East Ridge Shows What a Champion Truly Is

Nov 16, 2005

By: Robert Sumpter

Friday November 8, 2005 Clermont East Ridge High School went into the first round of the playoffs with great aspirations. The school was ranked as the number one school for the 6A classification and had completed its third straight undefeated regular season. The Knights had everything going for them. They had arguably the best setting for a high school game with in my opinion the best football stadium in the state. With one of the game’s best players in the state in Richard Jackson and other Division One players on the field the Knights took the field with dreams of winning its school’s first state championship. To accomplish that goal, they had to defeat the three time state finalist Orlando Edgewater Eagles in the first round.


In what had to be one of the most exciting games of the football year, East Ridge fell to Edgewater 27-24 in overtime dashing the dreams of the team and community of Clermont of having a championship team.


But what makes a person a champion? Is it defined as winning or losing? Does a person have to do a special feat to become a champion? In my opinion, a champion is defined as a person or team who never gives up under any circumstance and if defeated, they show the same class as if they were the victors.


In a me first sports society, no one takes the time to look at the individual team. Everything is measured on what is done on the field and that is usually what prints in the papers.


In the game against Edgewater, East Ridge High became champions before the final gun had sounded.


The Knights definitely didn’t give up on this night. With their best player pleading to get back into the game, the coaching staff kept Jackson out of the game after suffering a mild concussion in the first half. Most coaching staffs would have been convinced by Jackson to let him get back into the game. Whether by the outstanding job of pleading by Jackson or by their own selfish reasons, he would have played on that night. Not the East Ridge staff. They actually care more about the player’s health than winning a game.


Finding themselves down 21-14 with just less than two minutes remaining in the game, East Ridge would force a turnover and drive down the field and tie the game up.


With everything seemingly going their way, the Knights still came up short in overtime. It was then where they showed their class. With Edgewater celebrating a hard fought victory, the East Ridge staff didn’t head off to the locker room. The entire team gathered at the middle of the field. The staff asked for all of the Edgewater players to join them. What happen then was truly amazing.


Coach Bud O’Hara, head coach of East Ridge had one of his players offer a prayer for the Eagles as they go through the playoffs. He then gave Edgewater a pep talk encouraging the team to come back as state champions.


When historians take a look back at the 2005 football year, Clermont East Ridge will be known as the team who lost their first round game to Orlando Edgewater. For everyone who attended the game, they should have a different perspective. For me personally, I will always remember the day I realize that champions are not decided on who wins or who loses, but it is decided on the character of the team.


On paper, East Ridge High School will not be champions of 6A for 2005, but they have all earned the title of champions in my eyes.


 

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