Steelers squeeze win past Ravens: SU Students distraught September 30, 2008
Posted by Marina in : Sports , add a comment
After an intense night of football with the Raven’s SU fans, anyone would be inspired to be a great football fan. With their jersey outfits – the delectable colors of purple and gold took over the Avalon Community Center’s big screen room. These kids are no joke; They are, what seem to be, the Raven’s biggest fans. But in a hope for victory, the students leave with a feeling of discontent, stemming from the feeling of last minute defeat.
By the end of the 2ndquarter, the Raven’s were up 3-13 with high hopes for the second half of the game. The Steelers headed back to the locker rooms with a hunger to come out on top – a new plan must be put into effect. Both teams returned to the field, as fans filling the room hooted and hollered at the sight of their glorious Raven’s, in the lead. Not for long.
The third quarter started rough for Raven’s, and it was about to be, what football fans call “game time.” (Which I heard yelled about 50 times over a one hour period). The Steelers came back andscored 14 points within a 15 second stretch… a wave of purple and gold flashed in front of the screen, as unhappy fans were starting to get enraged at the score. But there was still hope. In the beginning of the fourth quarter the Raven’s wiped the dirt from their faces, manned up, and scored another seven points, casting the lead at 20-17. They tried their best to hold up against the Steelers, but in a reluctant attempt to make overtime, the Steelers were within the field goal range – and decided to take a chance.
Tensions were high in the room. The Steeler’s kicker went up for the kick, and I could feel a unity within the room, an electric vibe being passed from fan to fan, in high hopes of just this one kick to be off and miss the goal. Seconds seemed like minutes once the ball was off the ground; Score. With only seconds left in the game, the fans slowly realized that this heated game will soon be pushed into overtime.
With a great attempt to fight off the Steeler’s defense, their offense (once again) came back an amazing field goal kick, winning the game and crushing the spirits of the SU Raven’s fans. I have never seen a let down like that in years – they faces of these young people were drawn to the floor, in shame and despair at the Raven’s first loss of the season. Some angry, some upset, few hopeful.
Fans scattered out of the room, the opposite of what they came in. I heard a girl say to one of her friends, “There’s always next time.” And although she was discontent with the outcome of the game, her optimism lit up the room as she walked out the door.
Maybe next time boys, maybe next time.