With 18 seconds left on the clock, Ryan Adams took his headset off and put his hands on his hips.
As the final seconds ticked off the clock in Athens' 52-26 loss to Nelsonville-York on Friday night, it was time for a moment of reflection.
Athens players hung their heads. Adams hugged one. It was also a moment of lasts for some of the Bulldogs.
The last time they would line up for post-game "good-games" with the opposing team; the last time they would walk from midfield to the east end zone at R. Basil Rutter Field for a post-game speech from Adams.
And as Adams wrapped up his talk, there was one last yell of “brotherhood” from the Bulldogs, there wasn’t a dry eye in the group.
Hugs were given out all around as the Bulldogs walked into the locker room for the last time.
“Everybody gave their hearts out here tonight,” Adams said. “Nobody laid down.”
The game was the deciding matchup for the Tri-Valley Conference Ohio division, a goal the Bulldogs fell short of this season. And even with it being the last game for a lot of players that put the Bulldogs in this position, there’s a good chance they will be back in the same situation next season with the players that will return.
“They’re in here for the long haul, and an awful lot of them have stuck it together for a lot of years of football,” Adams said. “We like to think our future’s bright.”
And for the game, which seemed secondary after the emotional scene after the game, it was a tale of two halfs.
Athens was down 34-26 at halftime, and the Bulldogs had created big plays through the air. In the second half, the Bulldogs' offense could not, and the offense struggled.
On the defensive side of the ball, Nelsonville-York was able to break off big play after big play, scoring five touchdowns of over 40 yards.
“I think speed eventually got the best of us,” Adams said. “Tip your hat, man. They played a really good game.”
Losing to a rival stings, and, knowing it was the last game for some Bulldogs, realizing the team will still have the talent to return to this same situation next year will take some time.
“Not tonight,” Adams said while laughing, knowing his team’s future is in good hands.
