Re: How could you not love that kind of HS football game?
You've got to be a little lucky to win three in a row, or just unbelievably outclass your opponents. I think Bird is a little lucky, and I don't mean that to be disparaging, but they have some close playoff wins in their run.
24-20 over Hermitage in 2012 when they were down 20-10, with less than 6 minutes to go. They don't win that, this whole thing doesn't even get started.
14-10 over Ocean Lakes in state final. The Dolphins looked like they were going in with about two minutes to go, to score the winning touchdown, when a kid decides not to do his assignment and gamble on what play was coming, and he makes a monster stop on 4th and 1.
7-3 over Salem in 2013 when Salem looked like they were going to kick a field goal to make it 6-0 with just a little time left on the clock. A big field goal block sets them up with the ball at midfield and they manage their only drive of the game to score in the final 3 minutes to win.
35-28 over Briar Woods in 2013 when Briar Woods had a 21-6 lead well into the third quarter and it appeared Bird had no answer for their offense. Somehow Bird mounts a comeback with a couple of key Briar Woods players injured and wins it.
25-23 over Highland Springs in 2014. The Springers had their best squad, maybe ever, and Bird slugged it out with them score for score and somehow does enough at the end of the game to get a field goal try and they hit it to win.
22-19 over Tuscarora in 2014 when anyone watching had to figure Bird was in trouble after that first couple of scores by the Huskies. The Skyhawks didn't look like they'd be able to stop them at all. Again, their opponents get a couple of injuries to key players, Bird makes some adjustments, and somehow the Skyhawks are dancing when it's over.
Now, I know you make your own luck sometimes, but they've won 14 straight playoff games, and there's six that could have went differently with out having to "what-if" very much. I also am a big believer in heart and determination and I think Bird had those things, for sure, but nevertheless, so did those six teams Bird "snuck" by. They've got the bounces (plays) when they needed them, but those coin flips don't always come up heads, and the Skyhawks only went 1-2 in those types of games in the regular season. But it's kinda like playing craps in Vegas, get those sevens out of your system on the come out roll so that they don't kill you later on when it really matters. So, I'll always be amazed by what Bird has done, I don't think any individual achievement is quite as amazing as the fact that they've been good enough to give themselves a real chance three years in a row, but I am under no delusion that in any of the three seasons it couldn't have ended differently for them.
That's why next July when you come to these boards someone is going to post a thread titled, "Can Bird Make It Four in a Row," and I, a big Skyhawks fan, knowing they've got a whopping percentage of these kids back, knowing they had some kid transfer in from somewhere who can supposedly do great things, knowing that they've still got an intact coaching staff, will respond, "Probably not." There's 51 other teams going for that title so making anyone a prohibitive favorite is probably not smart. Still, I'm giving them the best chance of the 52 teams, as historically, 50% of the teams to win three in a row, have made it 4. (Small sample size--only 4 teams did it before Bird).
Assuming Bird or any team will get it done, is just a slap in the face of the probability Gods. A lot's got to go right to get a state title even if all the pieces seem to be in place when the season starts.
