to put the Lancers up 8-0.
That set the near full crowd on the Southeast side of the field into a near frenzy.
Then, the Lancers capitalized on defense when Caleb Spangler sacked Anthony Scholes on third down forcing the Trojans to punt.
On their first possession of the second half, the Trojans rode the back of Scholes into the end zone to pull the Trojans to within 2 at 8-6.
You could hear a hush go over the Lancer side of the field while the near full visitor’s side erupted.
Then things got very interesting in the fourth quarter.
Southeast turned the ball over on downs then Girard went to work.
Again, the Trojans rode the back of Scholes as he was able to score on a big 50-yard run to give Girard the lead.
You could cut the tension with a knife after that.
The Lancers failed to sustain a drive, giving the ball back to Girard with 1 minute, 30 seconds left.
Game over right?
Wrong.
Girard turned the ball over on downs after the Lancer defense held strong against the Trojan running game.
With the ball and just under a minute to play, it became standing-room only on both sides of the field.
Girard started with a sack of Burdette then rushed Burdette into making an incomplete pass.
On third down, Burdette hit pay-dirt with a 69-yard bobbled touchdown pass to Josh Thompson for the game-winner.
You could see the excitement on the Lancer sidelines and the wind taken out of the sails of the Trojans.
All-in-all, the game had all the excitement of playoff football.
Both teams seemed to fight for their lives and played almost mistake-free in the second half.
With the win, the Lancers capped a great season of perfection but the Trojans gave them all that they could handle for all four quarters.
Both teams gave solid representation to their schools and their towns in the game and it turned out to be a great environment for football.
Maybe I start freeing up my schedule to watch more middle school football down the road.

Matthew Clark can be reached at matthew.clark@morningsun.net or at 620-231-2600, Ext. 140