Which of these words most nearly means decisive as it is used in this passage?
The saying, “It’s not over until it’s over” certainly applies to football. In spite of a significant lead, a team cannot count on a win until the last whistle sounds. Any team, no matter how skilled, must maintain a sense of purpose throughout all four quarters and should not relax if they want to guarantee a mark in the win column. Double-digit leads have been magically erased during small time spans late in a game. It can happen when an opposing player intercepts the ball and makes a break for the goal line, scoring the decisive points.