Pee-Wees and a Wolf!

Kids Playing Football & Learning About Life

INTRODUCTION

So this is an imaginary short story from the 1970’s about a pee-wee football game. The teams playing in this game were not familiar with each other….they played in different leagues, but both teams were champions.

From Buffalo, NY it was the Bills Bombers (BB’s) - a fiery bunch of pre-teens whipped into shape by coaches who knew what it takes to get the kids to focus on the game and play as a team.

From Wytheville, VA twas the Wytheville Wherewithal’s (WW’s). An odd name they had to distract opposing teams, but well coached they were and they had the wherewithal to bring the goods and collect the V’s. The kids on the team came from hard working folk - plus they had a ringer - he was their halfback.

The BB’s ended the regular season 8-1 and then went on to smash their arch-rival the Kenmore Packers in the league final. The Packers were the only team the BB’s lost to in the regular season, but in the Championship game, the BB’s showed who was boss with definitiveness and confidence as they sailed to an easy victory achieving a final record of 9-1. They were well tuned by the end of the season…bunch of scrappy kids from Buffalo who talked a lot of smack, but played together when the ball was snapped.

The WW’s went 10-0 and they dominated all others on the field this season - they were well-coached, precise in performance, and ruthlessly efficient in execution. They defeated all they played against - indomitable they were in their minds and their record was the proof. Their half-back was a force on the field, so strong, swift and agile. His teammates were well coached to maximize the value of his rigor. They also had a fine defensive line of rugged hill-boys some of whom were now over the weight limit, but the coaches agreed - let the boys play. This season the WW’s had only had one touchdown scored upon them, not counting the “pick-6” at the end of a game when the 2nd stringers were playing after the outcome was already determined.

Well, it turns out the head coach of the WW’s knew the head coach of the BB’s as they had been teammates in the NFL in the 50’s - they were tough, meticulous, and practiced in the art of coaching young boys in pee-wee football. Both coaches were good men and years ago as their careers were coming to an end they made an agreement while drinking porter to coach pee-wee football wherever they landed after their NFL days were over. Now in the 50’s, the players in the NFL didn’t get paid like they do today as the average salary was about $6000 per season. So, neither of these fine gentleman coaches were financially wealthy, but they didn’t care about the money really - they shared a love for the game and they wanted to teach young men to play as a team….and they made a deal with each other as follows:

If our teams win the championship each in the same season, then we will arrange a game between your team and mine. We will flip a coin to determine which team is the home team and which team travels to the other team’s home place

And so in the year of 1978 the BB’s and WW’s won their respective leagues and the coaches arranged for a coin flip fair, and the BB’s got to be the away team traveling out of their home place to Wytheville, VA. For many of the boys this would be the furthest away from home they had ever been. The players were committed, a few cheerleaders agreed to go, and a bus was procured. On a cold blustery April day the BB team and the coaches and a few wives and a few cheerleaders got on the bus and departed Buffalo early in the morning with a total of 46 passengers and the coach was the bus driver.

I was one of the players on the BB’s and my name is Ken. I played safety on defense and center on offense. My best pal Cricket was with me - he was the cornerback on the same side of the field as me on defense and on offense he was the QB. Cricket sat next to one of the cheerleaders for most of the bus ride, but in the 70’s we didn’t really worry too much about moving around in a moving bus and us kids were super excited about playing another game with each other. The bus ride was fun and full of anticipation……..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~End of Intro~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 1 - Rosters (BB’s)

In 1979 Easter was on April 15 and most of the kids had the whole week before Easter off from school. So, after the teams won the 1978 Championship Games respective in the late fall, the coaches decided the Game Day would be Sunday April 8 at 1 pm. The coin was flipped and the game location determined - it would be in Wytheville, VA. Coach Quinlin and the parents signed the paperwork to allow the kids who would be on the bus to get the day off from school - this made the whole adventure even more fun for us.

The original plan had been for the BB’s to leave at 7:00 am on April 6 (a Friday), but due to an unfortunate mishap there was a 2-hour delay while those who were on time waited for those who had been delayed due to the unfortunate mishap, which I never found out what it was…..Coach Quinlin was upset, but delays happen and some of our best players were amongst the ones delayed - I wasn’t one of them - I just basically sat on the bus for two hours, but we didn’t mind because we were full of anticipation.

The delay was due to the weather situation I reckon and here is the data on the day we departed - April 6, 1979.

(Link: https://weatherspark.com/h/d/20372/1979/4/6/Historical-Weather-on-Friday-April-6-1979-in-Buffalo-New-York-United-States)

As you can see, it was cold and blustery - plus it was snowing.

But by 9:00 am everybody was on the bus and we departed with Coach Quinlin the bus driver. I mentioned, there were 46 passengers (including the driver) on the bus that departed Buffalo, NY on a cold windy day in April 1979, and here are some of the folks on the bus.

1. Coach Quinlin - former NFL player and bus driver

2. Coach Quinlin’s wife - her name was Margaret.

3. 2 other coaches and 1 other coach wife - her name was Colleen.

4. 5 cheerleaders - they were baby dolls - Linda, Maureen, Michelle, Diane, and Claire - they were fine young lassies and enjoyed cheering during the game and leading cheers and whatnot - they were fun and the players treated them with respect for the most part.

5. 23 players including Cricket and I - it was most of the starting lineups (offense and defense) along with some players on 2nd string, but most of them participated in special teams. We had our full crew that typically played in the games in the 1978 season. We all considered ourselves tough blue-collar kids and we loved Buffalo and we were a team proud. The coaches discouraged any of us getting cocky, but remember we were mainly 12, and 13 years old (there might of been one kid who was 11). I was 13 at the time as was my pal Cricket.

6. 13 parents, a few who were couples, and other parents who came alone to support the team, have a break from work, and make sure nobody got out of line although that wasn’t foremost on their minds - they knew this was an adventure and they were happy their kids had such good coaches.

So, there was a bit of snow on the ground when we left and the wind was truly hollering, but us kids on the bus gave it no heed - we were used to it and Coach Quinlin in addition to being a former NFL linesman, and a hell of a good coach for us kids, was also an experienced bus driver as that was his main job in Buffalo and how he paid the bills. Margaret, the coach’s wife, was a beautiful woman even us kids could tell and she was most patient and most capable at making sure everything got taken care of properly - she rarely came to any practices, but we all got to know her at team gatherings at the Quinlin place. I think I sort of had a crush on Margaret and she used to wink at me.

Two other players on our team worth mention are the middle linebacker, his last name was Kish and our main running back a rock solid small package dynamo named M Panepinto - we just called him “MP” - he was not easy to tackle - I can prove it. A couple times in full practice when playing serious offense versus defense, me and MP encountered each other face to face in the moment - he and I both played pretty serious and like I said he was not easy to tackle, but I was the best tackler on the team and he was the best runner and so you must know in practice we often encountered one another. Sometimes I tackled him and other times he left me in the dust - we made each other better and I’m glad MP was on our team.

Kish was the kind of middle linebacker all coaches dream about. Strong, solid and taller than most, smart, quick, and fearsome. I was the defensive captain as I had proven my ability and my sense of the game - captains got to be smart and keep their wits about them at all times. I was sort of a smaller version of Kish and for awhile they played me at middle linebacker, but I was a better safety and so I was glad that season I got to go back to play my favorite position.

Cricket was the glue of the team, he was a radiant light and the cheerleaders liked to be close by to him and he took it all in. Cricket’s agility was the best on the team bar none, but he did have a weakness in that he was easily injured - weak bones I reckon now thinking about it after the fact. Cricket if you could catch him was so much easier to tackle than MP.

The two other coaches were Jack and Sean, and while they never played in the NFL (Jack got close he played college ball), they loved the game and it gave them pleasure to teach us kids how to be good teammates. They remembered the coaches they had. You know they say, with good coaches even a bunch of misfits can be league champions and I guess that is the best way to describe the Bill’s Bomber players in 1979. Some of us, not me, but some of the players had already started a growth spurt at the end of the 78 season and we are fortunate that is the case because the boys in Wytheville, VA turning into men had already experienced something similar - this was going to be a game to remember.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ End of Chapter 1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 2 - Rosters (WW’s)

In 1979 Easter was on April 15. The Coach of the WW’s, his name was Ray Nitcheek. Ray was to put it simply - a force of nature. Everything Ray worked on he worked on with fierce determination. Ray’s birthday happened to be on April 15 and he considered this a good omen when he got to be the opposing coach against Coach Quinlin’s little pee-wees. Ray knew coach Bill well - he wasn’t surprised Bill named the team after himself - but Ray respected Bill and vice versa and while they often had heated words they never laid a hand on each other in animosity - they were good friends and good coaches of pee-wee kids. They loved each day as each day happened and there is no denying they loved the game.

