Sitting in the press box at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium for the Class 1A state football championship Saturday, it was almost a feeling of deja vu. In the end, however, it wasn't.
A year ago I sat and watched a scrappy team from Havre de Grace outplay a bigger, faster Dunbar team for nearly three quarters. It was at the end of that third quarter that Dunbar made a couple plays and from there, took over the game.
Saturday was eerily similar. The Panthers of Perryville came out and never flinched, despite giving away size and speed. Looking back, the Panthers didn't control the game quite the way the Warriors did in 2010, but the results for a short time were the same.
Perryville scored first and led at the half and then came the third quarter. In Saturday's game, though, it was early in the third quarter when the momentum started to shift.
In fact, it was a kickoff and one play that put the Panthers behind, and this time for good.
Perryville, however, never gave in. The Panthers moved to the Poets' 1- or 2-inch line of the goal line and in three snaps, never, according to the referees, moved the ball across the line for a score that would have put them back ahead.
Panthers coach Chris Johnson expressed his thoughts on the three downs, but did so with class and dignity.
It was an interesting post-game press conference by Johnson and a number of his players. First and foremost, Johnson credits faith in God for allowing him, his staff and his players to put together the best season in Perryville football history.
My role Saturday was to talk to players about the season, regardless of the outcome. Certainly, the remarks might have been delivered more happily, but considering the previous two hours, the young men were more than accommodating.
From talking with the first player, quarterback Gabe Sherrod, it was clear the impact that Coach Johnson had on this team since the day he took over. Johnson's positive and challenging attitude was evident in Sherrod and the other handful of players with whom I talked.
The feelings of Ethan Griffin and Eddie Escobar stood out among the others. Both talked about the season, the bonds that were created among the players, the faith in each other and the belief that they could do whatever they needed to do.
The Panthers were stopped short of their ultimate goal, a state title, but after watching the Panthers over the past month, I have to agree with Coach Johnson's statement. They are champions.
Congratulations to the Panthers community.