Go Friday Night

Longhorns 29 Bluecats 26 in 2OT

By Tracy Ebarb
October 30, 2006

Congratulations Longhorns!! What an incredible game! I'm not sure what else to say! Hooray! Hallelujah! Woo-Hoo! Wow! No more "Grieving", it's time for celebrating! We've endured the "time to mourn", now it's "time to dance"! (Well, time for us fans to dance, for the players, it's time to get ready for San Saba, and a trip to the 'graveyard', but, more on that later).

Let's recap the "Process" we went through: First: Denial - I said I'd like to deny the Bluecats the end zone. In two overtime possessions, the 'Horns kept them firmly planted in the 'litter box', aka outside the end zone. (could anyone have kept John Proud off the field at the end of the game? I don't think so!) Second: Anger - I'll admit, I did get a little angry on the opening kickoff, when the fair catch was made at the 38 and then 'advanced' to the 43. But what I saw on the field is what got me through this step. Because what I saw was focused rage/determination. Like the difference between a race horse and a rodeo bull, both have incredible power and spirit, but the race horse focuses that energy on the finish line, while the bull just goes wild. We've all seen a Longhorn go wild, what we witnessed at Coleman was a focused, determined, goal-oriented Longhorn Team.(remember Eric Skaggs scrambling for the 1st down in the 2nd OT) Third: Bargaining - We won this one hands down! At the Longhorn Tailgate party: big, thick, juicy, all beef burgers and delicious sausage wraps! But the best part - Longhorn fans, lots of them! When you see these guys, give them a great big thank you: Gordon Bearden, Junior Cooley, Dalton Cooley, Chris Cadenhead, Steve Bailey, Mark Rome, and others I'm forgetting, but still appreciating! Fourth: Depression - Let's face it, when the 'Cats had 1st and goal from the 2 and plenty of momentum, there was not much air in our collective balloons. However, about 3 plays later Evan Hall had us all pumped up and roaring. How about turning a 3 yard pass into a 65 yard TD! From across the field, where I was, you could certainly feel the energy from the Longhorn fans as it rushed across the field and the Coleman fans literally became 'blue' cats. Not only that, but how could Mitchell Bailey keep from being depressed after the first FG attempt? But he didn't let that keep him down, and about 5 minutes later he kicked that 'depression' along with the football through the uprights for 3 points and ultimately a Longhorns OT win! At that point, depression began to creep into the press box where we were like a dense fog, but Joseph and I were immune by that time, we had already moved to step 5. And Fifth: Acceptance - This is the one I like the best, acceptance. Accept Defeat, Coleman Bluecats! Coleman is a good team and I expect they'll make the playoffs, and if so, will represent our District well. As for the Longhorns, I hope the team will accept our thanks and our congratulations! That game was a real treat for fans! There is absolutely nothing more that we, the Longhorn fan base, could ask of the players and coaches, those guys absolutely sold out to win that game and left everything they had on the field. Wow! What a game!

Now, it's time for the Armadillos...Just 3 days past Halloween, we get to play in the 'graveyard'. I don't know about you, but playing in the graveyard was 'top shelf' entertainment during my formative years. This game and venue have history not unlike the Coleman game of 2 years ago. Remember, a lightning storm came during the half time show and the game was finished on Saturday. This year, I expect thunder and lightning: thunder in the form of the resurgent Longhorn Defense - Singleton is back, Mooney is back, all of these guys on defense really showed what they can do in those 2 OT periods last week and I expect to see more of the same. Lightning in the form of the Longhorn Offense - we're a little banged up, yes, but the defenses these guys are facing are more banged up after we're finished! Skaggs to Cochran, Skaggs to Hopkins, Skaggs to Neely, Skaggs to Tumlinson, Skaggs to Walls, Skaggs to Kramer, Skaggs to Hall, Skaggs to Rome, Skaggs to Singleton,Skaggs to Cadenhead,Skaggs to fen/phen/penf/fphe...uh, JP, Skaggs to Conley, Skaggs to Mooney, Skaggs to Harris, Skaggs to Jeffrey, Skaggs to _______, will the list ever end, what's next - Skaggs to Atchley?!!! (Truth is, if Eric wanted to, I think he could hit James Adams on his way to the concession stand from 60 yards out with a 20mph crossing wind!) And what about the O-Line! Those guys owned the Bluecats in the 2nd half last Friday!

Also, don't forget - there is precious little seating for visitor's fans in San Saba. The Middle School teams play in San Saba on Thursday, starting at 5pm. If you've not seen these teams, don't miss out. The 8th graders have continued on the winning way much like last year and the 7th graders are undefeated this season. In fact, the 7th grade team is averaging over 40 points per game and has allowed only 12 points against them all year! Sadly, there may be room on the 'home' side, if the Visitor's side fills up. But most importantly, get to the game even if you have to stand! I can assure you, the 'Horns aren't taking the 'Dillos lightly, and neither should we. We need to be there to do what Longhorn fans do best - GET LOUD and LEAVE PROUD!

Freshman and JV will play at home this week starting at 5pm, with the Freshman going after their 3rd straight win, and the JV going for 2 in a row.

Coach Teiman's Varsity Girls looked very good against the Brownwood Varsity Girls and the Burnet Girls this past week in basketball scrimmages, and continue to improve every day. Call the HS for upcoming scrimmage times and locations. This is going to be a very good year for the Lady Horns!

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