One word that would not be used to describe the WW pee-wees is little. These boys were strong, athletic, down to earth, and just waiting for a coach like Ray to help them work together. Ray did not have a wife, but he did have a few girlfriends around and some of them were in Wytheville. One of the girlfriend in Wytheville, she was a sweet sharp darling with quick wit, and one time she said to Ray - you ain’t got the wherewithal to do that! She was correct, but later Ray realized that would be the name of the pee-wee football team he coached.

So her name was Jackie and she was the pride of Wytheville - she had a real sense for wherewithal and she was a fine women, a fine lady, a fun girl, but a serious mind not to be trifled with. Rumor has it, Coach Ray only came to Wytheville cause Jackie was there and now thinking about it after-the-fact I think that was a rumor true. They were soon to be married - he got down on his knees and kneeled before her and looked up to her with a sadness in his eyes and said: “Jackie - will you marry me?”

She said yes and this all happened in the 1978 season.

So this is the roster of the WW’s - or at least the main players who would be there to greet the BB’s when they arrived to play the game of league champions.

1. You got “Crispy” who was the quarterback (QB) and he was lanky and strong.

2. The offensive line included Joel, Charlie, Don, and Blackie. Blackie had coal-black hair as they used to like to say around Wytheville.

3. The defensive line was Blackie, Jack, Don, and Charlie. Joel was the middle linebacker on defense.

4. Crispy didn’t play on defense unless they knew it might be a passing play. But he did play on special teams because he insisted upon it.

5. Oh yeah, and you have the team halfback who also played cornerback - his name was Phipps Boomy. I’m not kidding that was his name, but PB shall we call him was born to be a halfback and he had the demeaner to live up to what he was born to be.

Coach Ray came to the town seeking Jackie mainly. Still, whether that happened or not he figure, why not - why not coach some pee-wees……and then after a year or two he had a championship team ready to face Coach Quinlin.

The boys on the WW’s were really looking forward to facing these Yankees from Buffalo. They desired another V and they liked prevailing. Their record was perfect!

Two days before the game, the WW’s were together enjoying home field advantage and getting in some practice. The boys were playing hard as always but there was a bit of frivolity to it all….a bit too much one of the assistant coaches thought. Coach Ray noticed as well and advised caution to the boys on the team and said this to them:

One time I saw the whole offensive line come upon Quinlin, he is the coach of the BB’s, in unison and seemed he was swamped within them and the rest of us felt like we let him down, but then one by one Quinlin dismissed the players in his face and he tackled the half-back - so don’t be cocky boys he said with effect - the BB’s ain’t like the other teams in Wytheville.

I should add that the BB players would have been advised to get this same sort of speech from Coach Quinlin, but we had it many times and we took it when he gave it. We understood and that is why even though we talked a lot of smack, when the ball was snapped we played serious and we knew the WW’s were champions - this is why we were so excited about the game. I should also add, that many of the WW kids came from a place where there was a mill in the town and the mill was part of what held them together.

Here below is an image of the mill - this mill is closed down now, but in 1979 it was still operating.

Now what you are looking at is some of the spinners in the mill who apparently were asked to pose for a picture. It is described here and do you notice the fellas in the background lookin on?

https://musicofourmountains.com/fries-and-the-washington-mill/

I’ll have you know, some of the ladies in that picture were the grandma’s of the players on the WW’s in 1979 including one who was the grandma of PB. I’ll point her out - she is the one on the far left in the 1st row per their perspective and let me tell you - she was a fine spinner - she had a firm mind and a good sense of humor. Now the young lady in the middle of the first row, she was the grandma of both Don and Charlie - you know…the players on both the offensive and defensive lines and she was the great aunt of Blackie. She was one tough fine lady and now one ought realize these WW boys with good coaches and good grandma’s….well, let there be no doubt they were tough, determined, rugged, strong, and willing to give it their all for the sake of the team. They were team players and they had the record to prove it - they were the best in their minds.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ End of Chapter 2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 3 - Rules of the Game

The game of “American Football” is played on a field 100 yards long and I can’t remember how wide the field is - I think 30 yards (edit - 53.3 yards I think it is)? The game is played between two team who field 11 players each. The image below show typical offense and defense lineups:

The diagram before edits came from here: https://howtheyplay.com/team-sports/Offensive-and-Defensive-Football-Positions-Explained

The “O” are offense and the “X” are defense. There are many variations on how the teams line up at the line of scrimmage, but the line of scrimmage is what I added to the image in RED (it should be a straight line - the O’s face the X’s at the line of scrimmage). There are many ways for the O’s and the X’s to arrange themselves. In the image above the players who are tyically considered “linesman” are highlighted in yellow - they typically are the bigger fellas who face against each other directly play after play at the line of scrimmage. The “pinkish” X’s are linebackers on defense and sometimes there are 4 of them as shown in the image and sometimes there are 3. So, for the setup above it is referred to as a 3-4 defense meaning 3 lineman and 4 linebackers, but the 4-3 setup is just as common and that is what we used on our pee-wee team in the 70’s (4 lineman and 3 linebackers). The two “purplish” X’s off to the side are the aptly named “cornerbacks” and they protect the edges. The two teal X’s furthest back from the line of scrimmage are the “safety’s” and they are all around protectors who fill gaps and whose main job is to prevent any big play from happening - they participate in all the plays of course and can make tackles at the line of scrimmage (especially if they are “blitzing”…which means rushing the quarterback), but if opposing teams get too many big plays then any player knows their days as being a safety are numbered.

For offense you have backfield players and receivers. The backfield players in the old days were the quarterback, the halfback, and the fullback. Nowadays, fullbacks, whose main job was to block for the halfback, aren’t in the lineup nearly as much as they used to be. The receivers on offense in the image above include two closest to the edges and one who lines up next to one of the linesman on either side (referred to as the “tight end”). In the old days we used to call the far out receiver a “flanker”, but nowadays they refer to them usually as either “wide receiver” (on the edges) or “slot receiver” (positioned between the linesman and a wide receiver).

The goal of the offense is to move the team forward and push the defense back until they get to the end of the field where there is this place called an “endzone”. As one ought deduce the game of “football” is played with a ball and why the word “foot” is there I have no clue, but the ball is a 3-dimensional oval shape that can be thrown if desired. Anyhow, basically if any offensive player ends up in the endzone with a ball in his (or her) hands, then that is what is referred to as a “touchdown”. The main purpose of the defense is to keep the offense from getting a touchdown, and sometimes, it is not very common but it occurs, a defensive player will somehow get their hands on the ball and if they take it to the opposite endzone, then that is a touchdown for that team! Can you get a sense as to how much fun football is for pee-wee kids to play? I sure hope so because it is a big part of America.

OK, now super succinctly, I’m going to tell the other rules of the game and if you want to know more, then search for it yourself.

1. After a kickoff, the offense will take the field unless the kickoff is returned for a touchdown (as already defined) or there is a turnover (when one team loses the ball to the other) on the kickoff play - special teams are the teams that play when somebody is kicking the ball…hmmm.

2. When the offense takes the field they have 4 plays (“4 downs”) to get a first down and a first down is achieved after 10 yards have been gained in 4 plays or less from the original line of scrimmage when it was 1st down - penalties excepted. If the first down is not gained after the 4th play, then that is called a “loss on downs” and the ball is handed over to the defense and then they hand it to their offensive team and say - now tis your turn. This is why usually, if you think the odds are against you when you know you are on other teams side of the field (the touchdown of your opponent is closer to you), that typically on 4th down the offensive team will punt the ball away to the other team - so don’t despair if you play good defense - maybe that is why it is called “foot” ball, because the act of punting means a punter kicks the ball as far as possible and then the players charge down the field to tackle the unfortunate player chose to receive the punt - did I mention that Crispy was the punt returner for the Wherewithals? If I didn’t, well now you know. I won’t deny I loved playing on special teams - it was when we got to run full speed.

