4th and 18

This year Nathan decided to play tackle football. The commitment has been crazy, especially for a bunch of nine year olds. They started practices in mid July four times a week, an hour an a half each day, two days with full pads and helmets. After the second or third day Nathan didn't want to go anymore. But because he made the commitment to his team, we told him he had to finish out the season. Jason has never tried to pressure our kids into playing any specific sport and Nathan has pretty much tried them all. But I know that Jason was pretty excited about Nathan playing tackle football. The first game was the end of August and the last game was this past Saturday. They have only lost one game this season and most of their games have been blow out wins. Nathan has played center almost the entire season. This is a pretty tough position to play when you weigh a whopping 68 pounds. But he has persevered and done better each week. On Saturday they were playing to be division champs and a chance to play in the playoffs. Early in the game Nathan got knocked pretty hard and scared us half to death when he was still laying on the field when all the other players cleared off to switch positions. A coach finally ran out to get him and hardly beat Jason who was already down to the sideline. He ended up getting a good knock to the earhole that gave him a pretty good headache. Jason gave him some motrin and told him to sit down for a little bit. After a while he told him to "get back on the horse" so to say and don't be afraid to play again. Well, apparently that knock in the head did something to him because after that it was like he was a whole new player. Toward the end of the game the coach put him in as defensive end, a new position he had been practicing for a couple weeks. The opposing team was on their fourth down (they don't punt in pee wee football) and was going for the endzone. Nathan lined up as defensive end and when they snapped the ball he ran off the line like I'd never seen before. Next thing we know he is taking down the QB! BY HIMSELF! NO BACK UP! NATE SACKING THE QUARTERBACK! I'm sure I was in that moment one of those moms that people are embarrassed for but I didn't care. I was screaming, jumping up and down, going crazy like a mad woman. I was half tempted to yell "That's my son!" but I resisted. Luckily, I had finally given in to Lauren begging to use my camera. I had brought my huge lens to the game that day and was tentative about her handling it. I told her she could use it if she went and sat on the grass by the field. Best decision EVER. Lauren caught the blessed moment on camera. Sometimes giving in is a good thing! Nathan was on a total high after that. In the car he told me he was so happy he was going to cry. Let it out little man, let it out! I went to bed smiling that night thinking about that play over and over in my head. It still makes me smile to write about it.