0
0
When the clock struck zero at 9:35 Friday night at Finley Stadium, reality hit.
It wasn’t a scene out of a movie. It wasn’t some fake emotion put forth by a program winning it’s umpteenth state title in what was just another season for them.
No, reality hit for the Page Patriots.
After four years of heartbreak, a year of people comparing them to the 1990’s Buffalo Bills of the TSSAA, there was only one thing anyone could call them following a 21-14 Class 5A championship win over Sevier County:
Champions.
“I’m still in shock honestly,” senior captain and Air Force signee Knight Wilson said. “Even when it came down to the last nine seconds, I didn’t believe any of it until I had that gold ball in my hand. We’ve been through too much over the last three years and had a big turnaround in the second half.
…this shows the resilience of this team. We put so much heart and effort into this team and today that showed up.”
Charles Rathbone gets the Patriots to the top of the mountain
Friday night’s win was something 14 years in the making for Page head coach Charles Rathbone.
The Page football program has been around since 1975. However, before Rathbone, winning was not something all that common in Rudderville.
Rathbone took over in 2012 and prior to that, the Patriots had just two seasons with 10 or more wins. For awhile even under Rathbone, it looked like they would never take that next step.
Then things really got going during the 2018 season and have never really stopped. What had eluded them was gold.
Thankfully, Rathbone had an experienced senior squad to lean on who was just as sick as him of bringing silver back to Rudderville.
Getting the chance to close out his son Jacob’s senior season with a big hug and raising a gold ball was just an added benefit.
“These kids mean the world to me man,” Rathbone said with tears in his eyes. “I’ve got 30 more days with my son before he goes to Central Arkansas. To send him off like that, I’m just so proud of him and thankful for all of these kids.
…this just means the world to me.”
When the clock did strike zero, Jacob Rathbone didn’t run onto the field like the rest of his teammates to celebrate. Before he did that, he had one person to find.
Jacob found his dad and instantly wrapped him in a big bear hug. It was the only thing he could think of doing.
“My last game in high school, to do it with my dad, it means the world to me,” Jacob said. “This is the only time I’ve cried tears of happiness. I immediately went over and found my dad.
…we’ve been through this entire journey together between losing three straight to winning this one. I wouldn’t have wanted to end this any other way.”
Auckerman, Wilson cement their names in history
In a game that was a defensive slugfest more than the shootout many expected, Wilson and fellow senior Cayden Aukerman who got the Patriots offense going in the second half.
A fourth down stop followed up by a fourth down conversion a few minutes later by Wilson led to Page’s first points of the night in the third quarter. Wilson would then add another touchdown on Page’s next drive to give the Patriots a seven-point lead with six minutes remaining.
Sevier County tied the game with two minutes remaining and then it was Aukerman’s time to shine.
Beating his man with a double move, the Samford signee strolled in for the 45-yard go-ahead touchdown with 58 seconds remaining.
The Patriots defense rose up, got a stop as time expired and the celebration was on.
“That first workout we had after last season, Coach Rathbone went in and told us that when we go to state again, it’s not about playing to lose but playing to win,” Aukerman said. “I feel like these past few years we were happy to make it but were afraid of messing up or losing. This year Coach Rathbone gave us the mindset that we’re going to win and play to win.
…whether it was big or small, we’re going to do every thing to win this game. That’s exactly what we did.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.