The calls come every November, right around Thanksgiving, from teammates who still give Kevin Topper grief.
Eighteen years ago, Topper was the Penn-Trafford kicker who missed the potential game-tying kick in the 1997 WPIAL Class AAAA final with Upper St. Clair at Three Rivers Stadium.
On a fourth-and-11, Eric Stewart threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to Marko Thomas with 18 seconds left. Then Topper, who was 49 of 49 entering the game, missed the extra-point kick.
“Missing that kick was horrible. I let my teammates down, but it molded me into who I am today,” said Topper, 36, a first-grade teacher in the Quaker Valley School District. “I didn't let it define me. I use that with my kids: You're not going to be perfect. You're going to fail. But you can't let that define you.”
Topper is thrilled to see Penn-Trafford back in the WPIAL final for the first time since '97. He has followed the Warriors, especially because close friend and former teammate Tim Kearns' cousin, senior Tyler Bruno, scored the tying touchdown against McKeesport in the quarterfinals and the game-winner against Pine-Richland in the semifinals.
“You always hoped that they'd get back there,”said Topper, who plans to attend Saturday's game against Central Catholic. “It brings back memories. My buddies don't let me forget. They call and joke about it. If you can't make light of a bad situation, you're never going to get over it.
“I'm still best friends with the guys I played football with in high school. More than winning the game, the things you get from high school football are the camaraderie and friendships.”
Sounds more like a blessing than the curse of a missed kick.
Kevin Gorman is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at kgorman@tribweb.com or via Twitter @KGorman_Trib.
