Keyboard Quarterbacks

By Mark La Monica

* The Mets are slowly starting to look like the Yankees. It's always a shame when Mets fans lose half their arguing chips in their attempts to not feel like second-class sports citizens.

* The longer the Yankees do nothing, the greater the chances are of them doing something big . . . and stupid.

* Sports talk radio gets no better than Stephen A. Smith singing the lyrics to Mary J. Blige's "A Family Affair" when coming back from commercial breaks. C'mon, baby, let's party with Stephen A.

* Illinois beat unranked defending champion North Carolina in college hoops on Tuesday night. Unranked defending champion. An amazing phrase.

* USC's Reggie Bush will be in New York next weekend for the Heisman Trophy presentation. If the world is in synch, USC's Reggie Bush will be in New York next season for the Jets.

* Please let one of Michael Irvin's defenses for getting caught with drug paraphenalia be true. TV needs "The Playmaker."

* St. John's hoops continues trying to climb out of the abyss, but losing to Hofstra for a third straight season is just plain awful.

* In my next life, I want to come back as the male version of Morganna the Kissing Bandit from the 1980s. Maria Sharapova will still be hot! And beach volleyball will still be around. Nice.

* Four wins in a row and suddenly Army thinks it's a college football team to reckon with. Army is suspected of stealing the Commander-in-Chief's trophy which has belonged to Navy the past three seasons. According to the story, a note was left. It read: "Before we win the football game on Saturday, we thought we would take the trophy. By the time you read this, it will be halfway to West Point," home of the U.S. Military Academy. That's hilarious. Of course, Army will still lose.

By Mark La Monica

Actively hoping for the New Orleans Saints to generate a productive, successful football season is just about as American as you can get.

From the complete destruction of their city, and the lives and homes lost to everything else depicted on CNN in the days and weeks after Hurricane Katrina, Saints fandom is a wonderful thing.

Here are two more words that should make everyone in New York a Saints fan this Sunday night: Reggie. Bush.

If the Jets can do the job right and lose to the Saints, they can remain in a tie for second place in the NFL Draft standings.

Let those Colts chase perfection. And those teams in the NFC East can hammer each other into submission. Jets fans have Ludacris goals -- they cannot slip up or get got because they're coming for that No.1 spot.

With a season this awful, the only thing Jets fans can do is look to the future and pray for the No. 1 pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. On that April Saturday, Paul Tagliabue can stroll to the podium and announce, "With the No. 1 pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, the New York Jets select Reggie Bush from Southern California."

How can this happen? We begin with a look at the inverted standings:

TEAM           REC   GB   Opp %
Houston         1-9   --   .350

Jets                2-8   1   .417

Green Bay      2-8   1   .550

New Orleans  2-8   1   .550

Tennessee     2-8   1   .517

San Fran        2-8   1   .417

Arizona         3-7   2   .483

Baltimore      3-7   2   .450

Miami            3-7   2   .400

All these teams have six games left this season, none of which includes Texans vs. Jets in the football equivalent of an "I quit" match.

However, there is hope for the tortured green souls.

Four of the Texans' six remaining games are against teams on this list: Ravens, Titans, Cardinals and 49ers.

Three reasons to send the NFL scheduling guru a holiday fruitcake:
1) Surely the Texans can win one of these games. They've been playing better of late and Andre Johnson is healthy again.
2) Another win for Houston is good for New York.
3) Should the Texans lose all four of those games, the Ravens, Titans, Cardinals and 49ers plummet on the inverted standings, rendering their seasons just plain awful rather than building for next year.

The Jets host the Saints then travel to New England. Back home for ever-improving Oakland, down to Miami for some Jason Taylor and Ronnie Brown (and, sadly, Gus Frerotte), home for the Patriots and Bills.

No gimmes in that group, especially when the Jets must choose their quarterback from a list that reads as such: Brooks Bollinger, Vinny Testaverde and Kliff Kingsbury.

Hmmm, the words "Gus" and "Frerotte" don't sound so bad anymore.

The Saints are hampered by no home field, a coach named Jim Haslett and a collective 33-27 record for its opponents. A win this weekend against the Jets is a must. Otherwise, don't even bother watching USC in the Rose Bowl. A colonoscopy followed by root canal would be more comforting.

Green Bay must deal with injuries to every skill position player who ever heard of Wisconsin and an old Brett Favre. That gaudy 33-27 record for its opponents is indeed imposing, but one of those opponents is 4-6 Detroit. Plus, Favre will not lose his last two games of the season at Lambeau Field. One maybe, but not two.

