Johnie Logue
Sports Reporter
To paraphrase the closing lines from To Kill A Mockingbird, the summer that started so long ago was gone and fall had taken its place. I would think of these days many times of Reid Harrison, Gentry Dieckman and Coach Shearer.
The Pigskin Preview magazine had Cole Camp football going 6-3. They ended 3-6. Every team has their share of injuries over the course of a season. The pieces never seemed to fall into place for the Bluebirds.
Harrison earned All-State honors a year ago as an All-Purpose player. He was injured off and on during the season. With him, they took Versailles into overtime in their district game. He ran a 79 yard kickoff return, intercepted a TD saving pass at the five and dove in from one yard out.
Without him, they blew a 26-6 third quarter lead to Lincoln.
Gentry Dieckman threw 11 interceptions but not one in his last two games. Inexperience cost him. He hadn't played quarterback in years. Not to feel sorry for him as he will be dunking basketballs and striking out batters before the school year is over.
Coach Kevin Shearer, never lost for words, blamed himself for the close losses "We had a great group of kids. We lost four games in overtime or in the last minute. That is on me."
Seniors Grady Strathman and Cody Dewitt made their mark on Cole Camp football.
Sophomore running back Grant Rodriguez was the new kid in town and will bolster the team next year. Matthew Bright was good on both sides of the ball.
It was a season to remember. Expectations ran high, things just didn't turn out as they had hoped.
