Keller Citizen Legislature

I am not going to pontificate on the night or the season, and rather use words from one of the Coaches of KHS.  He has a blog that deals with everything from family to football, so I won’t link to his site but rather use his words here.  If you ever wonder why High School sports are so special, I think this tells the whole story.

It had been a great week of practice.  The game was against cross town rival Fossil Ridge, and there is honest hatred between the schools for many reasons, the main one being that we are old Keller with the tradition and name and history and Fossil is the new Keller area on the other side of the tracks.  Anyway, the kids at both schools always get up for this game.

We play pre game music during warm up on Friday nights.  The music is normally very modern, rap to rock and popular to the kids but foreign to most people over 30.  Last weekend we decided to try and stalemate the Fossil Panthers and have a coaches pick pre game C.D.  Everything for “Sweet Home Alabama” to “If This Is It” by Huey Lewis to “Devil Went Down to Georgia”, “Jump” by Van Halen, “I Wanna Dance” by Whitney Houston and many others.  The favorite was Neil Diamond “Sweet Caroline” and the guys fell in love with that song.  Listening to it all week in the locker room, weight room and now at pre game, they had learned every word.  During the offensive pre game when “Sweet Caroline” came on the coaches and defensive players begin to clap to the beat.  It is Senior night so there are 500 parents on the track that join in.  By the time the chorus had come along the stands were up on there feet and we were all singing together.  It was a great event to watch and the kids at Fossil did not know what to do.

We played a great game against Fossil.  We are up 14 to 10 at half and the kids are ready to end this game and move on to playoffs.  We are in a 3 way tie with Northwest and L.D. Bell, but had to win this game to go on and win a coin toss after the game.  We won, and earned it.  This game is so important to our community and to this team and to the seniors and to win and then know that we are going to win the coin toss was just the perfect plan for a great night in Texas football.  The final score was 21 to 13, Keller Indians win!!!  Coaches and kids hugging and jumping around.  It was a great ending to the regular season and the future looked bright.  The field was packed after the game and the kids were not ready to leave.  After about an hour of waiting it was time.  Kids in the locker room listening to “Sweet Caroline”, Coaches and wives and families in the field house waiting for Coach A. to come out of the office.  And then he did, and “I lost, we’re out” is all he said.  The room fell silent.  Like some one had died.  We knew we would win the toss.  It was never a question.  The next few moments watching Coach A. pace the room were agonizing.  ”What do I say to the guys?”  ”How do I tell them?”  ”Coaches, get in the hallway, this is going to get bad.”  As we walked into the hallway together we prepared to tell this group of young men that their season was over.  That the last  15 weeks of work has ended in the flip of coin.

We walked into the locker room, the boys were now silent and waiting and watching.  Many had their heads down.  The were sitting around the lockers, arms locked together all the way around the room.  ”Guys, I lost the toss, and I am so sorry.”  Tears begin to fall down the faces of 17 year old boys that have just played their final football game.  As Coach A. explains the details he again reminds the kids that football is like life and that what you want to happen or what you think you deserve does not always happen.  ”There is a reason that this is ending like this, and we won’t get to understand that right now, but there is a reason for everything.”  His words of encouragement, apology and pride in what they have accomplished go on for another 3 or 4 minutes.  It was a very difficult time to be in that locker room.

We do a receiving line at Keller High.  It honors the seniors and gives the underclassmen, parents and students, cheerleaders, drill team to come in the locker room say goodbye to the Senior football guys.  Coaches are in the hallway and greet those coming in.  Parents crying because another part of their son’s high school career is over.  Hugs and tears and appreciation for the work we do.  It is a really good moment.  The locker room is pure sadness.  The guys saying goodbye to something they have committed to and given so much to.  Hugging these guys as they cry in your arms and thank you for all you’ve done and we as coaches are so grateful to have them work so hard in this program.  It is a full hour of emotion.

From KISD:

Fossil Ridge and Keller renew their varsity football rivalry Friday night at the Keller ISD Athletic Complex as the game will once again be played in the final week of the regular season, again with playoff implications on the line as they have been so many times in the last 10 seasons.

Depending on the results of other District 5-5A contests, either Fossil Ridge or Keller can find themselves in the postseason with a win Friday night as the league’s two final playoff spots are still up for grabs.

