Life Lessons from Football

Today was the first round of football playoff action!  Kayla and Carver have been working since August 1st for this day and were both READY to play, but the day yielded unexpected life lessons.

Carver on the opposite side defensive end wearing the red long sleeve shirt.

Carver #39 on the left trying to keep his teammates from getting sick and trying not to throw up.

Carver's game was at 9:00 in Durango.  When we woke him up at 6:30, he started complaining that his stomach hurt and was moving very slowly.  Thinking he was nervous, we quickly started into our game day routine and music, but he still didn't eat very much and was moving very slowly.  He was pretty pale on the way to the game as Brett and I told him how even pros get pre-game jitters before big games and not to feel upset.  That was right before he asked Brett to pull over so he could vomit....poor guy!  After he got sick he felt much better and was ready to play.  Just after his first defensive series, I looked down the sideline only to see him throwing up again!  He played tons of minutes today, but unfortunately it was with much less spunk and intensity that usual.  Poor guy tried to stay as far as he could from the rest of his team on the sidelines so he wouldn't share anything.  Some of his coaches didn't know he was sick and were not impressed with his lack of energy, but I couldn't be more proud.  His team won 20-0 and Carver learned the important life lesson of supporting his team and giving his best even in less than perfect circumstances.  On to the Semi-finals next Saturday!!!

Kayla with the white long sleeves taking it to #77

Kayla's game was at 3:00 in Cortez.  Unfortunately her team lost their game in the last 2 minutes with an interception and a touchdown.  It was heartbreaking!   She was not the only player sobbing after the game.  They played soooo hard today and she desperately wanted to play in the Super Bowl this year.  They lost the first round of the playoffs last year as well which made today even more difficult.  She just kept saying, "I just wanted this game so badly today."  As she was crying and following her usual routine of telling her coaches thank you after the game,  I have to admit I was crying too hard to join her in thanking them.  It is just do hard to have such an abrupt ending to a season.  Needless to say, it was a very long drive back from Cortez...

Kayla to the right of #79 in the white long sleeves, firing off the line

 

Kayla absolutely loves the game of football.  I asked her one day why she plays football and she said, "Because it is hard and always challenges me.  I really love the challenge and I really love the game."  She HAS worked hard this season.  She played offensive tackle and guard this year and it was harder than last year.  She had to change her stance this year to compensate for growing about 5 inches from last year to this year and to help her change her center of gravity. 

Kayla's game face from the Pagosa game

On the way home she set her goal for next season.  She wants to play a very crucial defensive spot that will require lots of off season training and has decided to adopt a Tim Tebow quote as her mantra for the off season, "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."  She has decided she now hates the number 19 (19 seconds were left in the game when Aztec scored their touchdown...) and has decided 19 will be her rep number for her workouts and her motivation for this off season.  I can't wait to see her reach her goal in August!

So we finished the day with triumph and loss, but are very grateful for the opportunity to play the game of football.