By: Aggie Rieger
The Friday night football game against Grandview started off promising with a warm sun, blue skies and positive attitudes on both sides. By the beginning of the second quarter, however, an Oak Park player was taken into an ambulance on a stretcher and the entire game was called due to weather.
“It’s a great night for football,” said teacher Mark Sharp who is in charge of filming the games for the football team before the game.
Basketball coach Fred Turner also looked on as the boys warmed up. The only concern at this time seemed to be the new Quarterback Myles Eubanks. Turner said the last game, against Fort Osage would have been a win if it wasn’t for Eubanks’ mistakes.
“We wouldn’t have lost,” said Turner. “[But] with another game he’ll be more relaxed and confident.” Turner and Sharp were both confident for a good game and easy win.
“I think the boys, from what they’ve shown, they’ve shown lots of experience. They’re more mature and have better senior leadership,” he said. “Grandview might have more athletic ability, but we’re a lot more disciplined and it’s going to pay off.”
Discipline seemed to be the theme among spectators before the game.
“I have to say there’s good discipline. From what I’ve seen before the game starts overall, it looks like there’s good coaching going on. We’ll find that out in a minuet though,” said Grandview supporter Brandon Stancil about Oak Park before the game. His brother plays on the Grandview team, number 33 Delmeko Jordan.
Stancil commented on Oak Park’s team, saying “They’re big, they’re huge.”
Upon seeing number 10, Wide Receiver and Linebacker David Wingerson, Stancil was in shock and a little concerned.
“They’ve got a six foot five linebacker? Oh man,” Stancil said. “He looks like a grown man.”
Still, Stancil had faith in his brother’s team, mostly because of the Grandview coaching efforts.
“The coach from Grandview is very enthusiastic. We’ve seen a lot of growth . . . Practices have been really tough, more intense than usual. . . We’re pumped,” Stancil said. “[They’re] mentally and physiologically prepared more than physically.”
This was the third game for Grandview, and Stancil called it a “big game on the schedule.”
Grandview Band Parent Robert Walker is also excited for the new head coach.
“He’s really transformed the spirit of the team. I expect good things from them because of his enthusiasm,” said Walker.
Stancil predicted the outcome of the game.
“I think they’re [Grandview is] going to do well on defense but have trouble with offense. Watching the line up here, you guys have a good offensive team. But of course, Grandview’s going to win.”
The course of the night, however could not be predicted. At the beginning of the second quarter with Oak Park in the lead 14-0 and the ball resting on the 49 yard line, rain started showering down. Cameras being used to film the game had to be taken down and both teams ran off the field. After a few minuets and a few Northmen News interviews, the players took refuge in the lock rooms, having to wait 30 minuets after each lightning strike, and the cheerleaders and camera crew piled onto buses.
Tide End and Outside Linebacker number 88 Jake Stump gazed on at the sprinkling rain on the field shortly after exiting.
“I’m not enthused, it’ll slow down the tempo of the game,” said Stump. “We just sit around and try to keep our heads in the game, stay focused and not get too lackadaisical.”
“We’re probably going to have to come back tomorrow, we’ve [coaches have been] discussing the weather since five this afternoon,” said Coach Pabon while exiting the field.
Right Tackle and Defensive Line number 65 William Fraizer wasn’t too thrilled about the break in the game, either.
“It’s a pain, if it goes on too long the game’ll be rescheduled for tomorrow,” said Fraizer.
Little did the team know that this would be the outcome. At the time, players and coaches remained hopeful.
“[Grandview is a] good football team, it’ll be a good game. We line up pretty well. It’ll be tough, there’s no such thing as an easy win,” Pabon said.
Although he believed the competition was high, he said the players were doing well.
“Nick [Elmore, number seven] had a nice run, so we’ll be able to run on that,” he said.
The strategy for the next part of the game was to run the ball. Defensive Coordinator Mark Faubian explained why.
“When it gets like this the ball gets wet and the guys get heavy. The best bet is to run it, that’s safe. It’s what we really have to do . . . the Grandview guys have a lot of speed, so we’ll be able to get them in the wet grass.”
“The hardest part will be coming back with that fire and intensity we got off with,” Faubian said.
According to Faubian, while in the locker room the players would rest, try to keep their focus and fix a few mistakes.
Varsity Cheerleader Jasmine Kearns felt that the break was a positive thing.
“I think it’ll just make it better. They get to talk about it,” said Kearns as announcements came over the loud speaker informing spectators to “take shelter in the cafeteria or in your vehicle.”
As the players headed into the locker room and Cheerleaders into buses, an ambulance came for an Oak Park Player, recognized by senior Devon Whitton to be senior Kamron Gant.
“They believe he was dehydrated,” said football coach Joel Pabon.
“He’ll be fine,” said principal Fred Skretta, present at the game.
After waiting in locker rooms and buses, the game was officially called due to the weather.
“We’d like to get the game in tonight because we’re here and we’re ready,” Joel Pabon said.
Instead, the game was continued the next day, Sept. 12 at 2:30 p.m., again at Grandview. Around 6:30 p.m. the team returned to Oak Park. Upon arrival, head coach Kieth Ross said that the Northmen won, 39-20.
“We had to go back and get refocused, but they did a pretty good job of it,” said Ross.
Oak Park’s next game will be Sept. 17 at the DAC.