Blog: Libby could've won the game

It's difficult not to think about what could have been.

Libby was playing well. The defense had caused problems all night except for that long run allowed in the fourth quarter. The Logger offense was driving when the second lightning delay was called and that turned out to be the end of the game. There's no telling what could've happened if that 6:15 had been played.

Without question, you have to think about the safety of the kids. It's not worth the risk when lightning is hitting all around. Of course, there's the little voice inside that believes it would be impossible for lightning to realistically hit someone. Go ahead and play the last 6:15 because the kids have worked so hard for a chance to beat Frenchtown (and receive satisfaction following last year's 52-0 loss).

Many of the players were visibly upset when they walked into the locker room. A chance at victory was right there in front of them for the taking. It seems possible that the Loggers would get off to a 2-0 start.

In my 22 years covering sports, I've never seen a situation involving lightning delays like the Libby-Frenchtown game on Friday night. It was a rarity that I may never see again. Loggers coach Neil Fuller said he had never seen anything like that either. The only delay any of his Logger teams had ever experienced coincidentally occured at Frenchtown when the lights went out. Now I've seen light delays but never lightning.

Let's hope Libby realizes that the situation was beyond their control. They're probably kicking themselves for giving up that long TD run in the fourth but one of the main culprits tonight was Mother Nature. I hope we never see that again.