The Blackout by Grant Frazey

Grant with his family at the Blackout Game
8th Grade

            It was the first big game of the Arizona State University season.  ASU’s opponent was the Missouri Tigers, a member of the Big 12 conference.  ASU revealed their new black jerseys for the big game and all the fans were asked to participate by wearing black themselves.  I was excited about going to this game with fourteen other family members, wearing black and being involved in my first blackout!

The huge crowd delayed my arrival and I didn’t get to my seat before the kickoff.  Luckily, I didn’t miss anything.  I felt very excited walking into the stadium with thousands of other enthusiastic fans.   It didn’t take long before exciting things began happening on the field!  ASU scored first and took an early lead.  I spent most of the first half talking to my cousin, who I don’t get to see very often.  We were surrounded by fans, cheering and yelling for the Sun Devils.

At half-time, I watched the marching band perform their songs.  At this point in the game, it was time for my brother, Garrett and I to switch places.  He had been sitting with my sister, Marissa in some lower seats near the goalposts.  Now it was my turn to sit in the better seats.  The seats were great, but I was surrounded by wild, Missouri fans!  The small number of them made me feel like being an ASU fan was superior.

Later, during the second half, the score became close.  ASU was slacking on defense and allowed Missouri to get back in the game.  During the fourth quarter, Missouri scored again and tied the game.  I watched as ASU had a chance to score, but were not able to do so.  Once again, Missouri marched down the field and got within field goal range.  There were only minutes remaining and if Missouri made the field goal they would win the game.  The players lined up on the field preparing for the kick, and not once, but two times their coach took a time out before the kick.  When they came back out for the third time, the ball was snapped and they missed the field goal.  The ASU fans cheered wildly for the chance to win in overtime!

I learned that the rules for overtime were that both teams got the ball with a chance to score from the thirty yard line.  If both teams score the same number of points, both teams get another chance.  ASU got the ball first and they marched down the field and scored a touchdown and an extra point.  Missouri got the ball next and failed to score a touchdown.  Once again, the fans cheered wildly for ASU’s win against Missouri!  ASU’s victory became my first successful blackout!

First Autobiographical Incident