SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Teets' touchdown is highlight of Cardinals' Homecoming game
By TIM MILLER

 


There are times when the final score of a football game isn't the most important thing in the world, even for a team that has struggled for an entire season.  It's no secret that the 2007 campaign has had more than its share of difficulties for the Triad Cardinals.  Friday's 28-12 Homecoming loss to Greeneview in a way punctuated the gloom that has spread over the Cardinal Nation. However, something happened at the end of the contest to brighten even the most depressed of spirits.  In a show of true sportsmanship, the Greeneview coaches and team allowed a young man's dream to come true.  The game was firmly decided as the Rams held a 28-6 lead with just 2.6 seconds to play.  The fact that Triad (0-8) scored a final touchdown was a testament to the kindness the visitors from Greene County felt toward their Triad brethren.  Andrew Teets is a senior and honorary member of Triad's football team.  He has muscular dystrophy and must spend a great deal of time in a wheelchair.  That fact has never dampened his love of football and in his final Homecoming game as a high school student, he is now in the Cardinal scorebook.  "This is pretty crazy... very emotional," said Teets after his one-yard touchdown closed out the game.  "I'm glad I got to do it."  Teets scored his touchdown, thanks to the cooperation of the Greeneview team.  "I talked with Greeneview's coaches and explained the situation," said Triad coach Payton Printz. "They made it possible."  The Rams held the 28-6 lead with just over two minutes to play and took over possession on their own 19 after the Cardinals lost the ball on downs.  After a handful of running plays, Ram quarterback Eddie Bonk purposely took a knee on fourth down, returning possession to the Cardinals with 21.5 seconds to play.  Triad's Gregg Reed ran untouched down to the one and stepped out of bounds.  At that point, Printz helped Teets onto the field to the cheers from fans on both sides of the field.  Cardinal quarterback Ethan James took the next snap and gave the ball to Teets, who walked the ball in from the one-yard line as even the Rams cheered.  "I feel good about getting Andrew into the game and having him score a touchdown," said Printz. "Even though we lost the game, I can wake up tomorrow morning feeling pretty good."  Triad was feeling on top of the world after scoring the game's first touchdown.  The Cardinals (who will travel to Mechanicsburg on Friday) crossed the end line of their initial possession of the night.  After forcing the Rams to punt on the opening series of the game, Triad needed just two plays to score.  The touchdown was set up by a 28-yard pass from James to Austin Dixon and an encroachment infraction on the Rams.  Josh Keatley took Triad's second snap and raced 47 yards into the end zone.  The extra point was blocked but the Cardinals held a 6-0 lead, whichthey took into the second period.  The euphoria of being ahead didn't last very long.  The Rams scored twice in the second quarter on a 20-yard run by Blake Benedict and a one-yard sneak by Bonk.  Greeneview kicked extra points after both TDs and took a 14-6 lead at halftime.  The margin could have been just five but Triad kicker Daniel Kaffenbarger was just short on a 44-yard field goal attempt at the end of the half.  The Rams went on top by a 21-6 count in the third quarter on a 10-yard run by Mike Eavers.  The final Greeneview score came in the fourth quarter on a two-yard run from Ryan Jenks.  No statistics were available after the game due to a computer malfunction.  Printz, though, didn't need giga-bits to sum up the game and season to date.  "The kids played hard tonight but it still comes back to all the youth we have on the field (at one time, six freshmen)," he said. "14 and 15-year-old kids will usually get manhandled by 16 and 17-year-olds. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure that out."  What can be determined from this game, though, is the fact that numbers on the scoreboard aren't nearly as important as human emotion.  Printz's face revealed that message when, with tears in his eyes, he said, "Andrew is like a son to me."  Teets, who has received a letter for football all four years of high school, said. "I couldn't be happier (about scoring the touchdown)."  "One carry and one touchdown," he added. "Those are pretty good statistics."