I’ve been covering high school football for 20 years, and that Class 5 game has to rank in my top five all-time. No. 1 was the 1995 Texas Class 5 championship, Converse Judson 31, Odessa Permian 28. And the 2004 MICDS 45-42 comeback against Harrisonville in Ron Holtman’s last game as coach is up there, too. … But that game last night may have had more big plays, and a better finish, than my top 2.

It always saddens me when a team has to lose a game like that. While watching the East kids enjoy their victory was nice, it was equally disheartening to see the South kids in tears, deflated on the field. It always seems somehow wrong to me that only one team in the playoffs ends the season without heartbreak.

After a few days, or maybe weeks, hopefully the Raytown South kids can look back on the remarkable journey, beating No. 1 Ray-Pec in the semifinals, for instance, and qualifying for state for the first time. And then playing so remarkably well. And kids from Fox and Ritter and others who had breakthrough seasons, too.

I’m done waxing poetic for the day.

Enjoy the Class 2-4-6 games.