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| LONGVIEW - Reaching the state title game is not enough for Longview Lobo middle linebacker Leon Bell. There's the matter of winning the Class 5A, Division I Texas Bowl Championship Saturday.
"I don't see our mission as accomplished yet," Bell said Thursday during a Longview News-Journal interview with the five Lobo team captains. "They say we've already broken a bunch of records, but that doesn't mean anything. To us as a group, this (winning a state championship) is something we want to do. "We've pulled together and stayed together all year, and made it to the top." Bell, along with Jay Hurst, Lee Jackson, Shawn Byrdsong and Ben Price have provided the senior leadership in Longview's second most successful season in the history of the program. Sixty years ago, the Lobos brought home the last football state crown. The 1997 season officially comes to a close with Saturday's game against Katy at the Astrodome in Houston. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:07 p.m. One important factor for the Lobos has been their ability to remain focused, whether it's been the hype of playing for a state championship or facing a tough opponent on the road. Longview played only four games at home this season. Before the (Killeen Ellison) game they were staring at us just warming up, trying to get our minds off of the game," sad Jackson. "But our minds were on last year and what happened. We didn't want that to happen and we played our hearts out." In last year's 17-16 loss, the Lobo players admitted they allowed Ellison to mentally disrupt their concentration. "If you can win at John Tyler (20-14) and then at Lufkin (28-17), then you're not going to be intimidated by anybody else," added Price, who will start his 39th consecutive game at tight end this week. "We played those teams before the playoffs, so we could get to the playoffs. We're not going to be bothered." All five players have been further encouraged by the support from their classmates and teachers, and from the community as a whole. Thursday morning, representatives of the Pine Tree High School Student Council presented a sign of support to the football team. Today will also be Green and White day in the Pine Tree schools and at St. Mary School. "It (hype) really hasn't hit us," said Byrdsong, "especially because we're all trying to focus on the game. I feel we had to win anyway, but now since so many people are behind us, it's even more important. I just want to thank all those people. "We just have to thank God for that support." Jackson continued by saying, this team has not only put their faith on their sleeves, but also in their hearts. Many of them wear crosses on their jerseys and WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) bracelets. "Hopefully we've started a new tradition, a spiritual tradition," Jackson said. The Lobos will depart for Houston after today's 8:15 a.m. pep rally in Lobo Coliseum. They are scheduled to work out in the Astrodome around 2:45 p.m. "One more to go," added Hurst. "But we've been getting ready for the last 18 weeks." |