3. Now the game of football has lots of rules, probably too many, but some of the rules make good sense - like there is a penalty if somebody on defense jumps offsides (they encroach beyond the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped) or likewise if an offensive player moves before the center snaps the ball (this is called “illegal motion”) and just like defensive “off sides” it is a 5-yard penalty because think about it - the defensive team is just sitting there waiting for the ball to be snapped and they are waiting to be triggered when they sense movement in the offensive line….if somebody moves before the ball is snapped can you blame the defensive player for reacting to that? I don’t think so, but sometimes it can be tricky for the referees to decide what happened first that is why good referees are important if not critical.

4. The best referees are ones whose calls are not subject to dispute and who make sure the game is played fair and after the game nobody even gives them any consideration, but often the “refs” make calls questionable and that diminishes the value of the game, so having good refs is critical - that is why the BB’s and the WW’s were blessed in their game because the refs had not impact on the outcome - they called the game fair and they were very professional and it was evident.

5. So, when an offensive team gets close to the endzone of the opponents where a potential touchdown can be scored, sometimes they may not get to the endzone but if they are close enough they can try for a field goal normally when it is 4th down by kicking the ball between the endzone goalposts. A field goal is worth 3 points and a touchdown is worth 6 points. After a touchdown is scored, the team that scored it can kick an easy extra point or they can risk it and try to run a play from the 2-yard line or some such that if they get to the endzone again they get 2 points. 2 points are also scored if you tackle the opposing team in their own end zone - when that happens, which is somewhat unusual, it is called a “safety” - all safeties worth their salt dream about tackling the opposing QB and scoring a safety for their team but I digress.

6. I can say with confidence there are a hell of lot more rules to this game, but I think the every-day reader knows enough now to understand the game of American Football and so consider this - the kids playing pee-wee played it starting at 11 years old normally and they were kids turning into adults and is this not the time for them to learn about teamwork, rules, and playing together? I think it is.

7. Later on if I think of more rules I should have described, I’m gonna come back and edit this chapter 3, but for the time being I’m gonna leave the rules at that and get back to the story proper.

Both the WW’s and BB’s knew the rules of the game. They both played fair and they both played to win. Like I said already at the end of Chapter 1 - this is going to be a game to remember. I should know - I was there - I played in the game. I’ll never forget it - it is a big part of who I am today.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ End of Chapter 3 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 4 - The First Play of the Game

The bus trip, as all hope when making a long journey was basically uneventful and the players got to the destination. There was a “hang-up” in Pittsburg, but Coach Quinlin kept his eyes on task and although there were delays, the team arrived at the destination just outside of Wytheville and a place where coach Quinlin had a friend who offered up the rooms for free. It was around midnight on April 6/7 when the players finally rested their heads on the pillow - at least most of the players.

Some of the BB’s had napped on the bus trip and with all the excitement and anticipation, they really weren’t tired when they arrived. The same is the case for two of the cheerleaders, but that is a story for another day.

Coach Quinlin barked at us all with unusual intensity as he was stretching his tired legs and said to us kids - GO TO BED!

Some of the players listened to the coach and some didn’t. Oh well - kids will be kids. The coach slept like a rock that night with Margaret by his side. Margaret slept as well because she loved her man with all her being. So - that is that.

In the late morning (11 am) after a few slackers awoke and had a breakfast with the rest of us, the BB’s headed to the practice field. It was April 7, 1979 in the Wytheville, VA area and the coaches wanted to settle the players down and help them focus on the game scheduled for the next day. Little did Coach Quinlin know, but Coach Nitcheek also wanted his team to get in an easy practice before the game, and this is where coach Nitcheek may have made an error in judgement because he know where the BB’s were going to practice (Coach Quinlin had worked this out in advance), and he decided to take the WW’s there. And so when the BB’s got back on the bus to go to the practice, the WW’s were already there! This is the first time the players got a chance to encounter each other face-to-face, but at a distance.

When Coach Q pulled the bus into the practice facility he muttered under his breath such that only Margaret could hear - that mother effer he whispered. Then he parked the bus and the team debarked the vehicle not knowing what Coach Q already noticed….but the kids on the BB’s were quick if nothing else and soon word was relayed back upon those still on the bus that the WW’s were practicing as well.

Game on these kids from Buffalo in seeming unison realized and they played to WIN.

Now, for your edification, per the link provided in Chapter 1 here is the weather in the Wytheville area on the day the team practice together in close proximity. Before I post it, let me say, this was the mistake that Coach N make because he gave the BB’s a chance to see his his team in action and while the BB’s may not have been “as big” as these Virginia Hill Boys - they had quick wit and they used the information they noted in their minds while they watched the WW’s to their advantage. Coach N should have known better, but there had been so many pleasant evenings with Jackie lately he might of been thinking he was invincible and he thought he could intimidate a bunch of fiery pre-teens from Buffalo - that was his first mistake, but he realized it soon enough.

“Game on” as they say and here is the weather on that day:

The boys from Buffalo felt the weather was mild and comfortable, but the fellas on the WW’s were wondering why the coach wanted them to practice somewhere unfamiliar.

I got out off the bus after the word had been passed back and being I was the defensive captain I won’t deny I was interested in any good information that might be available. So, first thing I said to Cricket when I got off the bus was - “did they notice us”? He didn’t have to answer and I decided a scouting mission might be in order, but little did I know that that is when I was going to meet the wolf! Or should I say, the wolf was going to meet me - I think it was the latter.

I looked at Cricket in a manner he had seen before and he knew. I said to the fella, a fine up and coming defensive player - how about you and I go check out the WW’s. He smiled in the way he did that I appreciated because I understood him and he me, and then we ambled off to the side and best we could tell nobody noticed.

There was a tree line around the fields and we headed for the trees…..

So me and Jimmy T without making ourselves obvious strolled casually away from the group departing the bus and headed towards the trees. Jimmy T let me say was renown amongst the Buffalo kids - mainly in basketball. If he was open on the court no matter how far away, there was always a chance Jimmy T would get a swish. He was smooth and confident, but just like me, he was small for his age and unfortunately unlike me he was not bulky. But we all wanted Jimmy T on the team and we were glad he was with us. Jimmy T made a big difference for us - that is just the way he was.

Jimmy T was 12 and in 7th Grade (I was in 8th Grade at the time) and he and I both were small in stature but we had big ideas and we both played to win. I said Jimmy - “do you believe we can beat this hill boys team” and he responded - “well it just depends Ken”. I said - lets go find out a bit more about the team we are playing against and he laughed and we found a trail in the tree line around the fields and we commenced to observing the WW’s. I won’t deny when I looked at those big boys I shared a glance with Jimmy T and he noticed what I had seen as well. We both realized - odds are we ain’t gonna prevail going down the middle on these fellas - we need to be quicker then them. We need to outrun them.

We watched the WW’s for as long as we thought we could without our absence being noticed and I don’t think they noticed us watching them at all - they seemed a bit out of sorts and confabulated if you know what I mean. But, let me tell you this, while we were “hunting” the WW’s a wolf had taken notice of us strolling by and the wolf was watching us close. Odds are that would have been that except when we headed back to join the BB’s in practice after seeing enough, we were just following the trail back and then an indigo bunting chirped a chirp that seemed undeniable and Jimmy T and I being just the pre-teens we basically were couldn’t help but wonder what the indigo bunting was chirping about, so we decided to check that out as well because seriously - listen to this:

♫ Indigo bunting - song / call / voice / sound. (bird-sounds.net) - https://www.bird-sounds.net/indigo-bunting/

(the picture above is posted in honor of my friend named Rowan)

You ever heard a tune like that before - well that is why we felt compelled to check it out. We wanted to see the beak of the bird it was emanating from - at least I know I did, and Jimmy T was always game for an excursion.

The woods here were not what we were accustomed to and in our efforts to discover what the indigo bunting was trying to express we found ourselves heading down into a little ravine where there was a creek with stones for stepping on and we followed the call of the bunting. We got down there in short order and sure enough there was the blue indigo so fine and then when we were on the creek proper in a sudden moment seemingly out of nowhere we both looked up to discover a wolf staring at us with solemn eyes. The wolf had evident wisdom and it inquired to us boys in the moment why we were playing this game.

