I looked around at all of the seniors, tears streaming down their faces. That's when they began to build up in my eyes, threatening to escape.

We'd lost, 21-7. Our last high school game of the year; for the seniors, their last for the rest of their careers. No one from my high school every went anywhere to play sports at the collegiate level, not even at a junior college level.

My heart hurt as I walked through the crowds of families, embracing their crying sons. As I watched everyone, I couldn't help but take responsibility for this loss with every aspect of the game. In reality, we had just been outplayed. Rosewood had several players going to play Division 1 football on scholarships next year and really, the possibility of our team actually coming out with the win was a long shot. But, the competitor in me ached at the feeling of losing, in any capacity. If we had played the Pittsburgh Steelers and lost, I still would have taken the blame and tried to find ways we could've won.

As for me, my freshman year of football had come to an end. The ridicule and harsh comments about me being a girl who played football were beginning to dissipate, within my high school at least. I had a long road ahead of me and many more obstacles stood in my way but all I could see was the goal I wanted to reach - playing college football. Every ounce of my body wanted to get there and I was planning on doing it.

I spotted my mom in the crowd of fans who had gathered on the field and I began to make my way towards her, when someone grabbed my arm and pulled me back a little.

I turned to find a guy staring back at me, pen and paper in hand.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. Can I get a quick interview though?" He asked, eyebrows raised.

"Oh, yeah of course."

"Aw this is great!" He exclaimed and quickly pulled his phone out of his pocket. He did something on it and then held it to his mouth, quickly speaking into it. "I'm here with Oakridge High School star freshman quarterback, Maya Callahan. Maya, just a few quick questions. As a freshman how did it feel competing against a primed Rosewood team out there today and in my opinion giving them a good amount of competition?"

"Good, Coach had us all well prepared and ready to battle. We just still came up a bit short. Doesn't matter though, a loss is a loss and we already expect to come out on top if we get the opportunity next year."

"What about you, Maya? How did you prepare for this game?"

"I don't wanna give away too many of my secrets but I study the playbook every day and always leave everything on the field."

"Well Maya, I loved watching you play and I'm a huge fan of your playing style. Just one more question."

I braced myself for a question related to me being a girl. "Go ahead," I said timidly.

"Will this team be a serious Northern Division competitor next year?"

I definitely wasn't ready for that and quickly gathered my whits to answer it appropriately.

"Definitely." Was my simple answer, a smile had begun to form on my face.

He smiled back at me and turned the phone back around, turning off the recording app. He stuck out his right hand. "James Richards. I'm a reporter for an online football source for everything high school football called 'Within the Bleachers.' Everything I said about you and me enjoying your playing style is 100% true and a lot of my colleagues feel the same way I do. Thank you for your time for the interview, I plan on following you and your career for a very long time and I'm excited I was able to get this interview with you."

I shook his hand and smiled, "Thank you, I really appreciate that. Anytime you wanna talk or anything just let me know."

We exchanged smiles and went to part ways when I quickly turned back around to ask him a question that I knew would eat at me if I didn't ask.

"One more thing, Mr. Richards."

He turned back around.

"Why didn't you ask or say anything about me being a girl?" I asked.

He let out an understanding smile, almost as if he had expected it. "I could care less about you being a girl. When I see you, I see a great quarterback who is on pace to set multiple school and state records, who has the opportunity to play college ball, possibly the first ever from Oakridge. All I see and care about is the skills you have as a football player." He nodded at me then walked away, disappearing into the crowd.

A small smile crept onto my lips and I could faintly hear my dad's voice whisper - you made it, kid.