Brian Out Loud

Those losses always hurt a little more, especially when it signals the end of a season that we hoped would have a storybook ending.

This was supposed to be the year of the Raiders. The year they finally made it all the way to Orlando and played for the 6A state championship.

This was supposed to be their opportunity to leave a lasting impression on the rest of the state. To show everyone that Navarre had exactly what it took to be a state champion.

Perhaps if a few more plays had gone their way in the regional championship game against the Bulldogs on a cold and wet night at Bennett C. Russell Stadium, the story would look different today.

Perhaps if they had avoided a couple of critical turnovers or hadn’t made a mistake or two on special teams, the story of this Navarre team would read much differently.

But as it is, Navarre is not gearing up for a title game appearance this week at Camping World Stadium.

The Raiders are done for the year. Their attention is centered on what’s ahead in 2019.

But that doesn’t mean this season wasn’t a disappointment. That’s far from the case.

Navarre had a heck of a year, a year a lot of teams can only dream of enjoying. The Raiders won 10 or more games for the third time in four years, finishing 11-2, and they played in the regional championship game for the second time in three years.

This team was a special one. Maybe as balanced of a high school football team as I’ve ever seen from an offensive standpoint and a team that featured a defense that was downright ferocious and relentless.

They remain one of the most consistent programs in the Panhandle, a program that doesn’t hope for success but expects it. A program that expects greatness instead of settling for average.

This is a program where the players handle themselves with class. They do things the right way on and off the field. They enjoy winning and are quick to talk with the media after those wins, but they also show maturity beyond their years when they talk to the media after a loss.

Navarre has made this community proud in the way it has carried itself, not just on game day, but every day.

And while the wins do matter, while goal is to win every game, and ultimately, a championship, falling short of that is nothing to feel down and out about.

The Raiders have every reason to be proud of what they accomplished this season, and the lessons they have learned will prove valuable both on the field and off it. Not just this year but in the years to come.

I realize that doesn’t help remove the sting of not playing for a championship, but only one team walks away with a trophy when the playoffs are all said and done. The Raiders have a great deal to hold their heads high about despite not being the team to hoist that trophy.