David and Goliath.
Gentlemen,
In a couple weeks this football season will come to an end and unless some college is desirous of a diminutive defensive end with a big heart, Charley will be suiting up for the last time. Yesterday Brophy played the #1 ranked defending State Champion Hamilton Huskies. Having recently lost both Varsity quarterback's to injury and utilizing quarterbacks pulled up from the Freshman and Junior Varsity teams, Brophy had virtually no chance for a win. Charley told me he was really looking forward to the game just the same as he would be matched up with the number one high school tight end in the nation. Tyler Johnstone (#55) will be playing for Oregon next season. At 6'5" and 262 pounds, he outweighs 5'10" Charley by exactly 100 pounds and has received full ride scholarship offers from 30 different Universities. In 5 years, Charley continued, Tyler will be playing in the NFL and I will always be able to say that I went head to head with him. I did not share Charley's enthusiasm for the matchup as it was just after last year's Hamilton game when Charley blew out his right knee.
It was evident from watching game films that most defensive ends facing Tyler lost their nerve early in the first quarter. But Charley slammed into him with increasing ferocity as the game wore on. They appeared to be close to coming to blows in the first quarter after every play. Charley made several excellent tackles and recovered a fumble. Twice double teamed by 250 pound plus offensive lineman that drove him into the ground, Charley got up and hit even harder on the next play.
I wear a T-shirt to the games with #54 on it so it's not hard to tell who my son is. Two total strangers in the stands approached me halfway through the fourth-quarter and, shaking my hand told me, "Your son is a total fu**ing warrier".
Charley must have expended 100,000 calories during that game. Hamilton was unable to score a single touchdown during the first half, but they ultimately prevailed and won the game. Something cool happened when it was over. As the teams walked down the line to shake hands, when Tyler Johnstone got to Charley, he pulled him out of the line, put his arms around him and hugged him as they exchanged a few words. Later that night I asked Charley what Tyler had said to him.
"54, you are the most insane little guy I've ever played against. Great job."
Chip
