The Glen Rose Tigers did something Friday night against the Robinson Rockets that a lot of people said they wouldn’t do. They came out to play. Looking finer than frog hair split two ways, the Tigers gave me something back that I haven’t felt since last season. You know what I’m talking about, that deep, in-the-heart pride that takes every ounce of self-control to keep from running onto the field and trying that roundabout leap the boys pull off. What do we even call that? A flying butt bump? Yeah, well, they’d jump too high and I’d likely catch a sweaty butt cheek to the face, so I’ll keep my celebration on the sideline where it belongs. The Tigers, kicking off at the start, opened the door for the Rockets to grab early momentum. Their star running back showed us exactly why he’s being recruited. Kudos to that kid. He could run through the cracks of a brick wall and come out the other side without missing a step. Yet, for the first time, everyone, and I mean EVERYONE on our offense came out clicking. Like a scalded rooster, Judd Connally looked like he’d been baptized in holy water and was ready to dance his way into a football revival. He connected, he jived, and he played to a whole new beat this week. Feeding off the Connally spark, Tyson Sullivan and Kaden Marrs were on some kind of mission, making plays and battling in the trenches with raw grit. Now, I’m not one to complain too much about refs (okay, maybe a little), especially since we’ve got a shortage and a lot of new guys are being trained. But let me tell you, Friday felt like some of them had only ever seen a Saturday morning pee-wee tickle fight. I usually keep my eyes on my son on defense, but it didn’t stop me from hollering every play about the holding I saw directly in view of the refs. The side judge didn’t bat an eye. Maybe he left his flag in the car. Maybe it was tucked down his pants somewhere. Wherever it was, he wasn’t willing to give the green some mustard. And while we’re at it, how do downs just disappear into thin air? Somebody check the lost and found, because that missing second down was critical. And let’s talk about that offensive line. They absolutely dominated, giving Judd the time he needed to make smart decisions. I could just imagine the old grizzly bear lineman turning to Connally and saying, “Make good choices, young cub.” The backbone of that offense didn’t disappoint, and I know we’ll be able to rely on them moving forward. Still, I’ve got to say, Judd bailed Chase out of a pickle on that ugly snap when he somehow managed to pull off that punt and boot it away, saving what could have been a real ugly situation. Keep grinding, big fellas. I’ll always have your back. Man, that defense though. Yes, Robinson scored 41. Yes, it could have been better. But let’s not forget, they were supposed to stomp a wide, ugly mudhole in us. And yet, time and again, our defense stopped them. Douglas and Muro were flat-out on fire. And Gage, normally quiet and steady, got vocal with #74, especially after he thought it would be intelligent to run down the sideline taunting our crowd. Big boy didn’t know what hit him when a guy a quarter his size manhandled him throughout the night. That’s ugly sportsmanship, #74, and your momma should’ve taught you better manners. But here’s the thing, I’m not complaining, and neither should our fans or our boys. Friday night, you did something rare. You learned to connect as a team. Coach Watkins has said it before, and I’ll repeat it: this team has something special that many before haven’t. Camaraderie. No superstars, no showboats, no entitled pickle-pop boys. Just a hard-nosed, mild-mannered team of grinders. That’s what wins football games in the long run. So, don’t hang your heads. Stay positive. We’ve got a tough one coming next week, then it’s time to dominate district and take what’s yours. Ignore the bandwagon fans. The real ones, the guys standing behind you in the bleachers Friday night, are behind you win or lose, because loyalty matters. Senior parents, buckle up. We’ve got this. I love your boys like they’re my own, and I’m standing shoulder to shoulder with them. Keep working, Tigers.