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Artesians hold on for sectional win

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artie1958
Saturday, October 22, 2011: 9:23 am
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Way to go Arties! Great job to the whole team! And great leadership from your Seniors!

artiefan
Saturday, October 22, 2011: 9:39 am
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Great win, boys! Keep it going. You CAN beat Columbus North!
We are proud of you.

mvillefootballfan
Saturday, October 22, 2011: 10:16 am
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Awesome win and great effort from the entire team. I felt nothing but Artie pride the entire game. On to Columbus North!

sampson
Saturday, October 22, 2011: 3:12 pm
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Nice win...I have been away awhile, but Whiteland has "history"...things must have changed a whole lot. :)

Danny Stewart
Sunday, October 23, 2011: 1:15 pm
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The sun was shining. The air was calm and you could feel the chill starting to sink into your bones. You could feel the excitement in the air.

When the players came out, you could see the determination on their faces. There was no horseplay, no dancing around. They were ready to play.

As things got started with the national anthem, the p.a. system started acting up. Oh no, we thought, is this a sign to a bad night? Even with the system acting up, you could still hear the choir sing.

Things were set and we were ready to go. As luck would have it, Martinsville won the toss and elected to receive. The teams are lined up and the ref. gives the signal to go.

Then suddenly, something happens that caught everyone off guard. Whiteland kicks an onside kick. And to our dismay, they recover it. So now as they start the plays, we quickly realize that they have become masters of misdirection. Time after time, we thought they were going one way only to see that they were going the other way. They pushed, pulled and slamed their way down the field until they scored the first touchdown of the game.

Now it was Martinsvilles turn. Play after play, they beat,battered and pushed their way down in answer to Whitelands touchdown. Now they were tied up.

It didn't take long to see that this was going to be a tough one.

Play after play, yard after yard, first down after first down, these two teams were here to play. As they continued to beat, batter and bruise each other, it became very clear, this was going to be a fight to the end. Neither side was giving in. Players were injured only to go off the field for only a few minutes then return to get back in the fight.

As the game went on, it became evident that this was going to be decided by who wanted it more. One side seeking to avenge a loss earlier in the season, the other seeking to continue doing what it started six long weeks ago; beat everyone that got in their way.

Now in the closing moments, Whiteland was preparing to make one last push to tie the game. They callled on their weapon of choice that had worked so well for them the entire night. Their star running back. As the teams gathered at the line, the fans on both sides began to cheer. Louder and louder. Thunder rumbled from the bleachers of the home team. Then, a time out. Whiteland had taken a time out. Was this some trick to confuse the defense or were they trying to kill the noise? They lined up again and as they were ready to go, the crowd cheering, thunder once again rolling from the bleachers, another time out. This time it was Martinsvilles turn. Did they see something they didn't like or were they trying to confuse the offense? Again, the teams are lined up ready to go. Thunder once again rolling from the bleachers as the fans cheered on their teams. The ball is snappped, the hand off made and their star running back made his move. He was going to tear right through the defensive line as he had all night. Then, it happened, a staggering wall of red jerseys closed the door. They had stopped the running back dead in his tracks. Martinsville had proven it was they that wanted this game more.

This was a game to remember. And I believe the fans that filled the stands on both sides of the field will do just that. With the old rivalry between Martinsville and Bloomington South seeming to begin to fade into history, and the anticipated rivalry with Mooresville never seeming to get much traction, I believe we witnessed the begining of a new rivalry that will last for many years to come.

Despite the injuries, the penalties, ranging from personal fouls, to offsides and false starts, thes two teams poured every ounce of blood, sweat, and tears on that field Friday night. Whiteland has every reason to hold their heads high. They gave every ounce of heart they had in that game and I for one, will be happy to see these two teams face off again next year.

Ratcatcher
Sunday, October 23, 2011: 6:43 pm
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Wow Danny
Are you trying to become the newest sports reporter for the Times?

Danny Stewart
Monday, October 24, 2011: 5:33 pm
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Naa, just expressing how great a game it was.

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