No complaints, though, I have been eagerly waiting for this game since I covered the last Country Day-Latin game. The crowds are already pouring in, and this game is going to be one to remember.

6:37 - I greet Ken Gunter, the voice of the Country Day Bucs. He questions who I am, and I re-introduce myself and tell him that we have met before. This is actually the third time we have gone through this process together, but I do not mind. After all, Ken does everything and anything for the Bucs, from announcing to stat tracking. Gunter is a jack-of-all-trades, and I can cut him some slack in not remembering a first year reporter.

6:41 – I strike up a conversation with some familiar Country Day faces in the press box. We make a feeble attempt at talking about something other than football, such as one man’s difficulties with getting his VCR to record, but it is not long before we are talking about this huge game. It is the NCISAA 3A Football Championship, and this might be one of the best Bucs-Hawks match-ups in a long time.

6:57 – The Hawks always look so uniform in their warm-ups, like they just walked straight out of boot camp or something. Combined with their jerseys, I feel like I am watching the Dallas Cowboys in the mid-90s, and their play on the field this season is no less different.

7:01 - Bucs are the first team to jog off the field to the locker room before the game begins. Coach Bob Witman, in his 17th year with the Bucs, walks off with his head down. I have to give respect to him. Witman is gritty, and the team he coaches is no different. I have had the pleasure of watching Country Day twice this season: at the Charlotte Catholic game and the last game against the Hawks. In both games, the Bucs were the underdogs, but barely showed that on the field, upsetting both teams. Witman is also humble. At the end of the Hawks win, Witman was nowhere to be found on the field. This aggravated myself and Cliff Mehrtens from the Observer. After searching high and low for the missing coach, we were left to write our stories about the upset win without quotes from the victorious leader. However, that is just the kind of guy Witman is, and I am sure the Bucs fans are more concerned with his production on field.

7:05 - Langston from the Observer arrives, and any attention that was paid to me before he arrived now ceases. Langston is one of the stars on our network's Friday Night Blitz, so I suppose I can voluntarily share my fame and glory as a press writer with him....for now.

7:06 - Ken walks over and pats Langston on the back. I try not to get jealous.

7:16 - Hard to say who I pick to win tonight. In spite of their loss the last time these two teams met, Latin still seems to be the favorite. I always like a good underdog story, and Country Day never seems to disappoint. There seems to be more confidence in the air on the Bucs part tonight, and I fear this might end up being their Achilles' heal for the game. I will go with 21 – 17, Hawks, and try my best not to edit this prediction throughout the game.

7:27 - Hawks win the coin toss, and elect to kick first. In a game like this, winning a coin toss could potentially prove to be a deciding factor – or not.

FIRST QUARTER

7:32 – Bucs Quarterback Matthew Miller does an acrobatic leap on a 3rd and 2 for the first down. Impressive. Miller always amazes me in being such a well-rounded player. He is a good passer, an excellent runner, and just when you think you have seen the last of him, he is great on defense.

7:41 – Both teams look conservative on the offense. They are starting strong, but fizzling out before they can even get into field goal range.

SECOND QUARTER

7:51 – Brenton Bersin intercepts Matthew Miller. Miller had already made a mistake of throwing where no receivers were before, and he paid for it this time. Latin has been pressuring the quarterback all game long, and it finally pays off in the 2nd Quarter

7:56 – Hawks score soon after a Bucs turnover. This cannot be good for Country Day, whose win in their last matchup was characterized by a very strong first half, and a struggle to hold their lead in the second.

7 – 0, Latin

8:01 – Fede and Miller attempt the option play that Hanson and Curtis are so consistently successful converting. The Bucs, not duplicating the Hawk's success, only advance 3 yards.

8:03 – Bucs quarterback Miller doubles his rushing total for the night with a 61-yard touchdown run. The excitement fizzles out though when Thomas Cavalaris misses the extra point. Latin holds onto a 1-point lead.

7 – 6, Latin

8:12 – With 2:43 left in the 2nd quarter, I spot an assistant coach walking over to kicker Thomas Cavalaris and jokingly knock him over the head. You can tell Cavalaris is mad at himself for missing the extra point, but I remember the last time I saw Cavalaris miss a kick (it was at the Country Day-Catholic game earlier in the season), he went on to win the game on his next attempt.

