From the sidelines
For Marion High School fans it's still hard to talk about.
A one-point, home, overtime loss is tough no matter what. It doesn't help when it's against a rival, and the opening week of district play.
But that's what it was Friday night at Warrior Stadium, and unfortunately for Warrior fans, it's a game that will sting for a long time.
Of course the coaches, players, and even the fans are supposed to forget and move on, concentrating on Friday night's opponent, Remington.
But this game will be a hard one to forget, made easier only if MHS comes out next year and steals a victory on Hillsboro's field.
For the seniors, it is a game that will make them mad each and every time they think about it.
All the wouldas, shouldas, and couldas will run through their minds, and none of them can change the outcome of the game.
And while anyone would take the victory instead of defeat, it's this kind of game that teaches more lessons than a 40-point blowout victory.
It was a moral victory for Marion, after coming back from a two-touchdown deficit to force overtime.
And while moral victories gnaw at coaches more than anything, especially ones that are district losses, these kind of games make players appreciate the great outcomes even more.
They also make them tougher.
It doesn't matter who they are, if something is constantly handed to them, it is taken for granted.
A brand new car, tons of money, continuous winning seasons: They all come with a price.
Eventually the car breaks down, the money runs out, and the winning streak ends.
During the game, Marion players had nothing handed to them. However, a lightning storm, 13-0 halftime deficit, and an obvious speed disadvantage did not discourage the team.
They fought back in the second half with two touchdowns, and a defense that kept Hillsboro out of the end zone.
Sometimes, no matter how hard you work for something, you still come up short.
MHS head coach Grant Thierolf said after the game that no one works harder than the Marion Warriors, and to not be rewarded for the effort hurts more than anything else.
So in turn, tears and players with wounded pride were aplenty after the game.
But as time goes on, hopefully the players realize, despite the loss, so does life.
