Maybe you’ve seen it on ESPN…or perhaps it showed up in your Twitter feed. This post-game exchange between a quarterback and cheerleader from opposing schools went viral this week.
Courtesy: Diamond Clear Media and Rivalry Thursday (PackMan HD Sports Productions)
Maryville’s senior quarterback, Dylan Hopkins, just led his team to a victory over the Oakland High Patriots from Murfreesboro – the only team to beat the Maryville Rebels this year.
The game was covered by PackMan HD Sports Productions, with yours truly directing.
The announcers, producers and I selected Hopkins the game MVP…and sent our sideline reporter, Sara Mitchell, into the midfield scrum to find Dylan for an interview. You can see Sara, at the end of the clip, pulling Hopkins away for his appearance on our broadcast.
Our midfield press box cameraman, Jim Martin, spotted Hopkins during the commercial break after the game ended. Jim’s assignment: “Follow number 1 wherever he goes, no matter what.”
What we got was a viral moment when Oakland cheerleader Grace Lovinski gave Dylan a friendly, in-your-face pep talk.
What was said? That’s what everyone wanted to know.
Video credit: Tom Kreager, USA Today Network/The Tennessean
Dylan Hopkins spoke on the incident this week as his team prepares to meet the Cane Ridge Ravens in the TSSAA BlueCross Bowl to crown the Class 6A state champions.
Thank you to Mark Packer and Austin Price in the booth, reporter Sara Mitchell, cameraman Jim Martin…and especially Grace and Dylan…for ending this season of directing high school football TV games with a viral video.
