It felt so good to be back broadcasting high school football this past week. The start of the new school year marks my 31st year of broadcasting high school sports on KLQP radio. I was like a little kid at Christmas, I couldn’t wait for the football season to start.

I had two long road trips to start the season. Dawson-Boyd was at Tracy-Milroy-Balaton on Thursday evening and Lac qui Parle Valley opened up their season Friday in Slayton taking on Murray County Central. Of all the sports I broadcast, I enjoy doing football the most. I was pretty rusty the first game of the season with my play calling, but it came back to me quickly.

Thursday, I picked up my broadcasting partner, Duane Hastad in Dawson and we made the trip to Tracy. We arrived in Tracy about an hour before kickoff so we decided to have a hamburger and chips being sold by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Duane asked them what the proceeds were going to and they told us that they buy bibles to give to the students. I thought that was pretty cool. After we devoured our hamburger, we made our way to the press box and set up our equipment. I went down on the field to visit with Coach Larson and get the starting line-ups.

The game between the Panthers and Blackjacks did not go as I thought it would. It was a crazy first half with the score at halftime 35 to 35!! At the half!!! TMB came out on top 50 to 41. It was a long game and Duane and I got home around midnight. The next day I went to Slayton to broadcast the Eagles and Rebels. That game was crazy also, the Eagles were down 35 to 13 at the end of the third quarter. They came back and scored with 13 seconds left in the game to cut the lead to 35 to 34. Coach Smith and the team decided to go for two and get the win. The two point conversion failed and MCC won 35 to 34.

I will say this, even though the teams I follow fell a bit short in their openers, the games were very exciting to broadcast. I liked what I saw in both the Blackjacks and the Eagles football teams. It’s going to be a fun season. This Friday night Dawson-Boyd will be at LQPV. It’s always a fun game to be a part of. The boys know each other well and the communities represent each team well. Also, Friday night at the football game there is a benefit for Spencer Thorsland. He is twelve years old and a student at LQPV. Spencer has cancer. So Friday we will gather around Spencer and his family and support them. Many activities are being planned for the benefit. Spencer is going to join me on the radio and I am looking forward to visiting with him.

I also have volleyball this week and football on Friday night as I mentioned. I have been so blessed over the 31 years of broadcasting high school sports. I have an amazing boss and co-workers, plus the many people that have joined me to broadcast over the years are the best. I have also been blessed by the parents, grandparents, school staff and other radio sportscasters that I have gotten to know over the years. Thank you, I also appreciate each of you, our listeners and sponsors. Let’s do another 31 years!