"Regis Jesuit running back Andrew Faggella listens to music in his locker before taking on Grand Junction at Stocker Stadium in Grand Junction, Friday, Nov. 19, 2010."
"Regis Jesuit's Eystin Salum (15), Connor Lester (9), and Tim Gerken (81) take the field for warm-ups before battling Grand Junction at Stocker Stadium in Grand Junction, Friday, Nov. 19, 2010."
"Regis Jesuit wide receiver Connor McKay (11) celebrates after catching a 37-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Eystin Salum with just eight seconds remaining in the game over Grand Junction's Tyler Winder (29) at Stocker Stadium in Grand Junction, Friday, Nov. 19, 2010. Regis won 24-21."
After recovering a fumble with just four minutes remaining in the game and up 21-17, a group of Grand Junction coaches marched over to the Regis end of the press box, shouted "good try guys," slammed the door behind them and proceeded to march down to their side of the field after they thought they had just won the game.
Unfortunately for the Tiger faithful Regis had other plans.
After a defensive stop, the Regis offense took the field with 1:17 on the clock and 67 yards from the end zone. The rest was just magic.
An 18-hour day, the future of the seniors and the entire season rested on the shoulders of wide receiver Connor McKay as a 37-yard bomb floated effortlessly towards the corner of the end zone.
Cool as a cucumber, as he has been all season under the pressure, McKay snatched the ball out of the air away from a Grand Junction defender and scored the game-winning touchdown with just eight ticks left on the scoreboard behind him. What seemed improbable was now just part of history.
As I switched cameras to get a wider perspective, McKay celebrated by holding the ball into the air like he had done all season but this time it meant so much more.
The four hour bus ride home was now something to look forward to, something I was dreading just a few seconds prior to that pass.
I've seen some amazing things happen in sports on TV and in person but being just feet away from a play that defined a season, so far, for 80+ young men lit my goosebumps up in a way I'll never forget.
Bring on Cherokee Trail and the semi-finals for the first time since 1997. Oh, and it's a day game ("yay" goes the photographer).
-JCE
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