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| LONGVIEW - Longview offensive lineman Kaylon Allen couldn't wait for school to start back up on Monday.
It was a chance to get together with his teammates and begin the celebration of the 2018 Class 6A, Division II state champion Longview Lobos. "It was so crazy after the game that I didn't really get to see everyone,"" Allen said Wednesday morning. "But on Monday, it's been nothing but love from everyone, my teammates, classmates and teachers. "It's been special." Longview won its first state championship in 81 years on Dec. 22, which led straight into the Christmas break before school resumed Monday. "It's been a great couple of weeks for this school district, this football program and this community," Longview head coach John King said. "With the Christmas break, everyone has been ready to get back and celebrate this championship. "The outpouring of support that we've received from Lobo Nation and this community and we've been waiting to celebrate this together." Early Wednesday, the team - full of laughs and smiles - put on the Lobo jersey one more time, walked down the tunnel and out on to the field at Lobo Stadium for its state championship photo, which will hang inside the Lobo Den forever. "Honestly, it was kind of sad, definitely bittersweet but a nice moment," Allen said. "It's such a great feeling to be here with my team as state champions. "We had a lot of people telling us that we made their Christmas. It's special. We did it." The team reconvened later in the day at the Lobo Den to get fitted for their state championship rings, another moment that brought big smiles and 'oohs' and 'aahs' as the Lobos got their first look at the ring. A ring ceremony will be held and details released at a later date, King said. "It didn't feel real, and it still doesn't really," Allen said. "I think it'll hit me tonight."
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