Sports
Despite Loss, Andrew Football Can Savor Season of Comebacks
Thunderbolts bow out of the state playoffs, but not before proving their toughness to their fans and head coach Jim Malec.
"We told (the players) they were constantly getting backed up to the gates of Hell and told them to not back down."
Yes, that's very close to a line from a Tom Petty song, but it was the mantra of head coach Jim Malec for his 2011 Thunderbolts football team.
The T-Bolts were 1-3 after the first four weeks of the season, and they roared back to win six straight and finish 7-4. The 6-3 regular-season record was good enough to win the SWSC Red division.
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Even in Friday night's second-round playoff game against St. Rita, the T-Bolts gathered the troops and began to mount a comeback in the second half. Andrew was down 21-0 at halftime, and it was 21-13 with 2:00 left in the fourth quarter before
"Our kids found some ways to get back into the game and keep on fighting, and what more could we ask for out of a bunch of kids?" Malec said.
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"At the end of the day, I want the kids to say playing football for Andrew High School was worth it."
The T-Bolts bid farewell to 32 seniors, but they have a strong core of current sophomores and juniors to count on for next season.
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