Thrilling day for Lebanon fans

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Saturday, December 5, 1998

BY MIRIAM SMITH
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Lebanon Tribe, from left, seniors Russell Buchanon, Nathan Epp, Bruce Steele and Scott Barney, cheer on the Warriors. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

MASSILON - Lebanon's last-minute victory in the Ohio Division II football championship game capped a thrilling game -- and a long day -- for fans who took off from work Friday to travel up Interstate 71 to Paul Brown Stadium.

For Scott Norris and his band of Warrior fans, it started out with just a few friends. But by the time they loaded the motor home, they were "packed in like firewood" for the four-hour road trip. Toni and Kevin McKiernan graduated from Lebanon in 1986. The husband and wife were among the throng from Lebanon that helped fill 9,710 seats at the championship game.

In the fourth quarter, with the Warriors leading 21-14, they were cheering wildly.

"This is it," said Mrs. McKiernan, a kindergarten teacher at Holbrook Elementary School.

"We're all excited about it. I think the whole town is here. Lebanon is a ghost town."

It was Lebanon's first trip to the state championship game in 18 years. And Mr. Norris was feeling it as he and family and friends waited a football toss or two from the stadium entrance.

"Oh, the butterflies," Mr. Norris said as he shifted anxiously. "I feel like I'm playing."

Mr. Norris, a 1978 Lebanon High graduate, and his friend, Rob Bitter, were so excited they scaled the stands to check out their seats when they arrived Friday afternoon.

As the maroon-and-white-clad fans could attest Friday, the championship game truly was a community event for the city of 13,700. If you were wearing the right colors, you were waved over to join a camp of merry tailgaters. As the team bus arrived, the crowd parted respectfully and shouted "Go Warriors" as players filed into the locker rooms.

Fans, even the most rabid, made sure to point out the outcome of Friday's game isn't what they'll remember. Instead, it's the glow of big stadium lights, sounds of shouts from friends as they shuffled proudly to their seats and celebrated the fact that they made it this far.

Milissa Glass and her husband, Duane, were even willing to survive a four-hour chartered bus trip with their three children for the game.

"I think people are getting tired of pro sports and are coming back to where the fun is," Mrs. Glass said.

Mr. Norris realized the players and fans were experiencing something rare Friday night.

"They (football players) are playing for absolutely nothing, except they like to play," he said. "They play for a trophy and a decal. But what they must feel when they pull in here and there's thousands of people waiting . . . "

Like many fans in attendance Friday, Tom Amburgy, has been to every game this season.

As president of the Lebanon Athletic Booster Club, he understands more than most the significance of a state football championship for its residents.

"Any time you get a small community, they rally around it more," Mr. Amburgy said.

His eyes were shining as he and his family hustled to the gate to wait for the team bus to arrive and the game to start.

"This is something that all kids and actually all families

should experience," he said. "This is what high school is all about. These kids are never going to forget this. Life doesn't get any better."

More online at www.lebanonwarriors.com
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