To play off a twist from a verse of the Grateful Dead song “Truckin,’” what a long, great day it has been.

That was my thought as I headed home from an extremely long sports day that was filled with twists and turns. One that was filled with drama, joy and sadness. A day that ended with the start of a real rivalry between Niles and Brandywine on the volleyball court Tuesday night.

My day started with a trip out to Orchard Hills Country Club in Buchanan for the Division 3 golf regional hosted by the Vikings. It was nice to have a regional so close to home. Usually, they are an hour or more away, so I do not cover them because there is something that day closer to home to report on.

But on this day I was more than glad to make the short drive to Orchard Hills where Niles, Dowagiac and Edwardsburg were part of the regional field. The weather was as perfect as I can ever remember for a regional, girls or boys. The sun was out, the dew burned off the grass quickly and the temperatures started in the high 50s and made it into the middle 60s quickly.

The field was filled with talented golf teams. I would say it was one of the better regionals in the state. So, I expected good golf, and that is exactly what I saw all day long. I stationed myself between the first tee and the ninth green, which is near the clubhouse and pro shop for those of you who are not familiar with the course layout.

I do that so I can get players teeing off and also get shots of players chipping onto the green, playing out of the sand and putting one of Orchard’s tricky greens. It also provides me with an area to set up shop for the day with my computer.

I was not disappointed with my choice as the first few groups who teed off made allowed me to catch one of my best golf shots ever. Dowagiac’s Rebecca Franklin’s driver picked up so much water that when she teed off, it left a trail against the dark background of the trees.

As the day wore on, it was becoming obvious that the talent level of the players was good and that a fantastic finish awaited me and all the spectators that made the trip to Orchard Hills. My senses were correct, as after Marshall showed why they were the favorite coming into the regional, the scores were tight and you could feel the tension growing as the final groups reported their scores.

The excitement and drama quickly gave way to sadness as host Niles, trying to qualify for the state finals for a third consecutive year, came up one stroke short. I felt bad for the Vikings because they played their hearts out on the course. They also played the perfect host as the tournament was well-run. It would have been nice to see them advance.

But as quickly as sadness had set in, the excitement and drama returned when we all realized there was going to have to be a playoff for the third and final individual qualifying spot. It was extra exciting for me, as Dowagiac’s Greta Whitaker was going to play for that final spot.

I have to applaud Niles Athletic Director Jeff Upton for picking the ninth hole for the playoff. Some wanted to use the first hole, but by choosing No. 9, the teams, fans and coaches were able to watch the entire playoff from tee to green.

It was cool watching people surround the green, get up on the hillside and line the patio of the clubhouse to watch the final hole of the tournament. I truly hope that Whitaker and Lauren Reed of Battle Creek Harper Creek were able to enjoy what probably will be a once-in-a-lifetime moment. It was like they were walking up the 18th fairway at the Master’s with the crowd cheering them on.

Whitaker all but had the playoff won by the time she reached her ball, which had gone over the green and settled just short of a walkway. She chipped the ball perfectly onto the green and two-putted to win a spot in the state finals.

But that was not the end of my day. After hurrying to get the story done and pages completed and sent to the office for printing, I jumped in my vehicle and headed to Brandywine High School.

I knew the match between the Bobcats and Vikings would be exciting, filled with emotion and drama. I was hoping that when I finally got into the gym it would have a good crowd.

I was not disappointed.

Brandywine, which is finally starting to get healthy, dominated the match, winning 3-1. But that was not what was important. What was important, at least to me, was that these two teams will begin meeting every year in 2020 as part of the BCS Athletic Conference.

And while Niles and Brandywine usually have a regular-season match, it is just for bragging rights. Next year, it will in all likelihood be for the BCS Red Division championship, which should amp up the energy and the drama even more.

By the time I reached my house Monday night, I was exhausted, but in a good way. These are the days that I live for as a sports writer. These are the events that make being a journalist fun. I hope I have many more of these to come.

Scott Novak is sports editor for Leader Publications. He can be reached at scott.novak@leaderpub.com