And Just Like That It's All Over..

The ForeverLawn Bowl didn’t end the way any of us hoped, but it was a game that showed the heart, fight, and brotherhood that defined our entire season. From the opening kickoff, things didn’t come easy. We came out a little slow, and Wabash took advantage, jumping out to a 10–0 lead. Nothing was clicking the way we wanted, but no one panicked; we’ve been in tough spots before.

We finally broke through with a score to cut the deficit, but Wabash answered right back, stretching it to 17–7. On top of that, we had some struggles on special teams. A couple of punts were blocked, and each one gave Wabash great field position, forcing our defense to defend short fields far too often. Still, we kept swinging.

The second quarter is where we truly settled in. We started moving the ball, playing with rhythm, and the energy on the sideline shifted. We put up 14 points to their 7, battling all the way back to make it 24–21 going into halftime. Even though we were still trailing, it didn’t feel like we were losing momentum; we felt we had finally taken control of the game.

Fast-forward to late in the fourth: we were up 31–24 with about thirty seconds left, just one big stop away from closing out the season with a bowl championship. But Wabash wasn’t done. They drove the field and found the end zone with only seconds remaining. Instead of taking the extra point and sending it to overtime, they lined up for two. The stadium got loud; everyone knew this was the play that would decide it. They managed to convert, and just like that, the game ended 32–31.

For us seniors, it was a brutal way to go out. Losing on the final play, after fighting all game, is tough to swallow. But even through the disappointment, there are positives that outweigh the ending. We earned the right to play in a bowl game. We got to compete on the field at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we finished a season that we’ll all be proud of for a long time.

These past four years in this program have been the best of my life. The friendships, the moments, the wins, the losses, every bit of it will stick with me forever.

As always, go Bears.


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