It was just an idea at first.

But as it came to fruition, it turned out to be a really BAD idea.

After finishing our first season in the C.C. Slow-Pitch Softball League with a winning record, the Karvakko’s Market team was looking for something more to do that fall.

We couldn’t find enough other teams to go along with a fall softball league, although a few did express interest.

You have to realize that slow-pitch was quickly reaching its zenith in interest, and would soon zoom to 28 teams and three divisions within two years.

So it was decided to advertise in the local newspaper for a fall tag football game, with the winner to claim a keg of beer.

It wasn’t long before our challenge was answered by a group of Michigan Tech students.

A game time was set for early October at our home field. The field was lined, about the same dimensions as the current 8-man football.

We weren’t without a few weapons that foggy fall day.

Our centerfielder possessed very good quickness and we had some decent size in the line. We had a couple of guys who played football at Houghton and Baraga High school. I had played flag football and regular football in my stint in the Army.

I could see right away the students didn’t come unprepared. They had a few rangy guys and a left-handed quarterback who could really throw the ball.

We stung them right away when our speedy player broke off a long touchdown run. But that only seemed to pique their interest.

They quickly answered our first score with one of their own and followed that up with two more touchdowns on long pass plays.

We kept up for awhile, but it was evident we were outmatched in every way.

And their physical style of play (more like regular football) sent several of our players to the sidelines with injuries.

After the score reached 56-18, we decided to call it a day after running, quite honestly, out of healthy players.

Chatting with the students afterward, I found out that all of them had played high school football at places like Warren, Taylor Center, Ithaca and Bay City.

Their lefty quarterback had starred at a small town named Mendon and had been looked at closely by Western Michigan University.

Mendon was a name I learned a lot about years later when Lake Linden-Hubbell played the Hornets in the state finals.

It was a very good lesson that you should always know exactly who you’re playing before issuing a challenge.