False Assurances at the Midway Point

The moment when someone reaches the halfway point
Of a long journey, they sometimes celebrate
How far they’ve come and begin to see
The light at the end of this fathomless tunnel,
Inspiring them to finish and complete their milestone odyssey.
What was once considered a lofty, extreme,
And wonderful goal to accomplish
Is now thought to be within one’s easy and perceptible grasp –
They are most likely to become reassured
And proceed to launch themselves toward the finish line
With an aggressive and focused demeanor.
But as is the case when a National Football League team
Crosses midfield with the treasured and iconic pigskin
In its formidable grasp,
Misfortune can occur in the form of blown pass plays,
Penalties, and turnovers –
Something may happen to invariably impede progress
And force the team to give up possession of the ball;
Then, the team must reconvene offensively, hoping to score, 
And in finally doing so, repeat this feat enough times
To win the back-and-forth contest. 
So beware of people who caution, “It’s only a game!”
And say this is beneficial in competition;
Scoring is based solely on the execution and drive
Of the game’s most talented players…