The clashing sound of shoulder pads and helmets is among the many things that any football player looks forward to in their day. A hit there and the sound of a player from across the ball snarling and grunting to try and intimidate you, this is what football is.

The first week of the play-offs for Ann Arbor Pioneer has had a sense of seriousness and intensity that we players had only experienced a few times this season. We normally would find ourselves wondering if were going to run at the end of the days practice, but this week is no normal week. We have no thoughts of weather we’re going to have to run half gassers or not; rather we find ourselves thinking, “I don’t care if we run just as long as we beat Temperance Bedford”. This is what we must do to accomplish our goal for the week.

“1 of 16” our coach says “why not us? There are 32 teams, why not us? Why can’t we be that 1 of 16, 1 of 8, 1 of 4, and even 1 of 2? Why can’t we be the champions?” We begin practice with the usual routine, 1 lap warm up, stretch and indo (individual position drills). Through the practice we get the occasional ass-chewing, nothing special, but what is special is our work ethic. Working relentlessly to try and regain what we have lost from Bedford. Monday passes, then Tuesday, followed by Wednesday and Thursday. Our moment of redemption has finally come.

It is a warm and refreshing night for football. It drizzles here and there but for the most part this is a perfect night for us to earn the right to become that 1-16. That night we would have to earn it.

On the opening drive, the Kicking Mules drove from their own 28-yard line to the end zone. On the sideline you could tell there was a huge blow taken on the Pioneers. But as soon as they had scored, Pioneer Head Coach Jeremy Gold said, “What are you guys doing? It has only been 3 and a half minutes. Are you going to give up now? We have 44 minutes to come back and win!”

From this the Pioneers had new life and went on to score the following drive tying the game up at 7-7 with a TD throw from Miles Sories to Brandis Yarrington. They did not stop there. They went on to score another 21 un-answered points. Coming from Jeron Clayton on a 13-yard TD run, a 22-yard TD throw from Miles Sories to Ricardo Miller, and a Miles Sories TD dive for 1 yard.

This game was our redemption and in some ways our inspiration for this upcoming week against the Canton Chiefs. We left the field 8-2 and happy on our way to the locker room. There Gold addressed us once more that night. “You guys have earned the right become 1 of 16, but that’s behind us now. Let’s go become 1 of 8…”

Let’s go become 1 of 8…