The bi-partisanship spirit started with the fundraising and the weekly practices. It continued with donations from both the Democratic and Republican parties of Walker County. Even the coin for the coin toss featured George Washington, the father of the country, the man who pre-dates either party. Officiating over the coin toss was former Mayor Mac Woodward, a man who won six elections on a non-partisan ballot.
It was a stage set for both Republicans and Democrats to have fun while raising funds for worthy causes: the Huntsville YMCA and the John Holcombe Scholarship.
There was no Goodyear Blimp on hand, but there was a drone. Handling official photography duties, Paul Olle brought out his drone to get some “over-the-top” photographs–literally. It was Blue and Orange together.
That togetherness extended even to prayer.
Of course with several players in their forties, prayer was needed.
And, with that, it was kickoff time. It was a game that emphasized offense, and almost every player got into the act, although at first it seemed like it might turn into the Ryan Show…
…or the Laken Show…
After a series of catches and pursuits, the two started becoming aggressive, with Ryan grabbing shorts…
…Laken grabbing shirts…
…and, when Ryan couldn’t get close enough to grab, he just yelled…
The big boys soon got into the act, with many long passes ensuing.
Joey had some particularly nice catches…
…and he let people know…
Taylor Martin got into the act, using his size and speed…
… and leaping ability…
…to help the Orange team.
It goes without saying that Austin was all over the field…
Often with no one else around him!
Or, if someone was around him, they were usually behind him.
As a student, Cameron was known for his steady, consistent, and reliable ways. He’s much the same on the football field, and he was occasionally charged with covering Austin or, if not Austin, then Joey. But at least once they were trying to cover him…
But with a total of 22 touchdowns scored, there was plenty of offensive action to go around. Margaret caught a few balls…
..and Megan caught about as many passes as anyone else on game day.
And even had a breakaway run.
Russell Martinez got his share of the action.
…despite opponents using unfair tactics to contain him.
But there is no containing Russell.
Kaitlyn had some action, too…
…although not always with positive results.
But she kept her game face on!
She needed her game face, because she was covering Alex Galvan!
Galvan caught her share in the first half…
But it was the second half when she turned it on. Indeed, it was the last two minutes of the game that proved most exciting.
Down 10-8, the Orange team battled back, with Alex scoring on a long run.
Then, with a 10-9 lead, the Blue team had the ball with less than 2 minutes. A score would put it out of reach. A sustained drive would run out the clock. But a fumble, recovered by Ryan…
…kept the crowd on the edge of their seats…
…and the fumble recovery led to a touchdown by Taylor and, like that, Orange tied the game.
With only 30 seconds left, Blue failed to score, pushing the game to overtime. Our overtime was improvised–no plans had ever been much for such a contingency, and it had never happened.
The City Planner suggested two possessions, each starting at the 50.
With that agreed, Orange got the ball first. And in the only possession allowed Orange in its overtime, Alex Galvan catches a touchdown. It was her first over-the-shoulder catch of the year.
…and it was a patented Galvan Finger-Tip grab.
For perhaps the first time in the game, Blue was behind. They had one possession to tie the game, and it ended as suddenly as it began, with a bomb to Joey Johnson for touchdown.
It was a fun game, one that designed to bring people together. Perhaps it didn’t bring as many people out as we would have liked, but it succeeded in raising funds for the Holcombe Scholarship…
…and the YMCA…
…and in uniting folks with different backgrounds to common cause….
…and a lot of fun…
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 
