Draft seniors go out as winners

STUARTS DRAFT — As the saying goes all good things must come to an end, and for three Stuarts Draft seniors the moment was surreal as they were carried off the football field Friday night.

After a come-from-behind victory to beat Wilson Memorial on senior night, seniors Cole Beyeler, Zac Glass, and Ben Cook looked back at what has been a lifetime of memories.

Glass took in the moment after the game realizing that this was the last time he was going to be playing a home game at Draft.

“It was a surreal moment for me,” Glass said. “I was doing the math on my way over tonight and I calculated that I have been playing here for ten years. This is what we live for. We work everyday in the off season so we can play on this field on Friday nights.”

Glass was glad to be leaving the field with a victory.

“I couldn’t have pictured it any other way, beating rival Wilson on senior night and leaving my final home game with a win,” Glass stated.

For Beyeler beating Wilson on senior night is a memory he can add to his collection. Playing as far back as he can remember on the field at Stuarts Draft High School, the final game made him think of the memories he has made over the years.

“We have came all the way up through little league playing on this field,” said Beyeler. “Tonight made me think of the memories I had playing little league here. Beating Wilson tonight was a bittersweet moment because I know I will never play on this field again.”

Leaving the field for last time, Ben Cook is looking forward to the future and the hope of playing for a championship.

“We still have football to play. We are looking to go all the way,” Cook said. “Some of our seniors like Cole [Beyeler], Zac [Glass] and Michael Hicklin really played great tonight for us. If we play hard and step up like we did tonight I think we can win out the rest of the year.”

All three of the seniors were quick to give their Head coach Rod Bowers credit in making them the men they are on and off the field.

“He teaches us heart,” said Beyeler. “He taught us that is more than just the game of football in life. He encourages us to be good men both on and off the field.”

Cook said he couldn’t have asked for a better coach to play under for the past few years.

“Bowers is an awesome coach and he loves us players like we are his family,” Cook stated. “I wouldn’t ask for any other coach. He means the world to us and always believes in us when in doubt.”