Friday Night Lights

I love football! I have my favorite NFL team. I have my favorite SEC team. I also have my favorite high school team.

My favorite high school football team is the West Creek High Coyotes. Why? Well, all 3 of my kiddos have attended that school and Peyton, my middle child, is an Education Aide there. Our church, Crossroads Fellowship, is also partners in education with them. I love that school. We like to show our support to them by attending sporting events and other activities.

Friday night, August 19, 2022, was the home opener for the school. It was a white out game, you wear white team shirts rather than black team shirts. We got to the field a little early so that we could participate in the tailgate party for the different grades and talk to the teachers that were there as well. Let me tell you, there was a crowd there, over 900 people. The morale of the students, parents, and teachers was so high! It was such a blessing to see so many smiles, hear so much laughter, and to see so many students with face paint.

When it came time for the game to start, the game ball was flown in via the Austin Peay State University Helicopter by the professor of aviation. It was given to the last 6 remaining original staff from the opening of the school. The teams took the field and started playing. It was a good game. Lots of action. Lots of fun. We were losing but it was still amazing to be there in the stands.

Fast forward to half-time. The marching band took the field and performed part of their show. I loved it! I marched in high school and I always look forward to seeing the bands perform.

Time for the 3rd quarter. The teams take the field and start playing again. I was in the stands sitting with Larry, Peyton, Zenas, Amanda, and Kurt. We were talking and laughing and just having a good old time. I look up at the end zone and a herd of kids was on the move. My immediate thought was “where’s the fight?”. Nothing came of it so we went back to watching the game.

All of a sudden I’m watching the visiting team hurdle the fence and run for the buses.

Then the gunshots.

Then the orders to lay flat in the bleachers.

I am laying flat on my stomach facing Peyton. Zenas was covering her with his body. She is starting to have a panic attack. I wanted her to focus to help calm her so I had her look in my eyes. Her beautiful brown eyes were so full of fear and I could tell that she was thinking back to the first shooting she ever experienced. The whole time I’m telling her to focus on my eyes and in my head was praying like I have never prayed before. Stay focused. Keep looking in my eyes. She eventually calmed down and we were able to focus on our surroundings.

We were told to remain flat for what seemed like an eternity.

Finally the scene was secured. They came over the loud speaker and announced what was going to happen next. They ordered us to stay in the stands. Then started calling the names of students, they were instructed to go to the tennis courts to meet their parents. It was controlled chaos that was beautifully executed. Eventually they allowed the rest of us to exit the stands and head to our cars.

We, Larry and I, stayed around for a while. We talked to some of the teachers. We talked to some of the administrators. We talked to some of the teachers kids that were there.

When we finally got in our cars and left the parking lot, they were routing all of the game traffic through the adjacent neighborhood. There were so many blue lights. When we got onto the main road to head to the house, there were more blue lights. There was also a white car on the side of the road. The car that was used by the perpetrators. The car that carried the 18-year old, the 17-year old, and the 16-year old along with the weapon that was used.

Praise Jesus that no one was hurt or killed.

Praise Jesus for the way that the School Resource Officers were so attentive that they were able to catch them so quickly.

Praise Jesus for the Clarksville Police Department.

Praise Jesus for the Clarksville-Montgomery County Sherriff’s office.

The story of that night doesn’t end here. It hasn’t ended yet. I am still processing it. I am still trying to wrap my head around the events of that night.

This Friday night, September 16, 2022, will be the first home game since that happened. It also happens to be the homecoming game. I don’t know what the night will look like. I don’t know what will happen. I do know that I am going to attend the game. I am not going to allow fear to overcome me and hold me back.

Don’t get me wrong, I am anxious about it, as are so many others.

However, God did not give me a spirit of fear and I will not live in fear. God is bigger that the trauma suffered. God is good and He is faithful! I can’t wait to see how God shows up!