We had no answer and then the wolf in a heartbeat was gone.

Jimmy T and I did not discuss this because we both knew we ought not have been distracted by the indigo bunting and we returned to our team solemnly and nobody besides maybe Margaret even knew we had gone on a scouting mission. We both knew we had just experience something special and we didn’t want to break the spell of it.

We told the other players later that evening during dinner what we had discovered about the WW’s, but neither Jimmy T nor I discussed the wolf with anybody else nor with each other for that matter. Just to be honest about it we didn’t know what to make of the wolf we saw or at least thought we did and being we tried to be all aware and whatnot there was no reason to discuss it I reckon after the fact, but we both knew that wolf meant something in a way we couldn’t figure. Nonetheless, I suspect Jimmy T just like me had doubts about whether what we saw was real - later on our doubts would be put to rest.

The next day after the practice, and after both teams had a good night’s rest, the coin was flipped, the BB’s won the toss and elected to receive the ball. That was the first play of the game and it was memorable, but not as memorable as when the wolf re-emerged. That was unforgettable and I remember to this day and it changed me forever - me Jimmy T and Cricket as well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ End of Chapter 4 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 5 - The First Quarter

So, I guess I should just tell that I have a confession to make and something to admit. The confession is that while I am the “Defensive Captain”, I don’t think I am the “best tackler” on the team. I might have been early in the season, but some of the 12-year old’s have really improved their game and Kish is a tackling machine. So, let me set the record straight on that.

What I have to admit, is besides my “sense” of the game, there is another reason why I’m the Captain. It is because I can whistle the clearest crispest tunes with distinction and us Bills Bombers figured out a way especially by the end of the season to use that to our advantage - that is why in the second half of the regular season, nobody scored a touchdown against our starting lineup - nobody. This whistling way of communicating on defense in pee-wee football was something we created as a team and it was new and never done before and not even the WW’s would have the wherewithal to “solve the code”. It was sort of our “secret weapon” and Coach Q - was the one who made it happen from a “team perspective”.

So, the WW’s kicked the ball on the kickoff play to start the 1st Quarter. This was the first play, and we had practiced the day before after Jimmy T and I returned. We had sort of a “special special special team” on the field at this time based on a desire to send an early message per the reconnaissance info collected by Jimmy T and I after which we had practiced. Plus, Coach Q was still sort of annoyed that the WW’s were at the same obscure practice field we should have had to our own, and so he agreed to try this play even though we all knew there were risks involved. This was a risk we knew as the “away” team was one worth taking, so we did, and the rest is history.

~~~~~~ kick-off of the game ~~~~~~~~

The kick-off was decent for pee-wee play and we typically had a lineup with about 6 players up closer to the charging kicking team, 2 players back from them to catch anybody got through too quick, then 2 behind them there for many reasons and 1 in the back intended to run the ball just been kicked. MP was our “one in the back” and I was amongst the 2 in front of him per his perspective.

This is what we decided to do as a team…..and remember we had played with each other now for years….this stuff became innate to us since we were so well-coached. It all depended on how the ball was kicked, but if it was a conventional kick up the middle (as it was) it was decided, we would essentially “let” all the players on the opposing team on our “left side” pass through, even though an effort (a fake one) was made to slow them up…..then after making the “fake effort” (call it a feint) the up front players would begin shifting to the right side of the field heading back.

I hope you can imagine this in your mind (EDIT: Maybe I ought make a diagram of it - I think I will) and truly we were relying on MP to be the one who made this play work. Jimmy T, who was to the left in the beginning of the play with respect to the two of us, caught the kickoff and headed to the left. MP had recognized it was going to be this way once he saw the ball aloft and he shifted to the left as far and as quick as he could. I shifted left as well in a meandering sort of way. Well Jimmy T caught the ball and as we had practiced began heading to the left in a trotting sort of way at first - Jimmy T was quick and this was his preferred way to move with the ball, so he had to consciously slow himself down, but we had practiced and he knew the play - we all did.

I continued to meander and now it was up to Jimmy T and MP. At the split moment before he was going to be “under wraps” Jimmy T pitched the ball back to MP who was by now hauling ass to the right and being we all played together MP caught the ball on the run. Then, it was time for my role in the play. One of the WW’s caught on to what was fixing to happen - I think it was Crispy - and I blocked the living daylights out of him fair and square. He never saw me coming and I put a licking on Crispy before he laid a hand on MP. “Finger-licking good” we used to say after that when we discussed it.

Then MP did some of his “magic” footwork on the fly and his momentum continued to increase and let me tell you…I already said, he was a small package dynamo full of muscle and not easily tackled. Being we had almost a 2-1 advantage on blockers against the remaining defenders still in the play, it is not even necessary to say the BB’s, the Bills Bombers scored a Touchdown on the kickoff play and the away crowd along with the cheerleaders from both teams erupted in celebration. The score was 6-0 and this play put the message home to the WW’s what Coach N told them prior about the BB’s just a few days ago.

We were ecstatic, but we knew it was just the first play!

(This is the diagram It shows the players positions on the field when the kickoff commenced and the intended plan as to how they would move on the field - with the diagram presented and the text provided - come on - it is almost as if you were there on the field in your mind! Now, the diagram can only go so far in the play as time transpires and that is why we all knew it was up to MP to make this play happen)

MP did it - God Bless him - and the score was 6-0…..we made the extra point after that play, and then the score was 7-0. I ain’t gonna type another bit till I get the diagram here and I got the tools to do it - I really think this could be a good pee-wee play and I tried one time to be a coach when I was living in Baton Rouge, but they didn’t know me from hell or highwater, so I don’t blame them for not letting me join them teaching pee-wees about teamwork…..but I can’t deny, sometimes I wonder - what if I had been a coach?)

Here is an the image for the play (a “snippet” of it with lines of time…):

So, we knew this would give us “bad” field position, but we decided without much discourse, lets just kick a “squib kick” after this unexpected play and good fortune. Let’s not push our luck. We had a real good kicker on our team for pee-wee football, I think he was the 11-year old on the team and his name will go unmentioned. But he kicked the squib kick, and I think it was Joel who got under the ball - he had to move a bit to catch it and so his momentum was not in the ideal direction. We tackled Joel on the 39 yard line and at that point it was first and 10 for the WW’s. It was the first chance to truly meet each other face to face.

Crispy, who was on the kickoff play settled easily into the huddle as the WW’s grouped up with a bit of mettle. They sort of weren’t pleased as they felt these Yankees had a bit too much attitude. It was first and 10, Crispy handed the ball to PB and PB with speed proceeded to cruise through the middle of the line of scrimmage and then eff me - Kish missed, but I didn’t. I tackled PB after an 8 yard gain. It was now 2nd and 2 and my shoulder hurt just a bit….

I’ve had a hurt shoulder before - it usually goes away. I said to the team quick, fellas we got to plug up the middle. They snapped the ball back directly to the halfback on a short count and we all tackled the hell out of PB when he got the ball again. When Cricket got up from the pile Crispy sort of nudged him sideways…..that was Crispy’s first mistake. Cricket did not play nice on the field of battle. It’s not like Cricket wasn’t a fine fella, but if you touched Cricket in a certain way, that sort of set things off in his mind, and several of us saw what Crispy did and at that moment we knew how this game was fixing to go.

So needless to say besides one play which was close, the two teams went back and forth on each other, but nobody could even get a first down. It was a defensive battle in the 1st Quarter and as the quarter came to an end the teams whether they knew it or not had sort of built up a bit of respect for each other because it had been a long time since either of them had played a worthy opponent.

Meanwhile, Cricket’s ire seemed to temper, but we all knew better. We all knew he couldn’t ever forget the time somebody laid a hand on him in an act of domination or disrespect in the mind of Cricket - and we saw it - we knew it for what it was - Crispy was trying to tell Cricket who was top dog. This was truly an offense we all knew in Cricket’s mind demanded retribution and we knew Cricket did not forget. We also knew Cricket would choose his time to do this - we all to a certain degree had experienced it first hand - I knew Cricket well. One time I had this matchstick in my hand - you know the old wooden type and it slipped out inside a garage where construction was occurring and lo-and-behold that matchstick landed upright - like standing up. I pointed it out to Cricket, his brother, and we all agreed - that was most unlikely. We laughed at the anomaly of it and then went out and played another game I reckon. Somehow that event has stuck in my mind.

I was one of the few who Cricket basically never tried to intimidate cause I think he knew what would happen if he tried - I had some pretty tough brothers and I was the youngest. So Cricket knew this - he had one older brother a stout fine fella and Cricket’s dad was something else - a live wire one could say. But, I won’t deny one time I played it wrong and tried to intercede in one of Cricket’s many conflicts, and looking back I know now that was a mistake made then. But maybe I needed to do this to learn a lesson? That is one way of thinking about it. As I recall, the members of that fight were later both members of the championship basketball team together the year after - so funny how things work out sometimes I reckon.

