Maryville Pride

When adversity strikes in a football game, it is usually brought on by a failure to handle the opposition. It's because they're tough, persistent, relentless, or a little bit dirty. It's because they attack the core of your team and succeed in doing so. And boy is it hard to bounce back. Sometimes, no matter what play you call, no matter how well you prepare, you just can't seem to break through and conquer that adversity. So then come the big questions: 

What next? 

Do you panic? 

Do you lose your composure? 

Do you let the opposition dictate who you are as a football team and how you're going to react?

The 2013 Maryville Spoofhounds answered no to all of those questions. 

They responded to every challenge their opponents brought their way. To me - a viewer and fan from a distance - three games helped shape this team into what it is/was...

1. Bishop LeBlond - Friday, September 20th @ "The Hound Pound" - "THE GUT CHECK GAME"

  - The Setup: Hounds 18-game winning streak in danger as LeBlond LEADS 16-12 in the 4th quarter.
  - The Details: Sloppily played game, Matt McCulloch orchestrating the Golden Eagles offense beautifully.
  - The Resolution: A last minute 4th quarter comeback staged by the Hounds offense. Hounds win 18-16.
  - What this team could take away?: They can win without playing anywhere near their best football. Also, the offense can score in a hurry with their backs against the wall.

2. Smithville - Friday, October 11th @ Smithville - 

"THE TRAIN IS COMING..."

  - The Setup: Good, young Smithville team. On the road. First true road "test."

  - The Details: An opening 16-play, 80-yard drive taking over 8 minutes off the clock and scoring a TD.

  - The Resolution: An all-out assault on Smithville. Hounds dominate from start to finish. Win 50-10.

  - What this team could take away?: Who cares where the game is played? Show up prepared and together they can beat - and beat badly - any opponent.

3. Savannah - Friday, October 18th @ "The Hound Pound" - "#MARYVILLEPRIDE"

  - The Setup: Hated rival Savannah. Battle for the Highway 71 Sign. End of a tumultuous week for school/community.

  - The Details: As always in this game, a physical contest that stayed close early on.

  - The Resolution: It really wasn't that close. Once the Hounds took control, they never let go. Savannah never really had much of a chance. "That school down south" was sent on their merry way.

The Pep Assembly that day is one that I will personally never forget - I still get chills from head to toe thinking about it. Mr. Eggers gave a powerful speech to the student body about pressing on and being proud of where they came from and the things that they accomplish. At the conclusion of his speech he asked everyone - students and teachers alike - to get out their cell phones and tweet some reason why they were proud to be from Maryville and at the end of that tweet use #maryvillepride. Still think social media is a waste? You're delusional. The response was overwhelming. In that moment, Maryville was inching its way back. But what could this team take away from that game that night? 

I'm not sure if the boys even 100% understood how this game impacted those around them.  I cannot in any way understate the importance of this game. NEVER did this community need Spoofhound Football more than it did that night. It was a chance to get back to normalcy. Community members, parents, friends, family, students, and faculty had an opportunity to come together around the one thing at the time that could unite them all: Hounds football. The boys played a spectacular game - dominating "that school down south" in every facet of the football game. But the stats and score weren't important - Maryville pride was. After that Highway 71 sign was retained by the Hounds, Maryville was back.

When faced with adversity from a tough, persistent opposition, Maryville as a community didn't fold. We didn't panic. We didn't let that outside opposition dictate who we really are and what we stand for. All that being said, I don't know that we could have been that strong and resilient without these kids - the whole student body. I get a chance to see it on a daily basis, folks. These kids are special. When times are tough, they always seem to bounce back quicker than us. When they need to come through, they always seem to. Do not discount the power and potential of today's youth - especially ours here in Maryville. If we continue to have high standards and expectations, they'll continue to come through. Do not doubt our kids. It speaks to the character of our community and our district.

God Bless Matt Webb, Matt Houchin, Nathan Powell, Jordan Moree, Grant Hageman, Steve Miller, Justin Duffy, Paul Snow, and the rest of the football staff. Congratulations, men. You're the best coaching staff in the state. You've brought back a well earned state title and with it, you've brought a bunch of young men who you have helped mold into high character athletes and members of our great community. It's a pleasure and an honor to call you my co-workers and friends.

I'll close with this: I was once an outsider to Maryville (born and raised in Frankford, Missouri). So, I can testify to anyone reading this that I chose Maryville because it felt like the place I could call home. And for whatever reason, Maryville chose me. I will forever be indebted to this place. Let's hold our heads high Maryville, but let's not be content with where we are. Let us desire to be great like our Spoofhound Football team and our entire Maryville student body.

OUR GOAL IS NOT TO SUSTAIN AND SURVIVE. OUR GOAL IS TO BE RESILIENT AND THRIVE. WE. ARE. MARYVILLE. IT IS OUR TIME TO SHINE.