Friday evening rain was falling the entire time we drove to my step-son's varsity football game featuring Seven Lakes versus Clements at Mercer stadium in Sugarland, Texas. All of us were really excited to be going to a new year of high school football games and we looked forward to see what progress the team had made since last season. We arrived at the field late due to the rain and my wife was in a hurry as she was afraid that we missed the opening kick off. We found some seats on the 50 yard line (great seats by the way...and we arrived late) and we still were able to see the both teams walking in as rain had delayed the strating of the game. Last year, I would watch each week and shake my head in disbelief as Seven Lakes (SLHS) looked like a bunch of small little brothers trying to play football against a large group of huge big brothers. It did not seem fair. Remember last year SLHS team was a brand new varsity program with NO Seniors and playing a killer schedule. This game was different right from the get go as we immediately noticed that our boys were just as big if not bigger than their's. The parents in the stands all seemed to notice a new found difference in appearance and attitude.
Unfortunately in the most heart sickening fashion that I have ever experienced in my lifetime, Seven Lakes lost 21-20 to Clements in the last minute of the game. SLHS was ahead the whole game. Clements is a ranked area team and SLHS still has not won its first varsity game. However, SLHS really took it to them. Clements knew it was in tough game and I am sure their coach has told all of them that they were very lucky to win this game. Clements also has David Carr's little brother at QB and a very good offensive team. They will probably be force in their conference this season. SLHS football team gave them one heck of a game and if it wasn't for some really bad calls by the officials (home field advantage) and a few mistakes SLHS would have won the game.
WE are all very proud of the entire SLHS team as they have over come extreme adversity and shown what hard work and a positive attitude can do for any individual or group of people. KISD can take great pride in the program they have developed at this school. It would have been real easy for this group to just essentially give up after losing all of their games last year and taking a real physical beating each week. By the end of the season it hard to tell if there were enough healthy bodies to field a full team. These boys did not take the loser route or take the easy way out and I look for them to be a real force in the 4A conference they play in and make the playoffs. As adults we all can learn something from this great group boys who are now men.
SLHA plays Dulles on Friday Sept 7 at 7:30 PM at Mercer Stadium in Sugarland. I encourage all of you to come out to this game or any other high school game. I am sure you will enjoy it and learn something. HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS IS STILL WHERE INDIVIDUALS PLAY FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME. I CAN'T SAY THE SAME FOR THE PRO'S OR MAJOR COLLEGES.
I plan to try to write a weekly piece about the SLHS football team and its journey during their second varsity season.
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