This historic fiction was written by Jesse Kracht and is based on stories shared by Bill Hannah and Ray Jarvi.
It was a beautiful night and we were getting ready for the biggest game of our lives. The Belle Fourche Broncs were going to play the Sturgis Scoopers at our home field for the Conference championship game.
We were getting suited up in our old worn out Bronc jerseys. As I slipped on my leather helmet, I felt as good as I ever felt in my life. We were so intense I thought I was going to puke my guts out because of all those darned butterflies. As we stepped onto the old dirt rodeo grounds field with our rubber, high-top cleats laced up, we began warming up. When our warm-ups were done, I walked over to the bench and got a drink and lined up for the National Anthem. I felt tears coming to my eyes. It was so great that I never wanted it to end.
The opening kickoff was set. We were going to receive. The kickoff was underway. I set up to catch the ball. As it came down to me from the sky, I caught it and began running down the field. Someone tackled me. His helmet hit me in the face. The skin all the way across the bottom of my nose ripped open. Boy, don`t think that didn`t hurt! I could tell my nose was broken. Playing with a broken nose is very painful but I managed to stay in the game.
Both sides struggled to get an offensive game going. At half-time the score was tied 7-7, When we came back out to play, the game picked up right where we left off. It was going to be strictly up to the defense to win the game for either of us.
It was late in the fourth quarter. Neither of us had scored. There were only a couple of minutes remaining in the game. when our offense had to punt to the Scoopers with only a couple of minutes remaining in the game. The Scoopers started to drive against our tired defense. The Scoopers reached our ten yard line, but our defense battled back and drove them back to fourth and goal at the 7 yard line. That`s when Sturgis coach elected to go for it. They lined up and threw a pass into the end-zone that was up for grabs. One of the Scoopers came down with it and scored in the final seconds of the final play of the championship game to beat us. Although we lost, I`ll never forget the fond memories of getting to play in the CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!!!