Joshua Leftwich

Comp 1
Prof. Hughes

Where Cleats Meet Turf

Anyone who has played any sport knows just how important the first game of the season

is. The first game set the tone for the entire season, it sets bars and expectations in which the

athlete uses to help them achieve personal and team goals. The first game is by far the most

important game and gives the athlete a remarkable feeling a chance to prove themselves one

more time. This is why the first game makes for such a distinctive moment in the athlete's career.

My first college game was nothing short of amazing, and i have the photographic memory to

remind of its uniqueness everyday.

Not only was I preparing for my first college game, but the game was going to be against

Adrian college, which just so happens to be the school that my foster brother plays tight-end for.

With the both of us playing in the same vicinity I knew our parents were bound to be there. This

brought about more pressure pressure to win, a push to play harder,to show that I was the

dominate brother. The thought of how special this game was to me was nerve-racking. The

excitement overwhelmed my mind, it was incredible.

I remember arriving to the field at Adrian, boy was it beautiful. This is where cleats meet

turf, it was beyond amazing and I was ecstatic. I stood around stretching, taking it all in, trying to

envision the outcome of the game. Then from a distance I began to hear someone yelling from

the stands. In the stands stood a tall, blonde hair, caucasian woman and next to her a balding man

about half her size. It was mom and dad. Joshua, Joshua they yelled together, Smile

Juice,they said as they took a picture of me. You look so cute,mama said. I grinned from ear

to ear then chuckled and told her I was a thug and ran to the Huddle. It was time for kick off!
 Adrian got the ball first and ran the kick past the 40, Coach was pissed. I stepped on the

field for my first possessio, we were in man coverage. In the corner of my left eye i see Zac, his

face covered with determination. I lined up on the hash against number eleven the receiver on

Zacs side of the field. The quarterback snaps the ball and I bail out.it was a run to the outsid,my

side,I proceeded to run towards the ball carrier, BOOM! The crowded awed in amazement at the

vicious impact that was heard all across the field. It was a great head but I got a stinger on the

first play,I caught a fucking stinger, I was pissed!

Fast forward to the fourth quarter of the game it was incredible the score was 3 to 0. It

was there ball again and they had march down to our half of the field, luckily for us we held our

own and stopped them to get a fourth down. Adrian decides to attempt a field goal and sure

enough it was good. Now we trail 6 to 0. Don't worry there's still time to win this thing, all we

need is one touchdown and one stop then its over, I thought to myself. It was our ball, and

those cardinals were marching down the field it was amazing and excitement glistened in our

eyes, we were about to score. It's a little more than 2 minutes left of the clock, our quarterback

calls and audible and attempts to scramble. he s stopped but he no huddles and throws a back

shoulder fade to Dylan Berry. Touchdown. After the field goal we lead 7 to 6, the clock is

only a couple seconds short of two minutes so Adrian still has time to score. The make to

completion for about 32 yards, then a moment of focus came about. Adrian lined up in Twins Pro

formation. The bulldogs Quarterback snaps the ball, I bail out again, then I quickly stem overtop

of Zac. The ball was throw, the world goes into slow motion. The pass was intended for zac who

has three catches for forty-one yards. I bounced in the air using all the leg power i

have...INTERCEPTION! I picked off the pass and attempted to run until I was hit, I was

hit hard and fumbled the ball,luckily for me the ball rolled out of bounds. I had done it I had
made the play to win the game, three knee downs later the game was over. I had won my college

game. I was a winner my brother was a loser, i had earned my bragging right for the year.

The whole thing was amazing it was a great defensive game. A close on for sure, i will

always remember that day, the feeling could be described as nothing less than extraordinary. This

photograph is not just a digital memory it is a piece of treasure that it priceless. This picture will

refresh my memory of this outstanding moment in my career as an athlete.