The hardest game you'll ever play is life itself - Keep winning after football

By Chuck Thompson | The Sunday Column

The Sunday Column

It might have looked like Crest’s #1 Namajay Thompson landed after leaping over Hunt’s #15 player, but after that win I’m sure he’s still soaring; and so is every player and coach on Crest's and Shelby's teams right now.

Sure. That play might have been against regulation / illegal, but it was awesome to watch – whether you were at the game and saw Namajay Superman Thompson leap the Hunt player in a single bound, or watched on TV, or streaming on your phone, it was so cool to see.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and if that’s true, then that moment, frozen in time, sums up the season for Crest and Shelby, and honestly Burns and Kings Mountain, too, in their own way. Personally, I’m proud of all four of our teams; especially Crest and Shelby.

What an awesome representation of Cleveland County.

These two well-deserved State Title Champion teams soared high through the season, the playoffs, and their respective state championship games.

And Shelby… The Golden Lions are definitely the King of 3A. This whole year has been one high scoring game after another. You soared in your scoring while Crest soared above a player. Both of these teams deserve our recognition and admiration.

For the former high schoolers of the mid-90’s, like myself, it takes a lot to impress us. We’ve seen it all. But these two teams are GOATS.

Shelby’s Lan Farmer and Crest’s Ely Hamrick are two of the best quarterbacks I’ve ever seen play Cleveland County football; all due respect to the greats of my day: Hamrick, Kale and Smith (90’s folks, just talking about a few from 90's – they’re were plenty of others).

As I was watching Saturday, one of the announcers said (I think it was during the Shelby game) “What’s in the water over there in Cleveland County?” and my first thought was “Whoa now, let’s not go there – people are still trying to figure out what is literally in the water in Kings Mountain – one thing at a time,” It's just the wisecrack person that I am, but yes, he has a good point – metaphorically, what is it? Spirit – not like the team spirit we all are told to have in high school, but the essence of Cleveland County football, the generational respect for the game, how it’s a part of everyone from the field to the bleachers, the players to the fans. Something is instilled upon us Cleveland Countonians as a part of our life, in either a spectator way, or to play, to the point where our competition among each other is like siblings vying for the respect of our parents and friends that is so intense that we absolutely battle it out between one another – and like family, we can turn around and support one another when we have a chance at victory, and respect and determination to do better when we lose.

I hope we never change.

No matter what – no matter the world or our home lives, we come together, we have something to prove – we don’t just play the other team we play against our previous records, the team before us, the team after us, we have an instilled mutual respect for competition – and even though the Shelby-Crest game this year was one of the most unsportsmanlike games I have seen in a while, it is forgiven, but it is to be expected. Sibling rivalry. Belief in ourselves to be the best – and whether or not a Cleveland County football team returns next year for the state title, or not… we will get there again. Burns will get there, Kings Mountain will get there, Shelby will get there and Crest will get there. Again, and again.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be the best, just remember to act like the best and win in life like you do on the field.

I hope these young men make us proud in their professions, their family life, and in whatever they do with their life, but it’s their play to make.. and they can fumble or fly high to victory. The choice is up to them, but let’s remember to encourage them along the way, as we did all season long in the stadium.

Congratulations 3A State Champions, Shelby Golden Lions. Congratulations 5A State Champions Crest Chargers.

What an amazing season.

P.S. Keep on flying Namajay Superman – just remember to fly in the right direction in life and it’ll never be ruled illegal. Oh – and save the backflips for when they’re warranted. That’s cool and all, but know when to flip and when to not, and you’ll do alright, kid. You can move mountains if you try. You all can, every player on those teams, if you believe in yourselves. Bring home the trophy in life. Make us all proud, twice (like you did Saturday, in Durham).