Lions Are On A Roll
- Oct 6, 2015
- 3 min read
How much fun is it to watch this 2015 Carterville Lions football team?
A couple of weeks back I wrote saying what a story it could be that was getting ready to unfold right before our eyes. That was before the Lions hit the road to travel to Anna to take on the Wildcats.
My radio partner and I talked during our broadcast that night that the playoffs for the Lions started that night. Although it wasn't easy, the Lions were able to walk away from that game winners 27-25. I really felt after calling that game that the Lions had turned the corner, on both sides of the ball.
But things were not going to get any easier. Next on the schedule was the number 5 team in class 2A, the undefeated Nashville Hornets. The Lions were able to build on their game at AJ and put things together to knock off the always tough Hornets of Nashville 20-13.
I think I can best describe what I'm seeing from the Lions this year is also exacly what I'm experiencing as the new "play-by-play" announcer for Carterville sports. I think there are some similarities there.
First off, I have been a fan of the Lions for several years, as I had the opportunity to watch my son play for the Lions that last four years. They were such a successful group of boys that wrapped up their playing career with a run to the semi-finals of the IHSA playoffs. I, like this years group of upper classmen were excited to be a part of last years playoff run, me as a parent of a two-way starter, and those guys, that spent most of the year standing on the sidelines watching that group of players play.
Move ahead to this year. I was given the opportunity to call the games of my favorite team on the radio. With just a few exceptions, most of this years upper classmen didn't have alot of "game" experience coming into this season either. But that doesn't matter now. It's all on you.
Much like this years Lions team, I have made my mistakes while doing the games on the air. And just like teams do, I go back and listen to my game tapes. This years Lions team has done the same thing. They have had to learn on the fly, wathcing game tapes, working in practice and playing in games. I said coming in to this season calling the games on the radio, on Newsradio WJPF (if you didn't know) that it may not be pretty, but I will be enthusiastic. I think the same can be said for the this years Lions as well.
Look at the offensive and defensive lines for the Lions. Only one starting player returned from last years team. The rest had very little iif any varsity experience
My only returning player from my radio team was the one and only Jim Cislaghi, the color man for team WJPF. He has lots of experience and is willing to do what he needs to in order to help me get better...which he has.
But things are looking much better for the Lions. They had that big OT win over AJ and then upset the undefeated Hornets. They are becoming more and more comfortable in each game and you can see it in the outcome of these games. They are playing like the Lions teams we all know and love. Let me tell you, it is these guys that are making the biggest difference right now for the Lions. We knew that there was plenty of experience coming back at the skilled positions. Oh, and I feel exactly the same way about my broadcast as well. Last week was the first game I felt comfortable right from the opening play.
This I can tell you for sure...the success the Lions have experienced these last two games can be directly related to the success of the guys in the trenches. They don't get a lot of recognition for their hard work...but they deserve it.
This week is a another tough game as the 5-1 Sparta Bulldogs come to town. But I'm confident that the Lions are going to meet the challenge.
And I will say it again...what a great story this could be.
Don't forget to tune to Friday Night starting at 6:45 to the pre-game show on Newsradio WJPF or listen online on www.wjpf.com
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