Why Greensburg win meant so much to community

Watch postgame speech:

(GREENSBURG, Ind.) – The Greensburg Pirates and Batesville Bulldogs competed in a nailbiter game on Friday. 

The two teams were tied at 23 each as the game went into overtime. 

The injury-ridden Batesville team had the first overtime possession and scored a touchdown and extra point to make it 30-23. 

It was Greensburg's turn to try and score a touchdown and match the score.

The Pirates found the touchdown and it brought the game to 30-29. 

Newly-hired head coach Isaac Sliger elected to go for a two-point conversion. If the Pirates scored, they would win. 

If the play failed to convert, they would lose. 

The Pirates had a running play that went toward the left side of the field and the conversion was good. Pirates won! 

The Greensburg players, cheerleaders and student section rushed onto the field to celebrate as the PA speaker announced that the Pirates had won.

It marked the first time that Greensburg has won a regular season game since 2022. 

The Pirates football team have had a combined record of 1-26 for the past three seasons. 

Their only win came against Purdue Poly Englewood during the sectionals on October 25 last year.

At one point last season, the players who were reading social media comments felt deflated. Parents even attempted to intervene to mitigate the hurt the players were feeling.

It all came to an end on Friday when the Pirates beat their rivals 31-30 in overtime. 

Sliger, who took the Greensburg job after leading the Rushville Lions to a historic season last year, told his team that the job isn’t finished yet. 

“We’ve been close and you hammered away. You broke the rock. That is a kudos to what you do day-in and day-out,” Sliger told his team after the victory.