“I think this one is going down.” It was a long ride over to Savannah, Georgia, and a much longer ride coming home. There were a lot of strikes against the Pirates and Pirate fans before we ever got to Savannah last Friday evening. First, our cheerleaders, coaches, and a group of fans got on the wrong bus to begin with and had to change over on to another one. The other fan bus got to the game late. It felt like it was Friday the 13th!

It was one year ago that the Miller County Pirates defeated the Savannah Christian Raiders in the play-offs, and the favor was returned to the Pirates last Friday night over in Savannah.

A nearly packed stadium was on hand to see if the Pirates from Miller County could pull off another win or fall to the hands of the Raiders. Well, the Raiders lost their Ark last year, but they sure found it this year as they defeated our boys 21-13 in the second round of State Play-offs.

The Raiders had a small cannon, and they had their own skull and crossbones. It appeared as if they were taunting our fans and team, or maybe they like what they saw a few years back when our football team had a tunnel with smoke for our football players to come out. Maybe they liked what we had and wanted to copy us. That’s okay! The only thing that we have and they did not was a dedicated Pirate fan by the name of Rodney Bryan and a Rodney Bryan cannon that goes kaboom. Theirs went something like a balloon losing its air!

Pirate captains for the game were Josh Broxton, Cosby Salters, Zenario Shuler, and Shawndre Sheffield and for the Raiders Chris Barnwell and John Burke. The Pirates won the coin toss and elected to receive opening kick which was an onside kick. The pig bounced through several Pirates’ hands before the play came to a halt. First and 10 from the Pirates’ own 32, Sheffield was the ball carrier with no gain on the play. Second and 10, Cunningham threw long to Cosby Salters for a first down. First and 10 from the Raiders’ 39, Cunningham handed off to Sheffield for a powerhouse run over on a Raider to pick up 8 yards. A few drives later with a host of Raiders hot on Caleb Cunningham’s back, Caleb threw long into the arms of Zenario Shuler. First and goal, Cunningham handed off again to Sheffield, “Dre” took the pig down to the one yard line. First and one on the one yard line, the Pirates’ offense opened up a hole for Miller County’s quarterback to plow through for a touchdown. Josh ‘Wild Thang” Broxton’s point attempt was dead on, and the Pirates were the score board with 7-0. The Pirates held this lead as the first quarter came to an end.

In the second quarter, the Raiders answered back with their own touchdown by Tanner Burch, and their point attempt was on target making it a tied ball game. The next score came from Miller County as our quarterback Caleb Cunningham kept the pig home and slipped into the end zone for a touchdown. Unfortunately, our point attempt came up short, but the Pirates were up 13-7 as the first half of the game ended.

Again our Miller County Marching Pirates performed a great half-time show. All the band students sounded really great, and their musical sounds were awesome. Hats off to our Miller County Marching Pirate Band and to Mr. Horne and Mrs. Allen for their leadership.

As the second half got under way, it became a nightmare for our boys and fans as the Raiders were on the receiving end. The Raiders picked up four first downs with their quarterback Harrison Curry keeping the ball at home and diving over or driving through our Black Death Defense, which was rather strange to see. Curry scored a touchdown and the point attempt was dead center, putting the Raiders ahead 14-13.

The Pirates would not have possession of the pig for long as Dre Sheffield was ready to receive the kick, but the ball bounced up out of Dre’s arms and fell into Raider # 77 Deangelo Brown’s hands down at the Pirates’ three yard line. Raiders’ quarterback Curry kept the ball home again and scored another touchdown. The point attempt was on, and the Raiders moved further out in front with the score of 21-13.

It was as if our Pirates could not get their momentum going in the second half of the game. The Raiders went on and scored another touchdown made by Chris Barnwell with the point attempt going through the poles.

The Savannah Christian Raiders had not forgotten last year’s loss, and it could be felt in the air and the voices of their fans. The officials did a lot of damage as well. Miller County’s dreams of going further came to an end over in Savannah, but one thing is for certain; our boys played with heart, and all the Pirate fans are proud of each of you.

NOTE: To all the seniors, Josh, Dre, Zenario, Cosby, John, Aaron, Josh R., Dylan, Stanley, Chris, and Josh L., thanks to all of you for giving yourself to the game of Pirate football. It has been a joy to watch you play your heart out and see the smiles on your faces after each win, and the tears of defeat were hard to bear, but they will make better men of you. What ever your plans are after graduation, whether it is to further your education and play college ball, go into the military, or work, remember thisonce a Pirate –always a Pirate! I love you, guys! Miss G