It wasn’t on a Friday. There were no lights. But hey, it’s football.
This past Saturday, bright and early at 10 a.m., Union’s first ever Buster Bowl took place at Jackson Christian School’s football field. Union students and employees alike flocked to the pristine turf of the nearby high school to witness history in the making; tackle football was back.
I anticipated a much chillier morning. Therefore, I wore way too many layers for what turned out to be a very nice day for football. As I arrived at the school, my friend and fellow C&C writer Gage Gwartney and I came to realize that the parking lot was indeed full (we had to find parking next to the dumpster on the far side of the campus). We quickly became even more intrigued to see just how many people had come to the game, so we proceeded to speed-walk all the way to the stands. Once we turned the corner, we saw that almost the entire home side was filled with people, buzzing with excitement for what was about to take place.
Players were suited up and rearing to go, like bulls in a pen. Cheerleaders could’ve been likened to popcorn in a microwave as they seemed to all be bubbling over and hopping around in pure enjoyment of being on the sidelines of an actual football game. The refs were real. The cleats were cinched tight, pads secured, eye-black applied, helmets clicked just so. It was time for some football.
“Kickoff” happened shortly after the lengthy introduction (which included every single player’s name, year, hometown, and major). To be completely honest, I came into this game expecting more injuries than completed passes. With all due respect to the players and their abilities (or remnants of them), I was proven wrong. Although it seemed as if one could even see the rust visibly falling off with every drop of sweat or even blood for some, it took both teams, the Cardinal and the Cream, just a few minutes to shake the rust off as much as possible.
As the game began to pick up speed, some players began to stand out, including freshman twins Adren and Caleb Pearce, senior Eli Parker, Creative Dining Services employee John Jackson, and our very own boss here at C&C, Ted Kluck (this is not a plug for brownie points, he’s legit).
The twins were on the Cream and terrorized the opposing Cardinal on defense. Parker was on the Cream as well and proved to be one of the most effective offensive players in the game, just like he was in high school. Jackson, a monster at running back for the Cardinal, showed his prowess in the backfield that he brought with him as a result of playing college football at Lane College. Kluck, the center for the Cardinal, “manhandled” some big opponents on the offensive line and controlled the line of scrimmage for much of the contest.
As players began to find their rhythm, so did the game as a whole. Caleb Pearce had a beautiful interception which led to him being forcefully brought down by freshman Eli Morgan. Stephen Neu scored what seemed to be the longest touchdown in Union’s history of tackle football (I haven’t fact-checked that, just an assumption) that proved to be the difference-maker in the game. Addison Coleman, former All-State linebacker from right here in Jackson, seemed to be in multiple different places at once as he covered sideline-to-sideline for the Cardinal. All in all, it was a sight to behold.
Entertainment did not only come from the field, but the announcer’s booth as well. Sophomore Jackson Millner provided stellar commentary throughout the game, even claiming some plays were “absolute barbecue chicken.” Also, shoutout to Dr. Dub for his sponsorship of “future-directed” plays during the course of the game (another Millner quip).
As the battle on the gridiron came to a close with the Cream coming out victorious (14-12), I came away wanting more, so much so that Gwartney and I ran out onto the field and started heaving a pigskin back and forth. The leather hitting the hands, the bright green of the turf under my feet, the exhilaration of catching a difficult pass. . . I love that.
After circling up for awards and prayer, the players all limped off towards their loved ones and supporters. They were either forcing smiles through defeat or cheesing from ear-to-ear from the victory. I was able to speak to a few players, who all voiced the same sentiment along the lines of “I’m already sore” or “I’m going to feel this in the morning.” Some players even walked off with minor injuries, whether it be a bloody lip or a bruised forehead.
Even though each player’s body was hurting, their spirit was most certainly not. I know for a fact that some player’s hearts were so full that day because they had a chance to lace ‘em up one more time. That feeling is one of the best in the world for an athlete, and that is why the Buster Bowl may become a classic event for years to come. It may not have been on Friday, and there may have not been lights, but hey, it really was some good ole Union football.
Photo courtesy of Union University
John Jackson is our grandson and we know that he is an awesome player – a “monster” as you deem him. He is not only quick but he is a very fast man. Few can catch him once the ball is in his hands. In his Grandpa Bishop’s and his Nana’s opinion the Nowl ought to be renamed the “John C. Jackson” Bowl. Does our pride show with that statement? Yes. Great game.