The Titans and 49ers play three teams on this list. The bad news: The Titans and 49ers stink equally. The good news: Nov. 27, 1 p.m, 49ers at Titans. Oh lord, please don't let there be a tie.

Will the Cardinals be the ones to spoil the Colts' perfect season in Week 17? Not a chance. But Dennis Green will bring another win to the tradition-rich desert.

Kyle Boller might not even be able to start for the Jets. He's that bad. But one of the Ravens' games is at home against Mike Tice's Vikings in Week 16, so that's a guaranteed win.

Miami has the second easiest schedule. There is every reason to believe the Dolphins can squeeze out at least one more victory. Then comes Dec. 18, 2005.

This is where the NFL schedule delivers a two-handed stomach punch followed by a 55-yard groin kick. The Jets host the Dolphins. Two bad teams, two bad records, one Reggie Bush.

It may be impossible to openly root against the Jets that day. But we must think of the bigger picture here. Wow, great, we beat the Dolphins but we lose Reggie Bush. Not a trade Jets fans should be willing to make. We need to lose games, not draft slots.

So, lift your glasses, raise your leftover turkey sandwich and join me in cheering for the Saints on Sunday night.

By Mark La Monica

There are two reasons TiVo and DVR were invented:

1) In case you blinked when Southern California gave the football to Reggie Bush.

2) In case you didn’t blink when Southern California gave the football to Reggie Bush.

Bush gets to the football before Trojans quarterback Matt Leinart does. Somehow, he’s across the line of scrimmage before the snap yet it’s not a penalty. He’s that quick.

It’s impossible to compare athletes in different eras, but it’s safe to say Reggie Bush, a running back and return man, is doing things none of his contemporaries ever did, including Michael Vick.

If you turn your head for a second, you’ve missed what could have been the most exciting play of the year, that fourth-and-9 play against Notre Dame notwithstanding.

Bush makes fans anticipate the snap. There’s a collective gasp when Leinart gets the snap. There’s a collective sigh of disappointment when Leinart doesn’t give the ball to Bush. It makes post-Olympic depression seem so pedestrian.

No other player generates such excitement in college football. Imagine if Barry Bonds could step to the plate any time during a baseball game. Or, if Lindsay Lohan knocked on your door asking to borrow your phone to call roadside assistance.

That’s the kind of "Remember where you were when" impact Bush brings to the sport.

Since I am not one of the fortunate 923 who can cast a ballot for the Heisman Trophy, I’m resigned to a once-a-week trip to voteforheisman.com. Here, I select Reggie Bush from a long list of undeserving names – and a short list of deserving names – as the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner.

The top three votegetters in the fan balloting receive one first-, second- and third-place vote.

As of 6:23 p.m. Sunday evening, Texas QB Vince Young is No. 1 with 38,992 votes, all of which have merit. Bush was eighth on the list. Translation: The 94,792 votes for spots 2-7 were wasted. Did we learn nothing from the 2000 election, people?

Vote for Bush!!!

Thankfully, this is a sports thing and not a political thing. Otherwise the 63 percent of America that does not approve of George W’s presidency would be at my e-door, keyboards blazing.

So I am not misunderstood here: I’m advocating a vote for USC football deity Reggie Bush for the 2005 Heisman Trophy.

Heisman Henchman friend Chuck has been advocating Bushfor the Heisman since last season. This past week, however, he had the gall to place Bush in a tie for the top spot with Young. Well, Heisman Henchman friend Chuck, I think you’ve learned your lesson.

The man they call "Mr. President" on campus was already a leading candidate. Then, well, then Saturday night happened. Then, 513 yards happened. A majestic collection of runs, receptions, returns.

Ordinarily, we sporticos would not gush over someone who needed more than three hours to run three-tenths of a mile. However, put that person in pads and cleats, two hindrances to speed, and mix in some commercials and rules that designate the other team much touch the ball, two hindrances to viewing, and we throw rose petals at Bush’s feet.

Bush is human, though. He made two mistakes Saturday night. He fumbled a kickoff that allowed Fresno State to score a touchdown and take a 42-41 lead.

Then, on his next kickoff return, he was called for unsportsmanlike conduct, a 15-yard penalty that pinned USC, its 32-game win streak and its drive toward history at the 11-yard line. How did Bush respond? Oh, just your ordinary 6-yard run, followed by a 19-yard run, followed by a 43-yard catch-and-run. Three plays, 68 yards. Shortly thereafter, he mixed in a 4-yard run before LenDale White scored the decisive touchdown.

