For you JunkYard Dog: We didn’t meet, but we’ll bark in heaven…

“If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you’d like to win, but think you can’t
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.
If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost,
For out in the world we find
Success being with a fellow’s will;
It’s all in the state of mind.
For many a game is lost
Ere even a play is won
And many a coward fails
Before his work is done.

Think big and your deeds will grow;
Think small and you’ll fall behind.
Think that you can and you will
Cause’ it’s all in the state of mind.

If you think you’re outclassed, you are:
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man,
But soon or late the man who wins
Is the one who thinks he can.”

These are the words honorary coach David O’Donnell spoke to the Clear Creek Middle School Bobcats yesterday before they took the field to win the Mountain League Championship.

O’Donnell, who was given the opportunity to speak to the Bobcats before the game by Head Coach Gary Barnes, was both overwhelmed and overjoyed after the game.

After losing his son, John David (JD) O’Donnell, earlier in the year to a freak car accident, the father of the late O’Donnell told FYN he was thankful for being given the opportunity to speak to the Bobcats before the game. He himself, he said, learned the poem while playing football in his youth at Spring Street Elementary School, and was grateful to be able to recite the poem to the Bobcats in memory of his son who had played for the 2006 Middle School Bobcats. Somewhere, somehow, the late JD must be proud.

As for the Bobcats, it was an incredible season. Undefeated on their way to the championship, and allowing only 16 points all season, they proved again yesterday why they were the team to beat.

Scoring on just their second possession from a quarterback keeper by number 12 Tyler Buntin, the Bobcats sat themselves up for victory, making the score 6-0.

After that it was all Bobcat defense as the Bobcats stopped the intruding Tigers on a fourth down conversion, in their own redzone, just before halftime.

In the second half, interceptions by both Bobcat players Blayze McBrayer and Josh White again would eliminate any chance of a Tiger’s comeback.

Then at the end of the game, with time running out, another quarterback keeper from Buntin sealed the Bobcat’s faith to make them the 2012 Mountain League Champions.

When asked how it felt to be a champion, Coach Barnes told FYN,

“It feels like a lot of relief and pressure has been lifted off my shoulders. Our coaching staff puts a lot of pressure on ourselves to win.”

Barnes continued by saying that the most important thing to him is his religion, saying that without putting seconded by his family, none of this would be possible.

“It’s not just a head coach that makes a football team. It’s all the coaches, parents, and the school community. I was just fortunate to be driving the bus this year.”

After a long, well played season, ending with a touchdown that will touch not just players of the team this year, but the fans of the community, the Bobcats will now look ahead to next year.

FYN will continue to bring you more coverage of sports from Clear Creek Middle School.