~~~~ good memories last a lifetime ~~~~

Our blood was flowing, the BB’s and the WW’s and both teams knew it was a battle to be remembered between two teams both champions who now faced one another.

The first quarter ended the score was BB’s 7. WW’s 0.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ End of Chapter 5 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 6 - The 2nd Quarter

So, there is an image still to be placed in the 1st Quarter of the kickoff play, and I got it in my mind and I’m gonna post it if things go the way I want them to go because I like to share with no strings attached.

But speaking of images, here are the conditions during the day of the game proper that we commenced at 1 pm on Sunday April 8, 1979

(Editor note: the data from Wytheville no longer seems to be available, but this is close enough - it is from West Virginia - just a bit to the north in Mercer County Airport)

So when the game started at 1 pm, it was warm and balmy for us Buffalo Boys - about 66 degrees F. Good temperature for starting a football game in our minds and we didn’t mind sweating.

Better yet, the wind was blowing and that played to our advantage because we were used to the wind, but so were the WW’s for that matter. Still, we were more used to the wind off the lake then they were off the hills - the wind did not interfere with our playing and the gusts did not discourage us.

In the 2nd Quarter neither team even got a first down in the beginning, but something else happened in all the drudgery of it, and I’ll come back later to tell about the something else that occurred. Some might doubt it, whether it actually happened, but the 2nd Quarter started out so boring, something had to happen - did it not? I saw the wolf in my minds eye or at least I thought I did…it made me ponder.

We were in the huddle and we decided we can’t run through these hill boys just now - they are too big and too tough and too quick. So we decided to try another trick play - and this was our first mistake….one that had consequences.

The play was an end around half-back option or some such….but the pitch back didn’t go as planned and ball was fumbled and the WW’s were there to collect the loose ball on the bounce and they got it on the run and Cricket missed the tackle and the WW’s got their first touchdown on that dismal play gone wrong.

The score was 7-6 and then 7-all after the extra point was made. It was a tie at that moment and all our joy of the kickoff return was diminished and we knew they had the advantage at the line of scrimmage but we had the advantage from the standpoint of recognition as to what they intended (at least we thought we did) - there is a certain element or randomness to it all in the moment - is there not?

After the WW’s scored on the fumble recovery, we tried to gather our wits and finally, we got a first down. It was a quick play, where Cricket got the snap backed up a yard or two and then deftly threw the pass to the tight end (Kish) who had ambled just a bit beyond the defensive line and the pass was caught through lineman arms held aloft, and the Kish got to run a bit and we got a first first-down. That lifted our spirits.

On the next play we decided to do one of our favorite plays it was a simple fake handoff to the first running back going to the right and then a quick switch over to hand it to the other RB heading left and by this time MP was starting to get a bit annoyed. A small hole was made in the line and that was all MP needed to break through the stretching grab of Blackie’s paw who couldn’t get a grip upon MP to bring him down at the line, and then that turned into another 13 yards gained. Our second first down and the drive commenced.

Two first downs we had gotten when up to that point we had been sort of hapless on offense, and so we pushed forward and then the play was called - sweep left. This was one of my favorite plays cause I got to snap the ball and then quickly move to be a blocker and I followed the script of the play but the WW’s were gonna have none of it and Crispy, who was on the field because we were starting to get a good drive going, literally ran over my butt and then it was a bunch of players jumbled up because the sweep never got past the line of scrimmage. This is when Cricket saw an opportunity and maybe made a mistake….Crispy was laughing at my hapless self on the ground after the whistle had been blown and Cricket came behind him and smacked him with force from behind - Crispy never saw it coming and Cricket hit him good. That turned into a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct and that was the end of that drive. We had to punt.

Still, in a way, some of us hoped that Cricket had sent the message to Crispy, but little did we know, Crispy had a message of his own to deliver. This is sort of ridiculous, but on the next drive the WW’s were having some success against us, until that is Crispy got his revenge on Cricket resulting in a 15-yard penalty that nullified what would have been a huge play for PB when I barely was able to tackle him on the 5-yard line. That penalty bought the WW’s back to midfield and although Cricket was injured on the play, they didn’t get the first down and had to punt the ball away.

The refs, who so far had been calling a fine game asked the coaches to come to middle field for a bit of a chat. They said coaches - we know both of these teams are champions, but you got to keep these boys in check. If you don’t - we will.

After that we caught the punt, and Cricket was still out, but we got a first down after the 2nd string quarterback threw a screen pass to MP on the fly. The first half was almost over and we knew we probably weren’t going to score and being there was only 90 seconds left, we decided to run the clock out……that is when the wolf showed up again…the wolf and the indigo bunting.

Cricket was livid. He was on the sideline in a fair degree of pain cause he had a partially torn ligament caused by Crispy’s illegal block from behind which bent Cricket’s lower left leg most awkwardly being his cleats remained in place while his calf bent in a direction not meant to be. There was a tear coming out of his eye and he was trying to shake it off and wanted to be on the field - he was hobbling around mumbling profanities in a state of near despair and had separated himself from the game. In the back of his mind he was hearing bells and whistles, but maybe he didn’t recognize the call of the indigo. He wandered around moving further away towards the bells and whistles and that is when he saw the wolf’s eyes just behind a large bolder off the side of the field past the stands when he was all alone. The wolf spoke to Cricket and said to him - you are going to play in the 2nd half - I will heal you - the wolf calmed Cricket down. His pain diminished - his mind focused. He was healed.

The refs blew their whistle, it was the end of the 2nd Quarter - the end of the first half. The pee-wee kids, the players on the field, especially the ones on the line of scrimmage were tired. I know I was - plus I’d been getting my “ass run over” just trying to block these big ole hill boys each about 50 pounds heavier than myself. I might have some muscle, but I ain’t a machine. I was wore out. I needed a break.

We all looked at each other, both of us looking at each other on both sides of the field. Nobody talked any trash, we just walked off together. We had come to have some respect for each other. It formed in simple moments when one player helped up another player on the other team. It formed out of a recognition of two well coached teams and shared experience we knew we must of had to get to this moment in time.

At the end of the 2nd Quarter (1st Half) the score was: WW’s: 7 - BB’s: 7

It was a tie game at that moment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ End of Chapter 6 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 7 - Consolation

During half-time in the cold fall weather in Buffalo, NY we had this tradition of sharing some Hershey bars with each other during the break in the game.

Coach Q approached us chewing on the chocolate and said fellas - we got a game going don’t we……we looked at the coach and Cricket said - “I’m ready to kick some ass coach - I can play”. Coach Q approached Cricket, he came real close to his face and he looked Cricket in his eyes and say - “Cricket - you are our QB - we need you”. Cricket smiled and said - “coach - I will not let you down”…..the whole team’s attention whether realized or not was on this discourse twixt Coach Q and Cricket. When it ended, that was pretty much all the Coach needed to do to inspire us to come out there and give it our best.