If Bush didn’t earn the Heisman with his three-touchdown performance last month against Notre Dame, he certainly did this weekend against Fresno State. If Bush loses this vote, more than just Florida will be demanding a recount.

By Mike Casey

The Goals Blog: A unique spin on the NHL roundup for hockey fans.

Pittsburgh 3, Philadelphia 2: Looks like the Penguins and Flyers had some fun last night in Philadelphia. Good action, a lot of good saves early. Then Sidney Crosby made a nice, simple cross-ice pass that found Ryan Malone wide open for the first goal. Less than a minute later, Crosby threw a behind the back pass that eventually set up another goal. 2-0 Pens.

Then Joni Pitkanen, a great young Flyers defenseman who most people still haven't heard of, scored a pair of power play goals to tie it up. In overtime, Marc-Andre Fleury made some terrific saves, and Malone fed Crosby for a clean breakaway. Surprisingly, Crosby didn't deke; he roofed the puck to the stick side, beating Antero Niittymaki.

Including his shootout game-winner against Montreal last week (which doesn't count in the official statistics), Crosby now has two game-winners. Keep reminding yourself: He's only 18.

Isles 7, Thrashers 3: Janne Niinimaa and Shawn Bates are two guys who intermittently take a lot of heat from Isles fans, but they hooked up for a gorgeous goal to make it 1-0.

Atlanta's Adam Berkhoel is easily the most overmatched goalie in the NHL. When you see some of the lousy goals that are scored against him, you almost feel bad for him. The Thrashers are desperate to get Kari Lehtonen/Mike Dunham/anyone else back from injury... Although it isn't as if Garth Snow exactly stole the show in net last night for the Islanders.

After watching Jason Blake dust Berkhoel for the seventh Islanders goal last night, and after seeing him burn Jocelyn Thibault in Pittsburgh on his decisive shootout goal on Monday, perhaps Steve Stirling should elevate him to a little higher than ninth in his shootout pecking order.

Attention Mike Milbury haters: Miro Satan has 11 goals.

Blues 2, Blue Jackets 0: Who the heck is Lee Stempniak? I don't know either, but he burned Marc Denis for the game-winner in Columbus with a little backhand-forehand magic last night. On the play, Columbus defenseman Duvie Westcott made perhaps the worst defensive play in NHL history, allowing Stempniak to essentially tip toe right past him toward the goal.

Flames 3, Red Wings 1: Flames defenseman Andrew Ference got himself on Robert Lang's Christmas card list by essentially handing him the puck at the Calgary blueline for a breakaway. Lang, who picked up the torch for hockey mullet wearers everywhere when Jaromir Jagr chopped his a few years back, beat Miikka Kiprusoff to the five-hole for a 1-0 lead.

With the season for giving right around the corner, Detroit 'tender Manny Legace admirably matched Ference's generosity by whiffing on a pair of savable shots for Calgary's second and third goals.

Avalanche 3, Coyotes 1: Beautiful shot by Mike Johnson to score Phoenix's first goal. Too bad he never quite fulfilled his potential after scoring 20 goals a couple of times early in his career.

There's something to be said for being in the right place at the right time. Marek Svatos tipped in a Pierre Turgeon rebound that sat on the goal line to tie the game at 1-1. Then he walked down the slot just as a big rebound caromed away from Curtis Joseph and blasted home the go-ahead goal.

Rob Blake scored one of the smoothest slapshot goals from the point I've ever seen. Smooth and Rob Blake just sort of go together, don't they?

Stars 4, Ducks 2: Now this is what hockey dreams are made of: Tied 1-1, Anaheim's Rob Niedermayer gains the zone and walks in along the near boards. He delays, then slides a backhand pass around the defenseman to his brother Scott, who glides in and chops a perfect short-side backhander past Marty Turco.
Hey, maybe if the Stars hadn't spent most of the night firing lasers from in and around the slot, Ilya Bryzgalov would've made the Ducks' lead hold up.

Canucks 3, Sharks 1: You've got the puck and you're in on a two-on-one. Shoot or pass? If you're Richard Park and Marcel Goc, you shoot it, baby. Vancouver's Park made a nice fake before drifting acorss the slot to beat Evgeni Nabokov. Then San Jose's Goc slipped a wrister past Dan Cloutier on the short side. I'm going to commission the Elias Sports Bureau to find out how many times two-on-one passes get broken up.

