Appreciate scope of moment

CANTON -- After watching Canfield and Cardinal Mooney's seasons end with losses within a 24-hour period, appreciation sinks in.
Sometimes we don't realize how special something is until the ride comes to a full and complete stop.
Canfield's 31-29 loss to Toledo Central Catholic in Friday's Division II championship game was a flat-out heartbreaker for the Cards. Hours after a most difficult defeat ended the fantastic thrill ride Mike Pavlansky's team took its community on, it was hard not to feel a little sad.
Canfield had never advanced to state, never had a 14-game winning streak that felt so magical, never had football players come so close to tasting a championship.
And that's why appreciation must not be lost in a sea of frustration.
Bias creeps into pictureas relationships develop
Sportswriters are supposed to be impartial, but when you follow a team for several weeks and get to know the players and coaches, it's hard to remain neutral.
So excuse these biased feelings, but it sure would have been sweet if Canfield had prevailed.
What shouldn't be lost in the pain of the Cards' only loss is how special it was to get to play in a state title game.
Back in August when the regular season began, few would have predicted this team would finish its season in the state championship game. Was anyone even certain then that Canfield was the best team in the Metro Athletic Conference?
Canfield's tightest regular season game was the first one, a 17-13 victory over Rayen.
Over the next nine weeks, Canfield enjoyed blowouts and a few close calls before prevailing.
Pavlansky guided his second team in four seasons to an unbeaten record. He's had them in the playoffs three of the past four years.
That's an accomplishment to be appreciated, not forgotten.
As Canfield's postseason progressed, the chills multiplied, especially after Canfield tailback Angelo Babbaro sprained an ankle and the focus shifted to how well the defense played.
Bursts, hits, blocksare to be cherished
We can only hope that as time passes the memories of how special this team was -- from Babbaro's speedy bursts to linebacker Kyle Banna's crunching hits to the blocking of Joe Rosko and the linemen led by Nick Rousher -- aren't tarnished by a two-point loss to a first-class team.
After the game, Pavlansky said he felt most for the seniors playing their final game.
"These guys are some of the finest leaders I've ever been around, and that's why tonight is so disappointing," Pavlansky said.
Saturday at Fawcett Stadium, coach P.J. Fecko's Mooney Cardinals found themselves in a wild first half with Coldwater in the Div. IV title contest. The second half was all Cavaliers.
Coldwater was the better team against the defending state champions. The Cavaliers' offense was led by quarterback Steve Borger's three touchdown passes.
Ohio State recruit Ross Homan scored on a 15-yard run. And the Coldwater defense returned a fumble -- one of Mooney's three giveaways -- 70 yards for another score.
There is no questioning who the better team was on this day.
Ascension to finalis feat in itself
Championship weekend did not end the way we had hoped for the Valley's two best teams. Which is why we were tickled to hear Mooney linebacker Pat Kelley's comment on how hard it is to defend a title.
"It's hard to get to this point, but we're just glad to be here," Kelley said.
Canfield and Mooney fans shouldn't look on their season finales as a lost weekend. Instead, they should feed off the pride that enveloped their schools.
No one knows when the next state trip will be. Nothing is guaranteed. That's why appreciation should not be engulfed by sorrow.
For both teams, it was a wonderful ride to Stark County. And that's worth remembering.
XTom Williams is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write to him at williams@vindy.com.