Napoleon came out All Jacked Up on Thursday

The area high school football season kicked-off last night and for anyone who has experienced it there’s nothing like it. All jacked up on Mountain Dew? Try suiting up and taking part in a season opener on the gridiron in northwest Ohio.

One of my greatest memories is lining up for that first play against Napoleon as a sophomore. The stands are packed with thousands of screaming fans, the bands are playing, people are lined up two and three deep around the fence there’s nothing like it.

Now mind you I played in the pre-Buti era in Defiance when the playoffs were a pipe dream. But still the Fred was packed for the big showdown against Napoleon. I’ll always remember the next year it was just as awe-inspiring. As I lined up as a gunner on the kickoff team I looked in the stands, tried to gain my composure and looked at teammate Mike Branham, who was facing me. I’m sure my eyes were just as wide as his and running down under the kick you can’t even feel your feet hit the turf.

There’s nothing like Friday nights, and thinking about now still makes the hairs on my arms stand on end. So slam you Dew or Red Bull or what ever you want (by the way players this is not recommended for athletes), I’ll take Friday nights and the crescendo that comes with that first kickoff.