Nothing quiets a crowd like a go-ahead goal by the visitors in the third period. To wit: Ed Jovanovski's tip in with 9:45 left. And nothing electrifies a crowd like a big hit on the guy who just scored the go-ahead goal. To wit: Patrick Marleau's pasting of Jovanovski one minute later.

There was an Anson Carter sighting last night at the HP Pavilion. The Vancouver winger scored an insurance goal for the Canucks on a power play rebound. Remember when this guy was one of the most feared two-way players in hockey? It was only four years ago he scored 28 goals for Edmonton.

BY MARK LA MONICA

Giants fan Dips polluted my inbox with his Tiki Barber propaganda last Monday.

True, Barber is one of the most productive -- and underrated -- running backs in the NFL over the past five years. Now if only the rest of the Giants could have played that way Sunday against the Vikings. Instead, they were under-productive and overrated.

Giants fan Dips can spend this week wallowing in the most awful loss since that glorious afternoon in San Francisco three years ago.

How does the defense not give up a touchdown the entire game and still lose, 24-21? How does the defense allow 95 yards of total offense in the first 58 minutes, 39 seconds, then let the Vikings march 42 yards in 1:11 to kick the winning field goal?

And if Mike Tice is the worst coach in NFL history -- he is, by the way -- and he beats the Giants and Tom Coughlin, what does that make Tom Coughlin?

"A very poor performance by our team." Coughlin said. And that was as he approached the microphones for his postgame news conference.

Once he got to the podium, the comments grew in disgust.

"Beyond belief that we would play that poorly," he said.

We agree.

Beyond belief that I would pick the Giants in the knockout pool this week against a Mike Tice-coached team and lose. It's as if I didn't grow up in New York and wasn't forced to watch the Giants every weekend. When they're supposed to win the easy game, they usually don't. And if the defense is needed to make a big play on the final possession, they rarely do.

To top it off, I got to watch the Jets take a dump in Carolina. It's enough to make you want to move out of the top television market. Somehow, that seems easier than getting DirecTV.

A look at the Little Blue lowlights:

* Giants allow a 92-yard interception return for a touchdown.
* Giants allow an 86-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
* Giants allow a 71-yard punt return for a touchdown.

The Vikings became the first team in NFL history to return a kickoff, a punt and an interception for a touchdown in the same game. Conversely, the Giants became the first team in NFL history to surrender a kickoff, a punt and an interception return for a touchdown in the same game.

Is it possible that the gushing of Eli Manning can stop for a week or two? Please. He's not that good yet. He put up numbers similar to Brooks Bollinger on Sunday. Ouch.

Sure, Manning led a drive late to get the Giants into range for the tying touchdown. But if he did better in the first 56 minutes of the game, he wouldn't be called upon to win it at the end. Four interceptions? Ouch.

The 6-3 Giants should have been the 7-2 Giants after another great defensive effort.

With seven games left -- Dallas, Washington, Seattle, Kansas City, Oakland and two with Philadelphia -- the 6-3 Giants must avoid becoming the 6-10 Giants. The 7-9 Giants won't get into the playoffs either. The 8-8 Giants? Mediocrity is so pedestrian. And so not playoff material.

By Mark La Monica

Hewlett reader Miles wrote about victory in the final game this junior varsity season. He wrote of the 23-22 win against Lawrence, of the crowd cheering, of the adrenaline racing through his teenage veins.

"The feeling of playing in that game, with the crowd cheering and the game on the line was like no feeling I've ever felt," wrote Miles. " . . . Your article defines the beauty of all high school sports."

Miles, and dozens of others, emailed in response to my blog about why high school football matters posted here last week.

It seems I'm not alone in enjoying the beauty and purity of high school football.

"I'd rather watch my two sons play a high school football game than go to the Super Bowl," wrote reader Steve Izzo, a descendant of Vince Lombardi. "No trash, no commercials, just football."

You're not alone, Steve. And it's not just your legendary DNA.

Levittown reader Kathy Martinez, a self-described "psycho mom," gets goose bumps every time she watches her son and his friends play.

"I can’t explain the feeling I get when my son says, 'Mom don’t forget to where my jersey, it brings us luck,'" Martinez wrote. "His team calls me their hardest fan."

Reader Tony Cintado wrote that he has been watching high school football for 18 years and "wouldn’t miss a Bethpage game for anything."

Rough Riders fan Gil Hazel played for Roosevelt from 1968-1972, he wrote. "It's a good experience for the young people in any community on the Island . . . every year is an exciting year."

