Fans need game plans so they don't miss anything

I don't like being late for anything.

Anyone who is constantly late has found an annoying and inconsiderate way to go through life.

In fact, if you're late, you're considered hostile.

Of course, if you're early, you're considered anxious.

If you're on time, you're considered compulsive.

When it comes to high school sports events, I probably arrive too early. I usually like to see a little of the preliminary game to scout out the future talent, and it also gives me a chance to talk with people before concentrating on the varsity competition.

I am never late. You never know what you might miss. I learned that lesson almost 50 years ago at a high school football game that I still remember vividly even today.

I learned that you should have all your attention focused on the field just before the opening kickoff. There should be no lingering at the refreshment stand or rushing to your seat. You should be sitting down (or standing on the sidelines, in my case) as the teams line up for the kickoff.

I once encouraged Frank Stites, treasurer of this newspaper at the time, to see what I thought would be a great high school football game between Arlington and Hinsdale in 1959.

Frank hadn't been to a local game for many years and wanted me to select just one for him to attend that fall, a game where he could join me on the sidelines.

That was an easy choice.

Arlington, coached by "Bus" Ormsbee, was 4-0 in the West Suburban Conference and had allowed only 20 points with 2 shutouts.

Hinsdale, coached by Harvey Dickinson, was 3-1, losing only to Maine, but was averaging 26 points a game and had just blitzed a good LaGrange team 38-7.

Hinsdale was a program you wanted to beat because they were always so good and Dickinson was a legendary high school coach.

I remember how it was a spectacular night for football, one of those crisp evenings that make a Midwest fall such a precious time, a beautiful time, a time to be appreciated.

Another capacity crowd filled the stands as the teams lined up for the kickoff.

But somebody was missing. The game began. Where was Frank Stites? I specifically told him to allow plenty of time to get to the school.

Finally, Frank arrived to join me on the sidelines, a little sheepish and frantic and out of breath while apologizing for a late dinner and traffic and having to park so far from the field.

"How much did I miss?" he asked before looking at the scoreboard.

I smiled and told him only a minute and 59 seconds had gone off the clock.

That was his good news.

The bad news was that he had missed 3 touchdowns!

On the game's first play from scrimmage, Arlington's George Bork tossed a perfect pass to Mike Dundy for a 72-yard touchdown.

Hinsdale took the Arlington kickoff back to its own 44. On the Red Devils' first play, Vic Dutkovich sliced through the line and raced 56 yards for a touchdown.

Arlington's Dundy then thrilled the crowd by grabbing the kickoff on his own 13-yard line and sprinting 87 yards down the sideline for a touchdown.

Hinsdale took the next kickoff and marched down the field to the Arlington 12. On fourth-and-7, Hal Brandt passed to Phil Krumb for a touchdown.

Four touchdowns in the first period.

And no punts.

"Gosh, Bob, are they all like this?" Stites asked, laughing.

"I wish they were, Frank. I wish they were."

That high school game was so good it added a dramatic finish to that explosive start.

Trailing 26-13 late in the game, Hinsdale came out of nowhere to shock Arlington 27-26, scoring the winning touchdown with eight seconds left.

There have been many dramatic games through the years, but from start to finish that may have been the most exciting I have ever seen. And I do emphasize start in any evaluation.

Frank Stites walked away from his first high school game in more than 10 years thrilled with what he had witnessed.

He came back to many games after that.

However, he also had missed 1:59 of incredible high school football excitement by being late.

That's today's lesson.

Plan your evening accordingly. Always consider your dinner time, traffic, trains and parking in your official game plan.

Arrive early. You can't risk being even two minutes late.

You might miss 3 touchdowns.

bfrisk@dailyherald.com