Tied for first place with the opponent. Their backs against the wall. Home crowd against them. Fourteen seconds left. Down by 3.
It’s always interesting to see who steps up their game and wants it more. Sometimes it’s a single player and other times it’s a team. Kamau Jackson was that player for the Wranglers. He single-handedly carried the Wranglers on his back as he had one of the best performances of his career. His refuse-to-lost attitude spread throughout the team.
Before halftime, Jackson plunged into the end zone from two yards out, refusing to go down under the defensive pressure. The Wranglers couldn’t hold the lead and gave up a long touchdown pass from the Sharks quarterback Fran Johnson. The Wranglers and Sharks traded touchdown after touchdown as neither could stop the other. It was evident both teams knew the stakes and didn’t want to be the team to lose.
Entering the fourth quarter, the Wranglers trailed 32-27. Andy Hall finally threw his first touchdown pass on the night, as Mel Long grabbed the 23-yard bomb. Late in the game, the Sharks Kenyada Tatum scored a rushing touchdown to give them the lead at 45-42.
Tied for first place with the opponent. Their backs against the wall. Home crowd against them. Fourteen seconds left. Down by 3.
Whether a team succeeds depends on how players react in high pressure situations such as this. What are the possibilities? The quarterback could throw an interception. The running back could fumble. The defense could hold them.
Or …
The Wranglers turned to go-to man Kamau Jackson. Jackson took the handoff and rumbled seven yards into the end zone to give the Wranglers the win and sole possession of first place. This never-say-die attitude has propelled the Wranglers to an above .500 record for the first time all season.
I’m a believer.
This article appears in June 13 • 2008.