We settled down as a team ready for the 2nd half as we did in the 2nd half of the season and based on what we had learned in the first half we commenced to discuss the whistling plan on defense….we formulated a plan. After some discussion Coach Q came up to me and said - “Ken - you want a break on offense?”. I looked Coach in the eyes close before I responded and then I thought to myself honest and my response was “yes”. Coach nodded and I didn’t play center in the 2nd half, but I did participate in some offensive plays as a fullback and I got to block for MP, and truly that was a better use of my skills. One of the 12-year olds who had a growth spurt was substituted for me at Center and now I could focus on our whistling ambitions. This is why, I can’t deny I loved pee-wee football when I was a kid because there is no denying - good coaches make all the difference in the world for pee-wee players. Coach Q was the best!

~~~ meanwhile ~~~

Crispy came amongst the other WW’s and threw his helmet upon the ground in an act of anger and defiance. PB slid over to Crispy and grabbed him by the neck and then under duress whispered something in his ear and that was that. Coach N joined the boys while they contemplated and said “Young Men - you may think you are the best, but now your thinking is being challenged”. He looked down upon his pee-wees already growing so much and they gave attention to Coach N and this is what he said…..

(As the author I must intercede here and say Coach N already knew about the BB’s whistling defense, or at least had heard rumor of it, but he was not about to tell the team he coached a rumor - besides, he wanted to see if they had the meddle, the mettle, the wherewithal to overcome the BB’s whistling ability rumored and he also knew that if his players didn’t know, then why should he tell them - these kids he figured need to learn about real life.)

this is what he said knowing what he knew already but wanting his team to prevail:

“Boys - we have been through a lot as a team and we know we are the best in Wytheville. Boys - it is a big world out there and there are other players with other ideas, but we know we are strong, fast and quick and I think it is obvious these yankees can’t keep up with this because we are stronger than them. Boys - we need to use this to our advantage because there is nothing they can do to change this - this is what we will do boys……….”

And then the WW’s proceeded to come up with a team plan and they were well-coached and truly the 2nd half was going to be one to remember.

~~~

Meanwhile, I came up to Cricket and I said to him - Cricket forget about Crispy - you are better than he is and you do yourself no favors…..I sat down next to my friend and he didn’t want anybody to notice but he was glad I was sitting there with him.

I was tired, he had just been mysteriously healed and neither of us knew what was going to happen next. I said to him - Cricket do you remember that time we were playing hockey in Mikey V’s driveway and was you and me against Chris and Tom - Mikey played goalie for both sides (Chris and Tom - they both played for the Kenmore Packers) and we were all playing our hearts out - do remember when we said to each other - “they won’t beat us again”? Cricket faced me, I could tell he had been crying, and he said to me: Kenny - I don’t know but I’m sorry….I mean I saw….I saw something and it healed me. I’m changed he said to me honestly in appeal cause he knew he messed up when he got that penalty - he knew I knew he knew I knew he knew.

