Fat lady has yet to sing for MCC football

Matt Wilhalme

MCC’s football team’s record should say 4-0, but it doesn’t. After winning the Valley of the Sun Bowl last season prior to the start of this season, MCC was ranked 21st in the country by the NJCAA. Even after sending 17 of our players on to various Division I and Division II schools to play football, MCC still maintained the ability and power to have a repeat appearance in Valley of the Sun Bowl.

Now, as the middle of the season sets in and MCC has lost so many close games that should have been wins, is starting to get scary.

MCC started with the Snow College Badgers, ranked 4th in the country, and let them come out and take control of our game. After half-time, the Thunderbirds came out and regained some momentum to come back to within 5 points, but it was too little too late.

From there we suffered a loss to the Gauchos from Glendale in a defensive battle where we only managed to score on an incredible 85-yard kick return after half-time.

The next week we came out fired up and completely destroyed Pima 58-0 in a no contest shutout.

We can see the level of talent on our team with leaders like Terrance Moore and Jimmy Bevell, who was named offensive player of the week by the WSFL, we could still turn the season around.

Heartbreak set in quickly the following week against Phoenix, where the winner was decided by a field goal. Another loss, despite all of the players and coaches hard work this season our record, does not reflect the level of dedication and talent.

1-3.

Should we just give up now?

No. This is the time for everyone; our student body, our administration, and our players to rally together and get behind our team.

There will be no more taking teams for granted, games that we should have won have turned into losses.

This is not going to be an easy fight, but MCC’s players and coaches have the ability to step out on the field every given Saturday and walk off with the W. That is what matters in the end to make it to championships, W’s.

One day at a time, one team at a time, one play at a time; it is time to step up and earn victory, not just assume we’ll get the win.

Our team has already left us with enough “what if’s?” and “should haves” for the rest of the year.

The road will be difficult, we still have six big games left.

Every game is a big game when you must win them all to have a shot at the bowl. We only have a few home games left before we finish the season with Snow College and end our run for the Valley of the Sun Bowl.

The legacy of the 2008 football season should not be a team that could have won them all.

But a team that exhibited strength and grit when their season loomed above with impending doom.

Some things can not simply be left to fate, it is time to take control.

As we started this season with Snow, the only road that leads to the bowl runs back through the falling Snow.

  • Mesa Legend Staff

    These are archived stories from Mesa Legend editions before Fall 2018. See article for corresponding author.

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