"This cannot be the same sweet-faced, nine-year-old boy with glasses that I met almost eight years ago."That was the thought going through my mind as I watched Bret carry (okay, steam roll is a better description) the football into the end zone to win the game in overtime on Friday night.
I mean, how can so much time pass by so quickly. I remember the first time I met Bret. Eric and I had only been dating for a couple of months when his parents invited me to Thanksgiving dinner at their home. I had already heard so much about his Uncle Greg, Aunt Tammy, and their two kids, Bret and Jeana, who older cousin Eric, absolutely adored. Introductions were only a formality, because I felt like I already knew them at that point. I remember Bret being well-mannered, a bit shy and quiet, but good humored. He has always been so much fun to be around. I guess not a whole lot has changed in that department. In my presence, Bret is still a young man of few words; however, those words are
usually quite witty and, oftentimes, downright hilarious. And he is SOOO good with the boys. He gets in the floor and plays with them and really makes them feel included. Physically, he has changed considerably from that little guy I met back in 2000. He has grown into a fine looking young man, with quite a bit of facial hair. We have always loved hanging out with Bret and Jeana, although we don't get the chance as often as we would like. We usually see them 3-4 times a year and have been fortunate enough to share a week with them each summer as our families have vacationed together for the past three years. This being Bret's senior year, we made it our goal to make it to a couple of his football games, before they passed us by.
I mean, how can so much time pass by so quickly. I remember the first time I met Bret. Eric and I had only been dating for a couple of months when his parents invited me to Thanksgiving dinner at their home. I had already heard so much about his Uncle Greg, Aunt Tammy, and their two kids, Bret and Jeana, who older cousin Eric, absolutely adored. Introductions were only a formality, because I felt like I already knew them at that point. I remember Bret being well-mannered, a bit shy and quiet, but good humored. He has always been so much fun to be around. I guess not a whole lot has changed in that department. In my presence, Bret is still a young man of few words; however, those words are
usually quite witty and, oftentimes, downright hilarious. And he is SOOO good with the boys. He gets in the floor and plays with them and really makes them feel included. Physically, he has changed considerably from that little guy I met back in 2000. He has grown into a fine looking young man, with quite a bit of facial hair. We have always loved hanging out with Bret and Jeana, although we don't get the chance as often as we would like. We usually see them 3-4 times a year and have been fortunate enough to share a week with them each summer as our families have vacationed together for the past three years. This being Bret's senior year, we made it our goal to make it to a couple of his football games, before they passed us by.
We knew that Bret was gifted in his ability to play the game. He has had quite an impressive football career at Raceland Worthington High School. In his junior year, he rushed almost 1200 yards. I don't know much about high school football stats, but I hear that is a pretty impressive feat. This season, he was voted one of the four senior team captains by his team. But you would never know by talking to Bret that he had such impressive records under his belt. If it wasn't for his Aunt Patti and Uncle Gary bragging on him so much, we might never have known what a superstar Bret is on the field. He never offers such information. And even when we ask him about his abilities on the field and comment on how great we hear he plays, he humbly accepts the thanks and moves on to conversation that doesn't put him in the spotlight. He isn't a 17-
year-old who is defined by the number of touchdowns he scores or yards that he rushes, he simply enjoys playing the game with his talent given and blessed by God.
I must admit that I was a little nervous taking a four-year old and a 17-month old to a high school football game. My recollections were that high school football games were long and drawn out and either unbearably hot or cold. I envisioned Caleb running up and down the bleachers and trying to hang from the goal posts with little brother following behind. Or else there would be endless squirming or whining to go home. Both boys proved mommy wrong and were champs. They really enjoyed the atmosphere and cheering that surrounded them. They sat relatively still with very little whining and cheered loudly for number 20. Bret's smallest fans! 
Eric and I had a blast, too. I had forgotten how much fun these games could be. It was a very high energy charged environment and much better than I remembered. Of course, when I was in high school, my school actually had the longest LOSING streak in the state. I don't know if we ever won a game while I was in high school. Plus, I had no idea of how the game was played back then so I spent most of the game confused. Which was an extra disadvantage because I was a cheerleader and had a very obscured view of the playing field. It is much nicer to watch the game from the stands rather than the sidelines, where you can actually see what is going on.
What a game this one proved to be! Little 1A Raceland was noticeably out-sized by their rival, 5A Ashland. It almost looked a little scary to see them matched up on the field. But size didn't prove to be a concern for the Raceland Rams. They scored their first touchdown early on in the game. Of course, we had our eyes glued to number 20, Bret. We witnessed his extreme power during one of his first carries, when he bulldozed right over the Ashland player who was trying to stop him. He literally plowed the guy and his feet went flying into the air. "That's our Bret? Wow!" Raceland continued to hold them off through the first half and in the third quarter, Bret scored the second touchdown of the game for the Rams! Go 
Bret! Ashland did come back to answer the two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but were unable to do more than that. Therefore, the game went into overtime.
What a game this one proved to be! Little 1A Raceland was noticeably out-sized by their rival, 5A Ashland. It almost looked a little scary to see them matched up on the field. But size didn't prove to be a concern for the Raceland Rams. They scored their first touchdown early on in the game. Of course, we had our eyes glued to number 20, Bret. We witnessed his extreme power during one of his first carries, when he bulldozed right over the Ashland player who was trying to stop him. He literally plowed the guy and his feet went flying into the air. "That's our Bret? Wow!" Raceland continued to hold them off through the first half and in the third quarter, Bret scored the second touchdown of the game for the Rams! Go 
Bret! Ashland did come back to answer the two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but were unable to do more than that. Therefore, the game went into overtime.At this point, to our surprise, Seth was still going strong. He was just sitting in my arms watching the action. Biz had conked out by this point in Memaw's arms. He had been cheered out. He and Memaw were counting down the clock together and he drifted off to sleep in mid-count. I think this was somewhere around the beginning of the fourth quarter. So, although Caleb missed the game's dramatic conclusion, Seth was wide awake and taking it all 
in.
in.I was quickly schooled on the overtime rules of high school football by Uncle Greg. Each team starts on the 10-yard line and gets a chance to score. After both teams have had possession, the team who has scored,wins. If no one scores or if they both score, then they continue to take turns at the 10-yard line until one team overtakes the other. Raceland won the coin toss and opted to go second, so Ashland had first possession. Raceland held their opponent off for their first three attempts and then in the fourth down, Ashland kicked a field 
goal. This put them ahead of Raceland by three points, but Raceland still had their possession to complete. In the first down, Raceland gained about 4 yards. In the second down, Raceland actually got a penalty for an illegal shift, which put them back 5 or 10 yards (I can't remember, it was too intense at that point for such details). In the third down, BAM! Number 20 broke through the line and powered his way into the end zone and WON THE GAME!
goal. This put them ahead of Raceland by three points, but Raceland still had their possession to complete. In the first down, Raceland gained about 4 yards. In the second down, Raceland actually got a penalty for an illegal shift, which put them back 5 or 10 yards (I can't remember, it was too intense at that point for such details). In the third down, BAM! Number 20 broke through the line and powered his way into the end zone and WON THE GAME! 
We are so proud of Bret! Not because of the touchdowns and awesome show he put on for us, (We would have still driven almost six hours to watch him stand on the sidelines, if that was the case.) but because he is our Bretster, a child of God, who we love and enjoy spending time with and, although those teen years can be turbulent, watching him grow into a man of God.
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