8:14 – With 1:18 left in the 2nd quarter, Tate Davis makes a crucial interception on the 2-yard line, preventing a Hawks touchdown and preserving the 1-point lead. That was crucial for the Bucs.

8:18 – Halftime. With the Hawks getting the ball at the half, Tate Davis' interception was imperative for the Bucs. It is the first time anyone not named Matthew Miller has stepped up in the clutch for the Bucs all game. Latin's potent offense was held to just one touchdown in the first half, so there is still a good chance for Country Day in this one.

8:29 – Overlooking my stat sheet, the Bucs' Miller is currently out-rushing the Hawks' Curtis, 119 to 92. Not bad for a quarterback.

THIRD QUARTER

8:42 – I do not know if that was planned or not, but the Hawks just turned a botched field goal attempt into a 20 yard touchdown pass. Following the fumble, the Hawks had two players open in the end zone. Grayson Caldwell of all people completes the touchdown pass.

14 – 6, Latin

8:45 – The Hawks just gave the Bucs a free ride on that play, a wide open bomb leading to a 60-yard Evan Helda touchdown. Too bad they could not convert the conversion though. This sets up an unusual score, and it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

14 – 12, Latin

8:54 – Matthew Miller on the interception on a 3rd and 15, gives them the ball at the halfway mark. I cannot believe how versatile Miller is. He is everywhere on that field!

8:58 – Matthew Miller passes it to Wood Breeden, 25yd pass with 1:24 to go. 25 yards from the end zone, Thomas Cavalaris starts practicing his kicks.

FOURTH QUARTRER

9:02 – On a 4th and 4, with 11:20 left in the 4th quarter, Thomas Cavalaris' 29-yard field goal is GOOD!!! History repeats itself, so far at least. I have a soft spot for the kicker position. Nothing like the silence of the crowd while the ball is in motion, followed by roars and cheers when it goes through the uprights. Country Day takes their first lead of the game.

15 – 14, Country Day

9:10 – Bradley Moodey fumbles the ball on the 24-yard line, but Braden Hanson dives and recovers. In field goal range now with 7:40 to play, that may have been the deciding factor between a win or a loss for the Hawks.

9:15 – Justin Curtis runs for a touchdown on a 3-yard run. A 22-yard completion on a 3rd and 14 capped the touchdown. Curtis had a much better first half, but he came up big here. Hanson too. The Hawks convert the 2-point conversion to Brenton Bersin. With 6:18 left, it is now do or die for the Bucs.
22 – 15, Latin

9:17 – 6 minutes to play. 80 yards. Can the Bucs do it? We will see.

9:25 – Unbelievable! It took a couple of goal line runs, but with 1:22 left, Matthew Miller just ran for a 1-yard touchdown and Thomas Cavalaris made the extra point this time.
22 – 22

9:28 – 1:15 to play, 65 yards. Can the Hawks do it? All they need is a field goal to win.

9:29 – MATTHEW MILLER DOES IT AGAIN! AN INTERCEPTION, and now it is the BUCS who can win this!!! 52.2 seconds left.

9:37 – That was too exciting, it is now OVERTIME and I am heading down to the field!

OVERTIME

10:24 – It was a great game, but Latin pulled it out in the first overtime, 28 - 25. I have to credit the Hawks, who scored on their drive without the help of Justin Curtis, who had to leave. It seemed like someone was swapping the speakers on a stereo system, as Latin drowned out the loud and jubilant Country Day crowd on the touchdown pass. On a side note, both of these teams have amazing fans. I do not think there was a single fan on either side that sat during this game, from the opening kickoff to the final play. That is showing heart.

It was all very exciting. So exciting, that when I called one of our producers, Joshua Nypaver, while I told him the score, I almost forgot to tell him who actually won. Sorry Josh!

My interviews have concluded, and they have cut the lights off on the field. While Langston heads over to the studio to record the Blitz, I will be heading home to send my article in. Good night!