I don’t know why I responded this way, but something touched me and I said - Cricket - was there a wolf? We shared in the moment, a quick moment, knowing eyes of pals who were friends for life. He knew I knew and I knew he knew but he didn’t know Jimmy T knew as well - either way, we were energized and ready to give it our all and we did in the 2nd half. Because you can rely on the BB’s to play their hearts out.

~~~ ????? - 123 - and now a bit of code - yo,r gpt yjr 3mfjs;g - time indeed ~~~

It is mysterious how things connect sometimes.

In the 2nd half, the story is going to focus on the plays and the choices made by the coaches and the players. The wolf shows up one time again. Know this - all the players, the fans, the cheerleaders, the wives, the husbands, the coaches, and others including the wolf and the indigo bunting respected this game being played by Championship teams in their leagues respective giving their hearts out for the sake of their teammates and their desire to prevail. It was pee-wees growing up in action. It was a good thing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ End of Chapter 7 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 8 - The 3rd Quarter

Our kicker teammate, the only one 11 years old who came on the bus with the rest of us was like me in that he was on the bus on time and he was precise with his kicks - he took pride in his ability to kick the ball well and best thing was even though he was small he was not delicate. I’m sure in the later years he played more than just kicker. He kicked the ball off to start the 2nd half and we truly ran our asses down there looking to tackle somebody and we had drool coming out of our mouths and we weren’t just yankees from up north - we were kids on a mission to prevail.

Somebody caught the ball and we were on his butt before he had a moment to move and we swarmed around and I swear we had blood on our minds - we wanted to win.

It was first and 10 for the WW’s from the 18 yard line. Cripsy came on the field and Cricket was there as well playing his regular spot as Cornerback and we all noticed how they huddled up and waited for them to present their line of scrimmage formation. The seconds ticked away and then I blew my whistle moments after the ball was snapped and we tackled PB for no gain. It was now 2nd and 10 and we both looked at each other - me and Cricket - and the BB’s as a whole versus the WW’s and we all were thinking like pee-wees - This is WAR!

Crispy looked over his shoulder when he went back into the huddle and I said - boys - I think this next play is going to be a pass - Cricket - maybe you ought blitz. I got your side covered and I looked over to Kish and he knew. The ball was snapped, Cricket stood still for a moment, just to make sure the play was as expected and then he moved with force and beauty and grace and he tackled the living shit out of Crispy and Crispy never saw Cricket…after that 11 yard loss and Cricket got up so quick I doubt Crispy even knew who tackled his ass the rest of us were starting to get our ire up and we were ready to make it difficult for the WW’s, when it now was 3rd and 21. They tried a screen pass we all saw coming and they gained about 5 yards and had to punt, and then we left the field on defense knowing we had done our job and sent a message about the 2nd half and how we intended to play.

The WW’s were at what yard line you might inquire - you ought know reader, but I will tell. They started at the 18 made no gain on the first play, then lost 11 yards back to the 7, then gained 5 to be at the 12. That is from where they punted and the punt left something to be desired but Jimmy T caught it on the WW’s 43 yard line and then we came out on the field on offense - not me at that moment - I was sitting on the sideline thinking about a wolf.

Cricket got the snap quick the ball was pitched back to MP and then he forcefully pushed his small compact body full of muscle forward that nobody could slow him down till he had gained six yards. Then on another quick snap it was a QB option and just before he was tackled Cricket dished the ball back to MP and MP showed his skill and determination and everybody at that moment knew that MP was destined to greatness. He pushed PB back with so much force that PB had never experienced anything like that and then just to make a point MP ran over PBs butt after he pushed him down, but PB got holds of MP’s shoelace at the last moment and even though it broke his pinky finger PB tackled MP before the TD was scored. That hurt PB and he wasn’t the same after that, but he played his best for the sake of his kin.

After that first down it was a quick screen to the flanker and our flanker guy was swift in foot and that was another first down. After that, I can’t remember for sure one play, maybe two the ball was handed to MP and he pushed into the endzone. The extra point was made and the score was BB’s 14 - WW’s 7.

On the ensuing kickoff, our kicker, God Bless his soul kicked the ball into the actual endzone and then the WW’s made a mistake - instead of kneeling down, the player picked up the ball been bouncing tried to run it out without thinking and there was confusion cause he barely got possession of the ball and then when we tackled his ass (I think I hit his ankle hard) he fumbled, Cricket picked the loose ball up was moving forward with it and at the last moment pitched it to Jimmy J in a foolish attempt to keep the play going in our favor but Jimmy T grabbed the pitch from Cricket almost with one hand it seemed and then pranced into the endzone. The score after the extra point was now BB’s 21 - WW’s 7.

Here is a visual of this play - focusing on the players involved - one line as time transpired:

The football was kicked again and the WW’s started out on their own 33 yard line. PB ran up the middle, it hurt when he got the handoff but he didn’t feel it in the moment he ran hard until he ran into Kish face to face and this time Kish tackled PB unassisted. It was a 5 yard gain. On 2nd and five they did a quick pitch to the Fullback, it was Joel I think on this play and he rumbled forward until he was gang tackled - it was 3rd and one. They did a long count, but we held our ground and the Crispy took the quarterback sneak and gained 3 yards. 1st and 10 for the WW at the what yard line - I’ll tell - They were on their own 45. They tried a quick pass after that but Kish hit the tight end just as he tried to catch the well thrown ball and for good measure I threw myself in there and the ball bounced incomplete. It was 2nd and 10. They did a quick handoff to PB after that and he pushed forward along with the line and gained 5 yards. 3rd and 5. On this play, I noticed the formation they set into and then just as the ball was snapped I whistled a whistle

I consider myself one of the best whistlers in the land - in my mind nobody whistles like I do

and Cricket ran forward and I kid you not he tipped the ball up on the screen pass while I had him covered in case the player caught it and then the ball was floating in the air.

Several players amassed around the situation the ball never touched the ground and then the ball dropped in my lap when I was on the ground. I just caught it in amazement and then when I realized nobody else knew I had the ball in my grasp I stood up and began to run in the proper direction. Crispy caught me before I had a chance to do anything stupid and then it was BB’s possession at midfield. I looked at Crispy after he tackled me and I said to him - we play to win….I didn’t say it in words - I said it with my eyes. Intently on the field we communicated.

Cricket took position as QB, did a fake handoff to MP faded off to the right side of the field and then threw a bulls-eye to Kish in the middle of the field and after he caught it Kish ran forward with deliberation and was finally tackled on the 22 yard line. It was first and 10 for the BB’s. The next play went nowhere and then Coach Q came up to me and said - Ken - get your butt in there you are the fullback. We were in the huddle and Cricket said sweep left to MP and on a count of 3 the ball was snapped, Cricket pitched it to MP and I was the FB leading the charge and with the linesman who had moved quickly off the snap we pushed the WW’s back another 11 yards. It was first and 10 at the 11 yard line.

I stayed in, and this play was a QB option - pass to the right or the left, to either the HB or the FB and they were watching MP close, but they considered me no threat and when the ball landed in my hands I knew the moment had arrived and I thought about the wolf and the indigo bunting as I ran forward with a head of steam and all the energy I had which was just enough to push me over the endzone line even though Jack, Don, and Charlie all had hands on me….I was not to be denied in this moment and my legs kept pushing….kept moving….kept trying until I crossed the line and ref lifted up his hands: TOUCHDOWN.

(Here is an image of the play - Tis August 6, 2023 - 8623 for this edit - except for few typos this story has been told and now on to new stories as time moves on endlessly - be aware this story is told here and there are “terms”)

I looked around on the ground bodies all over me, but I was alive and I couldn’t believe what had just happened - it was like a dream come true for a pee-wee kid. Cricket came and picked me up off the field and we hugged each other and it was a moment of joyous celebration when we sort of knew - the WW’s were whipped.

That is correct, but there is more to this story than one team prevailing over the other. In fact, that is the only aspect of the story that really matters - what is more important to the story than one team prevailing over the other - because if you think about it, it sort of is lucky the way things unfolded for the BB’s, but when that wolf healed Cricket, I think it also healed the BB’s as a whole and we became a team indomitable and we proved it on the field and the WW’s knew - they was whipped before the 3rd Quarter even ended…..we didn’t relish the scores - we just had become filled with spirit and there was no stopping us and everybody could tell.

The score now was BB’s 28 WW’s 7 after our fine kicker made the extra point.

What matters more is what happened in the 4th quarter when the wolf showed up again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ end of Chapter 8 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 9 - The 4th Quarter

So, while I was on the sidelines when the offense was on the field……it is true that I was thinking about a wolf and whistling, but I can’t deny mostly I was looking at Claire. She was my “favorite” cheerleader and for good reason. She and I had played together literally from when we were little kids and Claire was petite and sharp as a tack in a fun playful way. She was in 7th grade and she came from a big family just like me. There were 7 kids in my family and I think there were like 9 in Claire’s. Her dad I think was some fancy attorney and they had a huge house with all sorts of secret places - I’ll never tell.

Anyhow, Claire was next to Colleen on the sideline with the other cheerleaders and I just loved the way she handled herself. Colleen I should have mentioned in Chapter 1 was sort of the Cheerleader Captain cause Colleen had cheered in high school - she knew how to lead the cheers and the cheerleaders both. Sometimes on the sidelines it is pleasant and helpful to daydream especially if you need to let your mind wander.

I remember once, maybe I was like 10 years old, and Claire was visiting my little sister who was 8 at the time at our house which wasn’t as big as Claire’s. The weather was poor or my friends weren’t around or if Claire ever came to visit, then I played with her if I could! I remember we were in the upstairs room, the three of us, my sister, Claire, and me….and we were on the top bunkbed I think, Claire and I, and I swear at that moment I think I realized my feelings for Claire. Wow - too bad we moved away…oh well…such is life.

Enough of the daydreaming….time to get back to the game. As the 3rd Quarter came to a close, the WW’s had made a first down but the clock was ticking. The WW’s started off on their own 49 yard line when the 4th Quarter commenced. It was 2nd & 7. They had been grinding us the last several plays one play after another - PB up the middle or off-tackle. PB didn’t always go where the play was designed, because PB could change direction on a dime. Still….the clock was ticking (as it always does - always does - I mean always) and we didn’t mind giving up “chip-plays” of 5 or 6 yards because we knew the clock was on our side and we just had to mainly defend against the “big play”.

Sometimes in football, when there is talent on the field, in the most seeming mundane moments, something “out of nowhere” seems to occur so random nobody could of predicted it. The next play is evidence of that. Crispy came to the line of scrimmage and surveyed the defensive formation….I noticed where Crispy’s eyes were gazing when they stayed fixated for just a little extra moment (middle of the field a few yards back) and it seemed likely this play was going to be a quick pass after a fake handoff to PB whose pinky was now starting to grow much larger….it was broken and now swollen and if he wasn’t so determined, PB probably would of been hunched over holding his pinky filling up with blood coagulating and noticing that his head was throbbing.