Southampton reader Mark Epley wrote that he extols the virtues of the sport to his son and friends. "We spend only a small portion of our life playing it and the rest talking about it!"

Texas reader Cindy Cicchetti, whose husband is a displaced Long Islander, wrote: "I live in Texas where high school football is king but you still hit upon the same feelings we have and poignantly so. . . . We have a replay screen in our stadium this year and I don’t like that because it takes away that element of mystery and, like you said, you have to watch every play so you don’t miss anything."

Transplanted Nassau County reader Cynthia Tellefsen does not let a little thing like living in Florida take the fun out of still being married to her transplanted Nassau County husband. "We still check in every Sunday to see how our alumni high schools did on Saturday, just for bragging rights," she wrote.

Texas. Florida. Wow, this web thing really is worldwide. Yet, it was high school football that brought these people back home for a few Internet moments.

In those states, communities are built based upon their football teams. It may not be as crazy here in New York, but we can rally around a cause just as good as the next state.

"Ask anyone from Plainedge, who should be complemented just for fielding a team, let alone an undefeated one," wrote Nassau County reader Rich. "Kudos to them and everyone who rallied to make it happen."

I am not related to Rocky Point reader Sharon Geib but I wouldn't mind putting her on my Season's Greetings card list after reading her thoughts on my thoughts. "You are so right with everything you have said," she wrote.

Toot! Toot!

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

A winning season at Rocky Point has stirred some emotions that I'm sure every parent has experienced. Among them:

* Waiting for Newsday during the week to see the polls and watch your hometown team climb for the first time.

* Seeing young men you have known since first and second grade doing so well and cheering them on like they are your own child.

* Remembering to take every moment in because it is the last season for your kid and wondering what you are going to do next year on Saturday. (Probably go to the games to watch other kids you know)

A "very proud football mom" delights in the purity of cold, rickety bleachers and stepping around muddy puddles. "My 9-year-old son dreams of being a professional QB one day, but for now watching him enjoying playing the game is worth a million dollars in a mom's heart !!!"

Indeed, three exclamations are in order here. But it's not just about the parents. Those on the field know why high school football matters.

A SUNY Albany reader with St. Anthony's bling on his resume wrote, "I miss those cold nights of dominating the CHSFL and winning four straight championships. Hopefully this year is five!"

That's quite possible. The Friars are looking mighty tough again and haven't lost a CHSFL game since before the league was invented. St. Anthony's hosts Chaminade in the AAA semifinals Friday night at 7 p.m. (Click for complete schedule)

"It seems as the final weeks of ultimately my sporting career in high school wind down, we all forget about the horrible running in the preseason and weightlifting over the summer," wrote a current senior football player from parts unknown. "We all as a senior class have come to the realization that we are the football team of 2005 and that is something that no team can ever take away from us."

Which is what makes high school football, well, high school football. And the same holds true for any sport. Soccer, field hockey, baseball, softball, basketball, wrestling, swimming, tennis, whatever. When the games go away, the memories must remain.

"Silly me, I arrange my work schedule and errands around the games, and meet the team wherever they go with a truck full of unruly 8th graders . . . next year's aspiring JV players," Southampton reader Ginny wrote. "Haven't been able to figure out a better way to spend a Saturday . . . I'll be the little old lady still screaming on the sidelines (I can't sit . . .gotta follow the ball!) years from now."

Many thanks to the more than 7,500 readers and the dozens of emailers on this topic.

By Mark La Monica

Some thoughts from in and around Madison Square Garden for the Knicks' home opener on Friday night:

Larry Johnson. OK, so it was his Knicks jersey on a young fan seated six rows behind the hoop, but still. It was a Larry Johnson jersey. He wins my "Throwback Jersey of the Night" award.

The first gripe. Stephon Marbury turned the ball over on the Knicks' first possession of the game. A fan in Section 68 was not too happy.

Giants fan Brown. Ten minutes before tipoff and this season-ticket holder of three years is about to enter the Queens Midtown Tunnel. That's poor planning on his part. Stick to football, Brown.

"Ed Tapscott, rot in hell." Giants fan Brown finally made it to the game midway through the first quarter. At halftime, he was still lamenting the Knicks' non-drafting of Ron Artest. "You can quote me on that," Brown added. Well, it appears I just did. Stick to football, Brown.

Hieroglyphics. That's what the NBA scout seated to my right was drawing on his pages. Oh, sure, he may be able to decipher them and call it an elaborate system of play diagramming. But, don't be fooled. Only Cleopatra could figure that stuff out.