It will also be the final game at the Keller ISD Athletic Complex for both teams’ seniors. The Indians will hold their Senior Night ceremonies prior to the game as they are the home team in this year’s contest.

Pregame festivities will also include the Navy Leapfrogs parachuting into the stadium.

Meanwhile, Keller Youth Association football players and parents will be roaming the stadium accepting donations to raise funds for Keller ISD’s Special Olympics. The following day KYA will host Special Olympics Day to do more fundraising for the organization. Teams will be collecting money as well as donating certain amounts for every point scored and every great play made during that day’s youth football games.

Spectators and fans heading to the Fossil Ridge-Keller game will be able to park in the new grass-paved parking lot. The lot, just north of Keller High School off Johnson Road, will be lighted and staffed by parking attendants. Keller ISD is encouraging fans to use this new lot once the main home and visitor lots are full. The Keller Police Department will be on site to assist with postgame traffic flow.

The Indians and Panthers are set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Keller is the home team in this year’s matchup and will be on the west sideline. Fossil Ridge holds a 6-4 series lead through the first 10 meetings between the schools.

The game is nominated by two local news organizations as a possible “High School Game of the Week.” Visit either Fox 4 or The Star-Telegram to vote for Fossil Ridge-Keller to be the Game of the Week.

Somebody needs to tell the person writing these blurbs that it isn’t a league, but a District.  And isn’t it a little funny they finally get the parking lot finished….for the last game of the season?

This is the Indian’s last chance to make the playoffs and resurrect a season that has gotten away from them the last few weeks.  If you haven’t made it to a game this year, come out and cheer your local teams on.

The Indians face LD Bell tonight in an away game that will be a huge factor in Keller’s seeding for the playoffs.  Keller has travelled well this year (meaning they bring a good crowd to away games) and if you are looking for something to do, head on over and watch the game on this crisp fall evening. 

I have family coming into town and won’t be able to make the game but will be calling around to football parents trying to keep track of the score.  If I am able, I’ll update this post with scores as I get them.

From the Keller Football Website:

Joe Marsh

3/21/86 – 10/24/04

Little Joe was the starting safety for the Indians for two years (’02-’03) and helped lead the defense during that time. After having heart surgery as a child, Joe lived life to its fullest. Because of the all-out effort Joe gave on the field and off, the Fighting Heart Award was renamed in his honor after his death.

On the fourth anniversary of Joe’s death, I take a step back and realize that things aren’t as bad as they seem.  That Joe showed us in his short time on earth not to take anything for granted, to live life every day.

Every year, the Keller Football team gives a Joe Marsh Fighting Heart Award.

From the DMN:

Keller (6-1) has been a team that has sort of played under the radar in Class 5A. It is winning by comfortable, but not shocking, spreads against a schedule that doesn’t compare with some of the other top teams.

Keller didn’t make our top 20 last week.

Keller’s only loss was in the District 5-5A opener to Euless Trinity, 17-10, on Trinity’s home turf. I pushed Keller up to the middle of the 5A top 20 rankings this week.

And the rankings came out with Keller at #18

Rk. Team W-L Pts Pvs.
1. Euless Trinity (7) 7-0 140 1
2. Allen 6-1 133 3
3. Coll. Heritage 6-1 120 5
4. Plano 7-1 114 2
5. Wylie 7-1 107 4
6. Arl. Bowie 6-1 103 6
7. Garland 8-0 98 11
8. SL Carroll 5-1 95 7
9. Carr. Creekview 7-0 94 9
10. Skyline 6-1 67 10
11. Gar. N. Forest 6-2* 59 12
12. Cedar Hill 6-1 57 13
13. Coppell 5-2 54 8
14. Lake Highlands 5-2 47 16
T15. Richland 7-0 46 15
T15. Hebron 4-3 46 T19
17. Flower Mound 6-1 39 14
18. Keller 6-1 21 NR
19. S. Grand Prairie 5-2 17 18
20. Rowlett 4-3 6 17
*Naaman Forest forfeited one game for using an ineligible player.

Keller has LD Bell at their place Friday, at Colleyville on Halloween and home against Fossil to finish up the regular season on November 7th.

Keller should easily have a playoff spot wrapped up and have a possibility of a second seed if they can beat Colleyville.

I’m not at the game, but rather listening online at TSRN Radio and have a few other things I need to be doing so I won’t be doing a series by series recap.

