GAS CITY, Ind – Chris Overholt looked at the Delta Eagles football team during the postgame huddle. The nine-year Delta head coach has done this countless times in his career, but this time it was different.
It was his final one as the Eagles leader following a 21-7 defeat to Mississenawa in the semifinal round of the IHSAA Sectional No. 28.
“Every year, your heart breaks for the seniors," Overholt said. "We ask so much of them from offseason development to leadership development… Your heart breaks for them and I’m just proud to be their coach.”
Overholt – who recently accepted the assistant principal role at Delta High School – announced this would be his last season in the position Sept. 23. A Delta grad, he led the blue and gold to two sectional championships (2016, 2023) in his tenure.
After the huddle, every player hugged their head coach as tears fell from their eyes.
“He’s been everything for us,” senior quarterback Bronson Edwards said. “...He’s just the heart and soul of this team.”
The contest at Mississinewa High School opened with defense as both the Eagles and Indians did not allow either offense to find any momentum. The first four possessions of the game ended with punts.
But following that, the Indians scored the game’s first touchdown after recovering a Delta fumble. A few minutes later, the red and white found the endzone again with a 60-yard touchdown pass.
However, the Eagles did not hold back as Edwards found junior receiver Amir Wright-Hill for a 24-yard touchdown pass in the final seconds of the first half. But the final two-quarters of football did not go the blue and gold’s way as penalties, defensive mistakes and an interception stopped their momentum.
“We had our moments,” Overholt said. “Not converting [in the second half] and some defensive penalties extended a couple [Indian] drives.”
Though it was Overholt’s final game, it was also assistant coach Dave Edawrds’ last game as well. The long-time defensive assistant finished his career with his three sons – Bronson, Brady and Braxton – playing and coaching beside him.
“I was driving here and I told my son I was at peace, win or lose,” Dave said. “When I go home, I have a new little granddaughter and she’s awesome and gives me something to look forward to.”
Though they’ve been coaching together for the last nine seasons, Dave and Overholt's relationship has been going on since Dave coached his boss when he played for the Blue and Gold. To the pair, their relationship is hard to put into words.
While Overholt was talking to the media following the contest, Dave interrupted, hugging his fellow coach and congratulating him on a successful career.
“He is one of the hardest-working football coaches I have ever met,” Dave said. “No one knows how much time he puts in and I am so proud of him.”
While Delta will lose their veteran head coach and assistant, the Eagles will lose a group of seniors who have had an impact on the field for the last four years. One of those is senior Landon Brooks, who will be continuing his football career at Purdue University.
“We’ve been playing with each other since we could run,” Brooks said. “It’s just crazy because it’s so abrupt. You’re having a good time at practice one day and then the next day, you're crying on the sidelines… It’s just unfortunate."
He too could not say enough about Overholt. Though he was Brooks’ coach for the last four years, he considers him something more than that.
“He has had an impact in my life that I could never say thank you enough,” Brooks said. “He is a blessing for sure. You look around and see him hugging every single player. It truly means something to him.”
As the huddle came to a close and the Delta group on the field grew smaller and smaller, Overholt stayed to meet with everyone who stopped to thank him. His time with the Eagles football program is something he’ll never forget.
“It’s all about relationships,” he said. “I was their coach for four years, but we're going to have these relationships forever. If I did anything, I hope I taught these guys how to value relationships and build them with one another because that makes life worth living.”
Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary.carter@bsu.edu or on X @ZachCarter85.
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