Friday, November 9, 2001 was week number two of the football playoffs. Our school, Foothill High, would play Desert Pines at 7:00 P.M. Whichever team won this game would go on to the state semi-finals regardless of whatever else happened. We were pumped. This would be a talked about game, that was for sure.

My friends and I were at my house just hanging out before the game. We decided to make brownies and frost them. Ashley came up with the genius idea to write �DP� (Desert Pines�s nickname) on one of the brownies. I decided to smash it to show that we were going to crush them at the game. �This is DP at 7:00 P.M.; this is DP at 10:00 P.M.�

We settled into the bleachers excited for the game to begin. Three minutes into the game, our team scored the first touchdown of the night. The two running backs on either side of the ball battled it out all night. One touchdown would be scored then the opposing team would come back to score also. It was 35-35 with half a minute remaining in the game.

Foothill had possession of the ball and all fingers were crossed. They were eager to cross it over into the end zone and the fans were ready to erupt in applause. The crowd was thunderous and excited. We cheered for our players, for the game, for the other fans, and for our pride. We weren�t about to take no for an answer. Desert Pines knew this.

Finally, with only twenty-three seconds remaining in the game, we scored on a three-yard drive. The score was now 42-35 and all Desert Pines had to do was go the length of the field. We knew they could, but Foothill wouldn�t let them. We won that game that night because our team never game up their fight.

And for them, neither will I.