Football is a physical, emotional game, and things will be said and done to irritate and enrage the opponent. Rivalries abound.

From this perspective, the venom has not been flowing as often this season. Players and coaches are lining up afterward to shake hands. Some, like Chandler Valley Christian and Phoenix Scottsdale Christian, even prayed together after a hard-fought game.

At a game on Thursday night (Oct. 7), a player from Anthem Boulder Creek was run out of bounds into the area of the Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor bench. The player nearly ran over O’Connor coach John Rodriguez, and when the player turned to go back onto the field, he patted Rodriguez on the back of the shoulder as a sign of sportsmanship.

I have seen many other instances of opponents helping each other up.

Hopefully, that type of civil approach will continue, from those on the field and in the stands.

It would make the Friday night experience that much better.