It was bitterly cold and damp, which only seemed to make the moment more somber. Tyner had worked its way through the 2003 season unbeaten in its region and winner of 11 straight games before having its playoff run ended by Lipscomb Academy in the state quarterfinals.
As the disappointment of that loss sank in, Rams All-America defensive lineman Demonte Bolden stood on the field, flecks of mud and grass sticking to his sweaty arms and tears rolling freely down both cheeks.
As media gathered around him, the mammoth 6-foot-5, 290-pound kid kept his head down and spoke softly, answering every postgame question while oddly still wearing his helmet. Just before he turned to walk back to the Rams’ locker room, I asked why, since the game long had been over and he was clearly exhausted, was he still wearing the maroon and gold helmet.
I’ll never forget his response.
“Because I know when I take this Tyner helmet off, that’s the last time I’ll ever wear it,” he said. “I just can’t believe it’s over.”