In what was a hard-fought, competitive finale to the NFL season the Chiefs made it two titles in a row, three in the past five years, by defeating the 49ers in overtime by a 25-22 count. Amidst all of the hoopla, pageantry, halftime entertainment, and Taylor there were three key moments, in my opinion, that decided the game’s outcome.
First was the botched punt return late in the third quarter by SF that led to KC’s first
touchdown—not only did a Niner blocker have the ball bounce off of his ankle but the returner failed to fall on the ball, trying to pick it up instead. The Chiefs scored on the next play to take their first lead of the game.
Second was the blocked extra point attempt by the 49ers in the fourth quarter, giving them
only a three-point advantage instead of four, changing the strategies of both teams the
remainder of the game.
Finally, after winning the coin toss to begin the overtime period, SF opted to go on offense first, giving KC the advantage of having four downs to keep the chains moving on their final
possession. A major blunder which went against conventional thinking about overtime
strategy. Patrick Mahomes and teammates took advantage of the situation and did what
championship teams do, win the close ones!!
Ty House and I will have to eat a little crow and supply doughnuts for the pleasure of Gaylen Blosser and Mike Stegall as a result of the KC win. If you haven’t watched last week’s edition of The Round Table on MyCountyLInk be sure to do so as it was both entertaining and informative!
A few sure signs that spring is near—
High school sports enter league and playoff tournament play beginning this week. Girls
basketball kicks things off with boys play scheduled for next week—check various websites as well as MyCountyLink for brackets, times, and locations.
Bowling, swimming, and wrestling squads have a busy upcoming weekend with league honors at stake. There are some great potential matchups in MVL mat action at various weight classes—Butler seems to hold the advantage going into competition and will host the festivities at the SAC. A classic meeting could occur at 285 with Greenville’s Andrew Winner most likely entering the circle against Sidney’s Elijah Biddle, both grapplers having recorded over 20 pins to date.
A phrase that warms the heart of any baseball fan, as “pitchers and catchers” report to spring training this week as the Cactus and Grapefruit League schedules begin next week.
How’s this for a fitting end to the regular season? Tri-Village hosts Preble Shawnee Friday
night in New Madison for the WOAC boys roundball title, both teams sporting undefeated
league records. Don’t have a ticket yet? Good luck with that as a standing room only crowd is anticipated!
Looking for new places to go some afternoon? Try Mixx 165 in Mechanicsburg and Let’s Eat
Cake in Urbana. Kathy and I stopped at Mixx 165 on our way home from Columbus last week and were pleasantly surprised by the menu, quality, and service at what is called a “beer kitchen” just outside of town. For dessert we headed on to the county seat of Champaign County to Let’s Eat Cake and destroyed any thoughts of watching caloric intake by purchasing some of the best cupcakes we’ve ever eaten!
As an addendum to the Super Bowl, what do you think is the most popular appetizer dip in
various states around the country? In Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan, along with other states, it’s my favorite, the gastronomic delight called Buffalo Chicken Ranch Dip. Some others of note— Kentucky and Tennessee like Fruit Dip; Illinois prefers Chili Cheese; California and Colorado choose Artichoke Dip (always trendsetters!); in Texas it’s Creamy Jalapeño; and in Hawaii they love their Kamaboko (blended wild white fish, egg whites, fish sauce, and sake mixed with scallions, cream cheese, and sour cream). I might pass on that tropical treat!!
Finally, Ty and I broadcast our final two GHS basketball games over the weekend after 28 years and approximately 475 basketball and football contests. We certainly have appreciated the many kind remarks and comments that we have received both in the past and lately in what has been a “labor of love” for both of us. We would like to thank the GHS administration, athletic department, and coaching staffs for allowing us to bring games to those who couldn’t attend in person and for creating memories for players, families, and fans!
Also special thanks to Mark Bixler who encouraged us to cover high school sports and was so instrumental in the first five years or so of what was to become a satisfying hobby for the two of us. Others who have meant so much include instructors Cliff Bowman and Lori Hoover of the Interactive Media department at GHS and the many students who recorded and edited the games (and had to listen to our ramblings!); Tim Robinson and Rick Clear of the late Greenville Public Access Television; and Gaylen Blosser, Chris Norris, and Dale Barger at MyCountyLink for their support.
Lastly, to Lita House and Kathy Warner for allowing their husbands to pursue their interest in high school sports. Without them we couldn’t have lasted almost three decades! Ty and I now move on to watching our grandkids participate in various sports and activities, the Houses with many trips to the Greater Cincinnati area while the Warners head east of Columbus and northwest of Fort Wayne. It’s been a great ride but new experiences await!
