Buy the ticket; take the ride. That’s how the old saying goes, and it’s never been more true for this incredible storybook season of Whiting football in 2015. Everyone in attendance today for the 2A State Championship, including what seemed like the entire town of Whiting in the stands, knew that this story had to come to a close today; it was just unfortunate it ended in a 33-6 loss at the hands of Monrovia.
Both teams stuck with their gameplans that had got them to this point, and Whiting executed their gameplan just as well as it had on their way to a 13-1 record. Just, sometimes in life no matter how hard you play, or how aligned the stars seem to be, you lose.
Sure, the Oilers gave up a few turnovers in the latter stages of the ballgame that may make the final stat sheet, and score, tell a different story, but the reality of the matter is the game was truly a physical battle between two teams whose strongest asset was their heart and toughness.
Click here to see more photos from the State Championship Game tonight.
And that is what exactly happened out on that field today, Whiting just lost a tough game to a tough team, and that should not take one single thing away from this season.
The Oilers made Vic, the community of Whiting, and Northwest Indiana proud. Whiting packed the stands today chanting Oilers, and they left the stadium today chanting for the Oilers. Every thing else that happened in between just meant the story wasn’t going to end exactly like we had hoped.
But you really could feel this pride that has been crescendoing all season in the stadium today, and Whiting Head Coach Jeff Cain said that has made this season even that more special.
“It’s been an absolutely incredible ride,” Cain told IIMM after the game. “These fans, this community, these players, and this coaching staff have all made this a truly special year.”
Cain said he had prepared his team for the inevitability that no matter how this story was going to end, that it had to end, one way or another, today.
“It’s been one of those years you never wanted to end, but you knew how it was going to transpire, you knew it was going to end today,” said Cain. “You just wish you were on the other side of the coin.”
All of Northwest Indiana wishes the game today went another way, but there was one play at the tail end of the game that was a perfect reminder for how we should put this game in the story of the 2015-16 Oilers season, and it was Whiting QB, Stuart Glascow’s interception at the Monrovia 5 when the Oilers were driving and trying to get into the end zone one final time.
The thing is that interception, and this game, as much they may sting now are never going to take away from this ride, this season, and this incredible story of Whiting.
And they never should.
To the team, the coaches, and the entire community of Whiting: thank you from all of Northwest Indiana for the incredible ride.