’Twas the Night Before Kickoff
’Twas the night before kickoff, and all through the town,
Not a scoreboard was blinking, no refs yet around.
The trophies were polished, the banners hung tight,
Reidsville slept soundly, secure in its might.
The helmets were stacked by the lockers with care,
In hopes that more titles soon would be there.
The fans in their jackets, the coaches at rest,
Dreamed dreams of a program that’s simply the best.
When out on the field there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bleachers to see what was the matter.
The numbers lit up in the cold winter sheen—
Reidsville 24, Shelby 20—still king of the scene.
The clock struck all zeroes, the truth plain to see,
First place wears blue, as it’s long meant to be.
Shelby played hard, yes, no shame in the fight,
But second place finishes just short of the light.
Then springboards and hardwood come into our view,
And doubt quickly fades—Reidsville there too.
Fast breaks and jump shots, the verdict is clear,
On the court as the field, there’s no rival here.
So tip of the cap, and a nod with good cheer,
Second place matters—just not quite up here.
From football to basketball, season to season,
Reidsville’s the standard, with championship reason.
And we heard them proclaim as the lights dimmed from sight:
“State titles to all—and to Shelby, good night.”
’Twas the night before kickoff, and all through the town,
Not a scoreboard was blinking, no refs yet around.
The trophies were polished, the banners hung tight,
Reidsville slept soundly, secure in its might.
The helmets were stacked by the lockers with care,
In hopes that more titles soon would be there.
The fans in their jackets, the coaches at rest,
Dreamed dreams of a program that’s simply the best.
When out on the field there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bleachers to see what was the matter.
The numbers lit up in the cold winter sheen—
Reidsville 24, Shelby 20—still king of the scene.
The clock struck all zeroes, the truth plain to see,
First place wears blue, as it’s long meant to be.
Shelby played hard, yes, no shame in the fight,
But second place finishes just short of the light.
Then springboards and hardwood come into our view,
And doubt quickly fades—Reidsville there too.
Fast breaks and jump shots, the verdict is clear,
On the court as the field, there’s no rival here.
So tip of the cap, and a nod with good cheer,
Second place matters—just not quite up here.
From football to basketball, season to season,
Reidsville’s the standard, with championship reason.
And we heard them proclaim as the lights dimmed from sight:
“State titles to all—and to Shelby, good night.”