Sure enough I could tell it was going to be a fake handoff and I whistled the whistle for all DB’s and the middle linebacker to “hold tight” - don’t push forward. As anticipated, it was a “play-action” play (fake a handoff to a running back and then pass the ball usually when this is “unexpected”). On a play-action play the offensive lineman need to at first pretend they are run blocking, but carefully not go downfield too far because if they do that is a penalty on a passing play - on a passing play the lineman need to stay around the line of scrimmage because it would be unfair if they blocked the pass defender down field. But, there is one exception to this, and I guess I missed it on the play being described. If the “offense” declares a lineman “eligible”, then said lineman is allowed to go down the field and catch the ball assuming the formation is within bounds. So it wasn’t the tight end the ball was going to be thrown too, it was the lineman we didn’t pay attention too like we should. I guess that would be on me the Defensive Captain - I should of not been daydreaming about Claire I guess (but if you knew about Claire this might be a mitigating factor in my defense?) and my TD in the 3rd Quarter…..oh well - I was just a kid - can’t blame a kid for being a kid can ya?

After we didn’t fall for the fake handoff, we thought we had all receivers covered and this is when I blew the 3-quick whistle notes indicating - all LB’s go get the QB and lineman charge forward…..my teammates responded and Crispy lightly floated the ball to Blackie who was the eligible receiver we weren’t paying attention to….Blackie had pretty good hands for a lineman and he tucked the ball in when it was delivered accurately.

Blackie was on our 46 yard line at this moment and there was nothing twixt him and the goalposts. Blackie was way quicker than any of us would have guessed - in fact, he could probably beat most of the players on the field in a 40-yard dash we learned on this play. I saw the mistake that had been made, Blackie was about 23 yards away from me, and in a flash I ran the angles in my mind, but I didn’t realize just how fast Blackie was until he took off with surprising acceleration. I immediately had to adjust the angle because I made the wrong assumption and now it was going to be a race to see who got what.

Our other safety on defense had been blocked by the tight end and this was a sneaky play. The WW’s had tricked us good. I was faster than Blackie, but he wasn’t even in reach until we got to about the 15 yard line near the sideline and this is when Blackie turned towards me unexpected and the moment he did it I knew the tackle was now or never and I dove towards his ankles with my arms ready to wrap him up……I missed a bit and he wasn’t expecting me to jump the way I did and we had some serious contact…..Blackie fumbled the ball when this happened and this time my shoulder really hurt. Blackie tripped and flipped over me but was off the ground almost as quick as he had hit it in a fine somersault motion, and lunged towards the ball which was on its first bounce.

Blackie grabbed the ball on that bounce with expert focus but he was focusing on the ball so much he didn’t see when Cricket delivered a fearsome tackle fair and the ball was aloft again - Crickets shoulder actually hurt a bit after this tackle as well, and Blackie had a broken toe after Cricket’s momentum hit him so hard as he had just grasped the ball. His right foot dragged upon the ground and dug in a bit and hit a stone in the ground and finally one of his toe bones snapped - damn that hurts, and that is when Blackie fumbled again….the ball was loose at around the 15 yard line and more players had arrived at the scene. This play was still happening and the clock was ticking but the moments passing were slower in the player’s minds as all efforts were made to collect the loose ball. This had turned into almost a “street-game” and it was fun even if my damn shoulder hurt - I was up again and hunting the ball.

Now, I’ll share one of the most basic and important lessons the pee-wees with good coaches learn. Tis this:

Never stop moving until you hear the whistle from the refs saying the play is over.

Sometimes plays don’t go as expected, and if you get tired there are substitutes who can come in to give you “blow” (a breather on the sideline), so hustle at all times and don’t stop following the movement of the ball in any play. Both the BB’s and the WW’s were well coached and I don’t think there was a single player who remained at midfield after it seemed the play was over….they all came running down and so at this time there were about 22 young men seeking possession of the ball that had been faked, thrown, caught and secured and then fumbled twice already by Blackie who was damn quick for a big strong lineman with agile supple hands (sidenote: Blackie became a friend of mine and he went on to play college ball).

OK, I might as well finish telling about this play never to be forgotten as I got into the hunt I saw the ball close by on its 5th or 6th bounce and actually somebody else had just lunged for it and that happened in a way where the ball got loose again 6 yards closer to the sideline from which Blackie had turned towards me earlier and that is basically where I was…..I’m pretty sure it was Don, but it might of been Charlie - they were just going for the ball like I was, but when that collision happened I heard my collarbone break on my already weakened shoulder and I let out a lament of such volume and intensity that for a moment - time stopped for everybody and the ball just landed near the sideline. I wasn’t gonna be getting up after that but folks were running over my ass and my shoulder REALLY hurt!

Blackie as well remained on the ground and he had taken his shoe off because his whole foot was swollen….Cricket tried to get up, surveyed the situation and made a better choice. This is when PB finally tried to snatch the ball off the ground seamlessly in a running action and I’m sure he had done this so many times and he had the endzone in his mind, but I think in the moment he forgot about his broken pinky finger and when he went to snag the ball all he did was push it forward towards the endzone and then just after he missed somebody who couldn’t tell if PB had the ball or not tackled him from behind and his broken pinky hit the ground so hard and this time the bone shattered and even PB cried out when that happened and once again - time stood still.

Further players were jumping all over the place the ball probably had been touched on this play by almost every damn player on the field and then the ball landed basically at the goal line and a big pile landed on the ball and by the time the refs got there there were at least 11 kids still piled upon each other fighting to grasp the ball.

It was now in the refs hands to decide - who had possession at the goal line. After some discussion, and a bit of consternation, the refs granted possession to the WW’s. Meanwhile, there were 4 injured players on the field. I had a broken collarbone, Blackie had broke a toe quite seriously, PB was almost going into shock, and Cricket had a hurt shoulder but his ligament had been healed.

Cricket sort of skooched and crawled in a dignified way that only Cricket could pull off. He got over to me near the sideline where I was writhing in pain in my mind…..Jimmy T got there about the same time and he and Cricket looked at each other and started laughing out loud……that had to be the most exciting play of our young lives up to that moment, and their laughing was contagious. The act of laughing bought me back to my senses and I don’t think I was dreaming when I saw the Wolf a final time just in the tree line around the field close to where we were. I pointed up with my good arm (the other one was gimp at the time) and Jimmy T and Cricket saw the Wolf as well - we shared a brief somber glance with the wolf ……and amongst each other…..

(…in a misty timeless way…Cricket, Jimmy T, and I floated gently in spirit and there and then we looked at the Wolf who had gathered us together mentally - we were all together and aware of each other. The wolf in appearance was dignified and serious and the bunting blue scarlet in color with a beak for singing was on the wolf’s neck sitting content. The wolf communicated that now it was understood why the pee-wees were playing this game and the wolf said the BB’s are the better team, but the WW’s are good as well. The Wolf then literally stood on its back paws and reached towards the sky with exhilaration and promise while the indigo bunting flew upward at the precise moment and we floated back to the field where we left our bodies…we heard, each of us, the Whisper of the Wolf - the wolf said come back later boys when you are men and we will make history…the mist cleared…)

…… and then the crew arrived to tend to me and look Cricket over…Cricket said its nothing and I’m fine. I’m healed. Jimmy T said when he trotted off - “Ken - see you in a bit - we got this”.

Me Blackie and PB got to ride together in an ambulance that took us to the hospital. The coaches met in the middle of the fields, the refs were sort of exhilarated and exasperated at the same time, but all agreed - the game must go on. Crispy, did a QB sneak and the WW’s scored.

The score now was BB’s 28 - WW’s 14.

The WW’s kicked the ball off and the BB’s secured the ball - that was the most important thing at this moment and it was 1st and 10 at the 28 yard line. Cricket was back in position as QB and MP was there and Kish as well and really our whole offensive team was still intact. Coach Q was always willing to take risks and so on the first play instead of doing what was expected, it was turnabout being fair play and while there was some general sense of being overwhelmed on the field, Cricket, MP, Jimmy T, and Kish kept their wits about them, and the handoff was faked to MP….Jimmy T faded off to one side and then dashed towards the endzone - several defenders followed Jimmy T….Cricket stepped back in the pocket, gave it a moment, waited as long as he could and threw a bullet strike right into Kish’s eyes projected forwards in time and Kish caught the ball on the run in his hands and never slowed down. MP was in the area where the ball had been caught and he delivered a block upon Crispy and that was that. Jimmy T along with those who defended against him sort of watched it all from a distance and there was no denying after MP blocked Crispy, Kish was going to score a TD. It was but one play, and Kish ran into the endzone untouched, and that was that - everybody knew which team was the best this season. Twas the BB’s got the wherewithal. Finger licking good we all said when we laughed together after that many years later - even Crispy laughed.

If anything, it seemed surreal and maybe this is why our kicker missed the extra point. I heard later that was the last extra point he missed until he was a Junior in college. Regardless, the score was now BB’s 34 - WW’s 14. After that, the WW’s scored another touchdown and the score was 34-21. That ended up being the final score and the BB’s won the game.

~~

When we were riding in the ambulance to the hospital me with a broken collarbone, Blackie a badly injured foot that required surgery and PB still not believing he didn’t pick the ball up on the run, I said to PB - MP is hard to tackle ain’t he? PB didn’t really want to acknowledge me at the time, but he couldn’t hide the slight grin that emerged and all he did was lift up his pinky and show the evidence. I said quick, to PB - know this you are the only one ever tackled MP by his shoelace I ever seen, but I guess you had to sacrifice your pinky finger to make it happen and ain’t it crazy how one things leads to another? Blackie laughed at that and we all calmed down and enjoyed the attention we received at the hospital.

The game was over - there were injuries, but after the fact, all agreed it was a game to remember. One for the history books.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ end of Chapter 9 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Epilogue - What Happened Later

So, I was in the hospital room with Blackie and PB, and after the game Claire and a few others came to visit and Claire came up to me and she kissed me on the lips in front of everyone when I wasn’t expecting it………did I not say she was quick!

All of us spent that Sunday afternoon on the hospital grounds for awhile until I was released upon my own recognizance and Claire was holding my hand. The one that pointed out the Wolf…..

We all went back to the hotel - remember, we all basically had the next week off from school, so there was no big rush to go back to Buffalo. The coaches had planned this in advance and tomorrow, a Monday, the teams were going to get back together under different circumstances and playing different sort of games: egg toss, bean-bag run, corn-hole, horseshoes, and later on poker, spades, hearts, and my favorite - Oh Hell. In some ways, I have more memories from this “after-the-game” gathering than I do from the game itself proper, but Cricket, Jimmy T, and I - we talked about it and we all agreed - the Wolf is real.

Later on we would learn firsthand just how real the Wolf was and is.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This image of a silver coin tarnished is important to me so it is part of this story

With respect to all readers - may the best ideas prevail.

Buffalo_Ken

PS: I think I have found most of the typos and posted the plays - I’ll never post an image of the play I broke my collarbone cause there is no way to know what happened on that play if you weren’t there face-to-face….you know? I think this story is basically told. Consequences are on the way as they always will be, always have been, and always will unfold in time.

OK - this marks the end of this story, but when it comes to wherewithal, I ask you kind reader - did you know about this?

George Whythe upon whom the place called Whytheville, VA was an important character not recognized much these days in the founding of America - I mean for heaven’s sake he was considered the founder of American jurisprudence. Anyhow, no doubt the players on the Wytheville team had much wherewithal, but here is the final thought I want to leave you with kind reader - there is no heart stronger than the heart of the American Bison been broken…..no heart stronger than one been broken and healed. Nothing stronger than that.

*~*

In closing, let me give credit where credit is due:

In memory of Rowan.