Central with both of their running backs hurt started their receiver in the backfield and marched down the field for an easy touchdown.

On the other side, Fossil started their wide receiver at quarterback and have pounded the ball on three consecutive plays for double figure gains.

As the radio announcers said, I think both defenses forgot to leave the locker room, as Fossil continues to drive the ball down the field at will. I may have to go watch yet, maybe Shannon won’t notice I’m missing.

Fossil Scores at 7:50pm….wow, gonna be a long night for some defensive coordinators.

8:26pm The radio just announced Colleyville and Trinity are tied at 14 in the second quarter.

8:28pm Fossil 14, Central 7 with two minutes to go in the half

9:08pm At the game, Central 7 Fossil 21

Halftime score Keller 49 Grapevine 7

Trinity 28 Colleyville 14

9:22. Fossil threw an interception and the next play Central throws one. On top of that, both teams get personal fouls after their interceptions

9:38. Beginning of 4th quarter, Fossil 24 Central 7

Fossil holds on to win 24 – 19 over Keller Central

Keller ended up winning the game 28 to 14.  It was the Game of the Week for the Ft. Worth Star Telegram, so they did a half time report and posted it on the internet.  If I did that, I’d be called weird.

From the KISD Website:

There’s more to Friday’s Central-Keller football game than bragging rights and district standing as both schools’ supporters are encouraged to wear pink to support the Susan G. Komen Foundation and Breast Cancer Awareness.

As part of a kickoff for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the two schools have been selling “Think Pink” t-shirts to be worn at this Friday’s game along with other merchandise such as pink bracelets, pink lollipops and pink snow cones.

T-shirts will remain on sale through Friday at each school. The academic week will conclude with each school hosting a “Think Pink” Pep Rally to get pumped up for the cross-town rivalry and raise even more money for a great cause. This week, Keller students have been donating money according to which teacher they want to see turned into a “human sundae” at Friday’s pep rally.

All of the proceeds from those sales and other donations will go to support the Susan G. Komen Foundation and a check will be presented to a representative of the Foundation at Friday’s game.

Both schools’ efforts have been organized by their cheerleading coaches – Central’s Kandle Pierce and Keller’s Lindsey Ammons — who said the experience of organizing this week’s events has been moving for all of their athletes.

“We wanted to take the focus off of a rivalry and put all of our efforts into something greater,” Ammons said. “There are so many families that have been affected by breast cancer, so we wanted to come together to help fight the battle.”

In addition to encouraging Friday night’s crowd to wear pink, the cheerleaders will be clad in the color while the coaching staffs, training staffs and administrators will be wearing pink polos. The football players will also be wearing pink socks.

Central and Keller will meet at 7:30 p.m. Friday at KISD Athletic Complex. The Indians are the home team this year. It will be the third meeting between the two schools with each having a win in the series. Both the Chargers and Indians come into the game looking for their first District 5-5A victory of 2008.

Parking Advisory:
A section of the new parking lot north off Johnson Road north of KISD Athletic Complex will be available for Friday’s game. Parking attendants will be on hand to direct drivers to the appropriate lots. Parking will continue in all of the main lots as well as at the First United Methodist Church of Keller and on the fields behind Keller High.

Maybe they will get the whole parking lot done before the season is over.

It’s on TV as I write this.  Fox Southwest, Channel 35 for those lucky enough to have Charter.

Rough night for KISD football teams as all three lost.  Keller HS can claim a moral victory by losing to Trinity only by a touchdown with a final score of 17-10.  I didn’t make it to the game as I stayed home to watch the debate, now I wish I would have DVR’ed them and went to the game.

Fossil got whipped up on by Colleyville 49-14 and are now 0-4.  This from a team that was expected to be pretty good after their great year last year.  Central lost to LD Bell 24-7, but from a Charger dad I talked to this morning, they showed some bright spots in their game.  The Keller Citizen is reporting that Trenton Turrentine, Central’s prolific running back left near the half with an injury and was later seen on crutches

Just got off the phone with Steve Keasler, the athletic director at Midlothian ISD. I will be covering the Indians opener from their press box this Friday. I decided to reach out and try to cover a game from their facilities as it will give the reader not only the opportunity for the live blog, but also to contrast and compare their facilities with Keller’s.

I wish to thank Mr. Keasler, Jana Hathorne (MISD Communications Director), Bob DeJonge and Coach Adkinson for thier cooperation.