Braves’ junior savors first varsity victory

Imagine this one if you can:

Before last Friday night, some upperclassmen in Pequea Valley’s football program had never – never, ever – won a football game.

Not in Midgets.

Not in junior high.

Nada.

That’s a lot of games and a lot of long practices and longer bus rides – only to come up empty, time and time again.

But the Braves finally got the job done last Friday night, when Pequea Valley knocked off Fleetwood 35-25 in a non-league game, snapping the Braves’ 29-game losing skid, which dated back to a Week 3 win over Fleetwood in 2006.

It was Pequea Valley’s first win under third-year coach Curtis Waltman, and for a good chunk of the Braves’ players, it was their first win – at any level – ever.

Hence the post-game celebration in the locker room. And what must have been one of the coolest bus rides back to Kinzers that some of these guys have ever enjoyed. And walking around the halls on Monday morning must have felt pretty good.

One of Pequea Valley’s players who enjoyed the win is Ray Ball, who sort of epitomizes the Braves’ team: he’s 5-10 and 170 pounds (soaking wet) and he’s full of energy. And he’s super psyched that he and his teammates finally broke through, and can put this losing-streak talk to bed.

I caught up with Mr. Ball, who has scored three touchdowns this season, after practice the other day, and we chatted about the end of the streak, how this program is starting to turn the corner, and where the Braves go from here – riding a winning streak for once.

You can listen to the interview by clicking on the ‘play’ button above.

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