After going through two CIA checkpoints, a mental evaluation and talking my way out of a total cavity search, I finally was deemed free and clear to set foot on the sidelines of the championship game this past Saturday.
For me, it was my second time being on the sidelines of a high school championship game at Legion Field.
The first came my junior year of high school when the Benjamin Russell Wildcats meandered their way through the playoffs and matched-up with the Tuscaloosa County Wildcats.
It was a long cold night in Birmingham as Tuscaloosa County used their option to physically ground the Wildcat defense into the grass en route to a 28-14 victory.
Saturday afternoon, when I stepped foot on the field and felt that same breeze I felt eight years ago, it brought with it a chill. But the chill was quickly replaced with a rush of excitement when Prattville's contribution to the 30,000-fan mark roared to life following a Lions touchdown.
When the "Two-a-Days" producers from MTV scripted the game, a Hoover loss wasn't anywhere on the agenda.
For four quarters, Prattville physically imposed its will on Hoover.
Buccaneer quarterback Ross Wilson spent most of the night running for his life trying to find an open receiver. When he was flushed out of the pocket, the future Crimson Tide slugger got pounded. At one point he got hit so hard that I honestly believe he rolled over and looked out of the earhole of his helmet.
Prattville wanted to win this game more than Hoover.
Prattville had the desire to win this game more than Hoover, and moreover, it deserved to win the game more than Hoover.
Losing four people with ties to the team in the same season is hard for any program to account for. But, this group of Lions took that adversity, fueled by the death of 'Coach Lo,' and marched their way through the last three rounds of the playoffs.
Some people on the sideline were saying that Prattville's win was divine intervention.The Lions had angels in the end zone.
Prattville just had a bigger heart than nationally ranked Hoover. And they proved it with touchdown, after touchdown after touchdown en route to the 35-21 victory.
"Who holds the key to beating Hoover?"
"Ding!"
Prattville does apparently.
After the game, the dynamics were totally different. The jubilant Lions celebrated and then boarded a bus bound for a larger celebration.
Hoover meandered back to the locker room with dumbfounded looks saddling their faces. Following the loss, Bucs coach Rush Propst told his players that he didn't know if he'd be back next season.
Well, if he's looking to trade his white visor in for a newer color, rumor is that they are taking all the applications they can get in Crimson country.
Prattville's football team was greeted by a mob in downtown with toilet paper hanging from trees, players and fans celebrating the championship victory in style. The celebration was an even further illustration of how much the Lions deserved to win the trophy.
So this is what it feels like to be part of a championship community.Wow.
I'm impressed.
It's that simple.
GRIFFIN PRITCHARD is a staff writer for the Progress weeklies. He can be reached at
or at 334-365-6739.
2006 News Archive 
