| Updated: 9/17/2012 9:03 am |
Published: 9/14/2012 11:24 pm
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Mannford High School Pirates kicked off its homecoming football game Friday night against their rivals the Bristow High Pirates.
It was the first home game since a wildfire burned tens of thousands of acres in Creek County more than a month ago.
Two of the players on the team lost everything in that fire.
"It probably would've been easy if it didn't happen but it happened," said Junior Offensive Tackle Isaac Cook.
He and another teammate both lost their homes in the wildfire. Friday, the team looked to take their eyes off the past. They were hoping to give the Mannford community a reason to cheer.
"I feel like we need to get a win to make everybody feel better," said Cook.
"We’re trying to win games for them," added Freshman Kicker Jorge Carvajal.
The Pirates were winless last season but just like the people who stepped up to help the community move behind the loss suffered by the wildfire, these players were hoping that same effort could create wins on the football field.
"They're going to win. I know. They're going to win," said Carvajal.
The effort was there. The crowd was there. But the points weren’t. The Pirates fell 34-14.
"I just don't worry about it,” Cook told FOX23. “I try to do my best in the game."
That is all anyone can ever ask.
The Pirates will face Ada High School Cougars next Friday at 7:30 pm.