Cotton candy. The vendor peddling such sugary sweets to the fans behind the hoop kept interfering with the view of the NBA scout. "This is New York, pal," I said to the scout. "He doesn't care about you."

The City Dancers. Crazy hot! And I went to junior high with one of them. Nice!

The City Kids. Crazy cool! Any team can trot out a crew of hot-bodied honeys in small, skin-tight clothing and make them gyrate. But how many NBA cities can roll out a dance team of kids to break it down on the Garden floor?

Donald Trump. He had his spot on Celebrity Row at The Garden. Got a nice ovation from the crowd, too. Then the camera zoomed out and showed his wife, Melania. Got a great ovation from the crowd.

Celebrity Row. A rather poor showing for the home opener in my opinion. Joining Trump was Howard Stern and Chris Rock, both genuine stars and worthy of some attention. But Matthew Modine was also on the list handed out before the game. Has he done anything since "Vision Quest"? Just wondering. Michelle Williams was also on the list. You may know her as the third person to be the third singer in Destiny's Child.

Mariano Rivera. He gave Celebrity Row its true juice. And the crowd let him know it. Someone from a Washington newspaper asked me who it was. I said it was Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. The reporter acknowledged knowing who Rivera was but not recognizing him. Then, I added, "That's Mo. He's kind of like our answer to Chad Cordero."

Quentin Richardson. The final boxscore says he went 4-for-14 from the field. I beg to differ. The 4 seems a bit generous.

Steph & Jamal. There is potential there for an energetic backcourt.

Little man Nate. He's not as short as you think. He's not as tall as he thinks.

By Mark La Monica

Maybe it’s the absence of television cameras and parabolic dish microphones and how that absence somehow magnifies the sport’s authenticity and natural beauty.

Maybe it’s how you can never turn your head on any play and how any play can turn into a head-turning display of athleticism.

Maybe it’s about the money and how there is none of it.

Whatever it is, high school football is the best sporting event to attend. Better than the NCAA. Better than the NFL.

Those were bold words. These are bolder: High school football will always be more enjoyable to watch in person.

The NCAA and NFL have way too many ancillary happenings. That detracts from the true enjoyment of attending a game.

About the most extraneous thing in high schools is whether or not traffic will prevent the referees from showing up on time.

College has great rivalries and 100,000 people in one stadium. And yes, the NFL is the NFL, with its professionals and its big money. Not to mention its injury reports – made public for gambling purposes no matter what the league may claim to the contrary – and its know-it-all analysts telling us to start Peyton Manning this week in your fantasy league.

High school has none of this. Just a bunch of kids on a field playing for the team, playing for the fun of it, playing for the affections of the girl in the front row of the bleachers.

And there is a sincere quaintness about being charged $2 for “hot chocolate.” We know going in that it’s nothing but warm slightly chocolate-flavored water. Does that stop us? Not a chance.

Chaminade played St. Anthony’s last Friday night and more than 2,300 people were there to watch it. Friends and family. Students and teachers. Alumni and general fans.

One Chaminade alum dealt with rush-hour traffic from New Jersey, hoping to catch at least part of the second half. He did -- the part when St. Anthony’s scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter for a 44-30 win.

“The game,” he said “it had kind of a surreal feel to it.”

The lights. The pitch black sky. The breath of players visible from 40 yards. NFL Films would have drooled.

Maybe it’s how names such as Eanuzel and Marchassalla mean less than a little in the world’s world but so much in their world.

Maybe it’s how your toes were freezing, but you’d do jumping jacks to stay warm before leaving early.

Maybe it’s the rarity of the pass, and how that makes aerial advancement of the football even more exciting.

Maybe it’s how cool it is to sit in traffic for 12 minutes trying to get out of the school’s parking lot after the game.

Maybe it’s how these kids took a yellow school bus to the game and how that yellow school bus is not a Cadillac Escalade or a Hummer H3.

Maybe it’s how these kids took a test in school that day and how this game isn’t their job.

Maybe it’s how, for some, this is the best it will ever get athletically. Some may play in college. Some may even get paid to do it. And maybe, if they’re lucky, three or four will get a shot at being signed as a free agent after the draft. One or two may even hear their name called on Draft Day.

But the overwhelming majority will take their helmets off later this month and never put it on again. They will hand in their uniforms to the equipment manager and wait until the Alumni reunion game to wear it again.

Such finality adds to the infinite magnificence of high school football.

E-mail me your thoughts on this topic and we'll post your comments in a mailbag next week.