The Livonia Eagles run toward a WLJFL Super Bowl Championship came to a heart breaking end on Sunday November 5, 2017 with a 12-6 loss to the undefeated Northville Stallions at Farmington Field. That being said, the Eagles played their collective hearts out and came within nine yards of tying or winning the game with just over one minute remaining.
This Super Bowl was a game for the ages as both teams played incredible defense. Both teams’ coaches had prepared their teams exceedingly well for what their foe would throw at them on the gridiron. The game started out under cloudy conditions with the threat of rain in the sky and in the forecast. The Freshman Eagles cheerleaders were on hand to lead the crowd in praising the team. The Eagles won the coin toss and decided to take the ball first in an effort to get their vaunted developmental (Silver) squad on the field first. The Silver squad had been extremely good all year, scoring several touchdowns and giving the Eagles a decided advantage in most games. Sunday, the Stallions were ready however, and the Eagles were unable to score on the opening drive.
Neither offense could amount a sustained attack against their opponent. Northville came into the contest with a good looking aerial assault that the Eagles would never allow to leave the ground. In fact, the Eagles defense kept the Stallions from completing a single pass all game. On top of that, the Eagles intercepted one of the few passes Northville attempted, to swing the momentum in their favor early in the first quarter. The first half was a back and forth of defensive stops until Northville finally broke a play around the left end of the Eagle’s defense and scored with 16 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
The Eagle locker room at halftime was alert and upbeat as head coach Tim Napier, told his troops not to panic. “We are only down one score!” Napier said. “We are going to take the field in the third quarter, we’re going to stop them and then tie the score.” The team responded with a rousing response of “YES COACH!!!” But alas, the Fickle Finger of Football Fate can be unkind at times and at the start of the third quarter it reared its ugly head. The Stallions received the second half kick and managed to get around the defense to score on their second long run of the game. To the Eagle’s players’ credit, they did not get down on themselves. They battled hard the whole game.
With Northville ahead 12-0 in the fourth quarter, Coach Napier told the team to keep fighting and to get the ball. Like great football players do, the Eagles listened to their coach and stopped the Stallions on a fourth and long play. The Eagles took over on the Northville 40 yard line. Livonia moved the ball to the Stallion 20 yard line and on second down and needing 15 yards for another first down, Coach Napier called for the Tight-end Dump - a simple pass route, where the tight-ends run straight out, off the line of scrimmage, in the hope that the defense would be looking for a running play, leaving the tight-ends wide open for the pass. The Eagles completed the pass and had first down and goal from the Northville one yard line. On the very next play, the Eagles punched the ball into the end-zone and cut the Stallions lead in half at 12-6 with 4:14 remaining in the contest. Then the lightning flashed! As is the rule in all outdoor sporting events, the game had to be halted for safety reasons. A thirty minute delay would force the teams back into the locker rooms to wait out the storm.
The Eagles locker room was all business. Each player watched their coaching staff as they described what the Eagles needed to do to win the game. Before too long the all-clear was given and the teams returned to the field. Would the break steal the momentum from the Eagles? The answer, as it turned out, was an emphatic NO!
The Eagles attempted kicked to the ball deep but the Stallions took over possession at the 35 yard line because the ball bounced out of bounds. With 4:00 minutes remaining in the game and only two time-outs left, the Eagles needed a stop. They needed a turn-over, a fumble, an interception – anything to get the ball back. On fourth down and two, Northville tried to run up the middle but were met in the backfield and stopped for a one yard loss. As they had done all season and all game, the Eagles got the play they needed and the chance they so richly desired.
Now the game was on. With momentum clearly restored, and the ball in their more than capable hands, the Freshman Eagles set out to win the title. On their first play from scrimmage the Eagles bounced a run play outside and moved to the Stallion 20 yard line. As I stated earlier, the Fickle Finger of Football Fate can be unkind. It can also grab jubilation from the depths of despair. Once again the Eagle’s took to the air. And Once again the receiver went up in the air, caught the ball and landed inside the Stallion’s 10 yard line for a first down and goal from the nine keeping hope alive. The entirety of Eagle Nation roared in delight!
The Eagles made a living this season of being able to more than effectively run the ball. With 1:24 left in the game and out of time outs, the eagles had to spike the ball to stop the clock. The coach called for a sweep around the right side. This time though, the Northville defense read the play perfectly and attacked it with a vengeance. The Eagle’s running back had seen this type of play before. He tried to make a move, to make a play, to do anything he could to score that touchdown, facing incredible odds. On this day the defense rose to the occasion and made a huge tackle in the backfield for a loss back to the 20 yard line. The Eagles, not to be counted out, lined up to spike the ball again and leave themselves one last play, one last chance to snatch victory from the biting jaws of defeat. Unbelievably, during the spiking of the ball, the Eagles were flagged for an illegal snap and that cost them another five yards. With 1.4 seconds remaining on the clock, the referee placed the ball, blew his whistle and time ran out on the Eagles and their dreams.
After the game ended the teams shook hands on the 50 yard line as is tradition in sports. The Eagles then retreated to their locker room one final time. I can tell you with absolute certainty that the players and the coaches cried, but only for a minute. Coach Napier thanked the players for their hard work. The team gathered themselves and walked out of the locker room to thunderous applause and cheers from their fans. They gathered just outside the end-zone and sat with their opponent. Both teams’ coaches spoke about how amazing a game they all got to be a part of. And they were right. The Eagles Freshman boys and girl played their hearts out on that field Sunday. The outcome was not what they wanted. However, that team had nothing to do but hold their heads up in pride. They were the first Eagles Freshman team to make a Super Bowl. They were city champions. They were WLJFL South Division champions. And they have etched themselves in hearts of Eagle fans everywhere for the amazing season they had.