There's more to the game than the scoreboard

The scoreboard doesn't always tell the whole tale.

Yes, we do keep score. And yes, some teams move on and some teams go home. But there's more to football than the final score, which is why we love the game so much.

The Quinlan Ford Panthers were beaten pretty handily on the scoreboard Friday night. They fell in bi-district action against Godley, 41-12.

But the score doesn't reflect the heart I saw on the field Friday night.

Instead, that was reflected in the defensive stand the Panthers made, stopping Godley on nine plays inside the 10 yard line in the third quarter.

You could see it when the Panthers stopped Godley on fourth-and-goal from the 1 yard line, stripping the Wildcat quarterback with Zalen Morales pouncing on the fumble.

I saw it when Rowdy Rowan intercepted the Wildcat quarterback in the red zone two possessions later.

And everybody saw it in the play of quarterback Eli Chambers, who was hurt on the Panthers first possession and played the rest of the game on a gimpy ankle.

No, this score might not be what the Panthers wanted in their first playoff game since 2012. But I have a feeling they will be back again soon.

I could see it in the way they played with heart.

The heart of a champion.