Emotions were noticeably high at Eagle Stadium three weeks ago when Jacksonville’s Carter McCown dove into the right side of the end-zone to put the Tribe ahead of the LHS varsity football team 55-52 with just 36 seconds left, but that didn’t deter the demeanor of our players. On the first play of their next possession, the Eagles got the ball all the way to the Tribe nine yard line, and in a moment most fans will remember for years to come, senior quarterback David Slice hit senior receiver Court Brown for a touchdown with just 6 seconds left to seal up the win and ensure a spot in the playoffs.

“The season didn’t exactly go as planned, but we started with a common goal to make playoffs, and achieved that goal as a team,” senior receiver Tate Coomer said. “We all built off of each other’s positivity over the season, and played for each other, not just as teammates, but as a family.”

The Eagles finished their season against the Ennis Lions last Friday at E.H. Hanby Stadium in Mesquite, Texas. Ennis, the undefeated champion of district 15-4A, took the victory 62-17 over our varsity squad.

“Overall, I’ve had a blast watching the football games this year,” senior Clayton Baldwin said. “Every game has been a fun experience and I’m glad that we made playoffs.”

The team finished the season with a 3-8 overall record after ending their season in the first round of the 4A Division 2 playoffs. Students and teachers alike expressed pride and admiration for how hard the team worked and fought to win this year.

“The team improved in a lot of areas over the season, both offensively and defensively,” head coach Mike Meador said. “Our kids gave a lot of effort every game and we never quit. That is what I’m most proud of.”