State Bound!

Last Friday I watched maybe one of the most exciting high school football games I've ever seen. With that being said, I was so nervous the whole time I didn't eat dinner beforehand and still thought I was going to throw up over the railing. Hutch played Derby for the second time this year and the first game was as close as we thought it could get. We were wrong.

Hutch won the game 29-28....BY ONE POINT! Hutch won on a two point conversion play with only 54 seconds left on the clock. The stands went CRAZY! Joe Henry had a GREAT game! The next three pictures were taken by Bob Hunter and showcase his three best plays of the game!

First up, during a broken play Joe found himself open and made an amazing catch on an impressive throw from Trevor Turner for 22 yards! And just when Hutch needed it...if not for that, we would have had to punt!

 Punt Recovery! Derby fumbled during a Hutch punt and Joe Henry recovered the ball. YAY JOE!
 

 Block on the 2 point conversion!!! He just laid this kid out...blocked him so hard he skidded across the field.
 

After sacking the quarterback for a loss of yards, then a Tanner Higgins interception, the game was officially Hutch's. And people went crazy! There were grown men yelling "WE ARE HUTCH!" and townspeople trying to run out to the football huddle that was celebrating with the Sub-State trophy. Haha...I've said it before and I'll say it again. I love small towns.

I took off through the crowd to try and find Joe Henry. I just followed my Dad as he cut through everybody. Then we spotted Joe right as he spotted Savannah. I so wish I had gotten their reunion and Joe and my Dad's embrace on camera. Joe is usually pretty stoic after games. Happy, sure...but he doesn't show a ton of emotion. This game was different. He was as excited as I've ever seen him. He just kept hugging and embracing Savannah, family, friends, other players, other parents. Those first couple hugs he gave to Savannah and my Dad were just awesome. Luckily, I caught some others on camera. Here are some pictures from after the game!




 Joe and our Momma...she was maybe the next most excited person after you get past all of the football players. :)




























Beans and two of his best friends...Tanner and Dakota had incredible games as well. The seniors really carried this team to victory. Love these kids.
 



 This was supposed to be a picture of Joe and some of his best friends (including the non-football players)...but before I knew it people were literally JUMPING into the picture. Just too much excitement...people couldn't contain it. :)
 



Walking off the field...No more pictures, please. :)


 Football moms!


 Another reason I love small towns? The Saturday after the game, four football moms spent all day working on yard signs then spent most of Sunday putting them in yards. Now everybody in Hutch knows who is headed to state. I love it.
 

I'm already nervous about the state game, but trying not to think about it too much. Shawnee Mission West and Hutch played in the 2006 championship. Hutch won by a touchdown, but even Coach Dreiling says it was one of the most physical games he has ever played. Should be a tough game! GO SALTHAWKS! :)