Wednesday, December 17, 2003

23 years later, FCHS player recalls the heartbreaking game they lost

As a two-way starter on that 1980 Tigers’ team, I really enjoyed reading your account of that exciting season. However, several facts you included were incorrect.

Most notably, we were ahead of Griffin the entire playoff game until the last two minutes or so when they scored a touchdown on a great run by Stacey Driver. I know because I had a clean shot at him and missed the tackle at linebacker!

Despite losing the momentum, we drove all the way down the field in under two minutes (I caught about a 20-yard pass on fourth and long to keep the drive going) and had an apparent touchdown catch taken away by the field judge.

One referee signaled touchdown on a great catch in the back of the end zone by Jay Coley; another referee came in and overruled the call when the ball was jarred loose after Jay came down in bounds.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve relived that game in the past 23 years. I almost cried when I read your story and all those memories came flooding back into my 40-year-old soul.

Once again, thanks for remembering the Tigers.

Cregg McKinney

Palm Harbor, Fla.