Indian football is continuing their season with bi-district playoffs this Friday in Hewitt, Texas against the 7-3 Waco Midway Panthers.
The team has had a great season with a 7-3 record in what is arguably one of the toughest districts in the state of Texas but the players know they deserve to be in this spot just as much as the next team, especially sophomore quarterback, Jerry Meyer.
“Our coaching staff has helped us get to be able to play in the playoffs,” Meyer said. “They have continued to preach that we as a team will peak in November and be able to play during Thanksgiving break and hopefully in December. This really shows in the weight room and guys getting it after practice, especially watching film.”
Senior captain and cornerback Elijah Thompson shares similar sentiments with Jerry but for him it’s from a senior perspective knowing this could be his last high school football game.
“Since this could potentially be my last game, it’s going to make me play the hardest I’ve played in my four years here at Waxahachie,” Thompson said. “With this being the potential last game of the season, it is going to make the practices harder, the team play harder and the coaches coach harder than ever. Obviously, we don’t want it to be the final game of the season but just like with any football game at any level it could go either way.”
Senior wide receiver Tristian Gardener feels the same way Eli does and knows the Indians are going to give there all on the field and no matter what happens, they know they gave it their all.
“We are going to show how hard we fight, and how hard we have overcome many bumps in the road,” Gardener said. “There has been a lot of talk on social media, but we don’t do that here in Waxahachie, so we are going to show up on Friday night under those lights and show Midway that we have every right to be on this field.”
Earlier in the season Indian football played Duncanville and lost 41-17 and the team could meet up with Duncanville yet again in the playoffs but sophomore defensive end Carmelo Clawson would be stoked to see the Duncanville Panthers again.
“I know when it comes to Waxahachie playing Duncanville there is a lot of doubt, but in my opinion, I would be excited to play Duncanville again in the playoffs and prove all the doubters wrong,” Clawson said. “It shows that we as a team are not quitters and we improved on the mistakes made earlier in the season.”
Texas highschool football playoffs is a tough league to be in and it’s the best of the best teams in the state of Texas competing for the ultimate prize in December. But mental toughness is what is helping this team get through this Friday.
“Next play mentality, especially as a quarterback— you have to have that mentality,” Meyer said. “Because as a quarterback you are the leader of the group, so if your teammates see you down then that will make them have the same attitude. But if I continue to stay positive even when the game is not going our way then it shows on the field.”
Head Coach Shane Tolleson has been a huge factor in the success of the Indian football team and he has touched the lives of many players.
“Coach Tolly has done everything for us,” Meyer said. “It more so feels like I’m playing with a teammate than a coach because he continues to motivate us. He can be hard at times but that’s what a coach is supposed to do. But when we are playing the game, I know no matter what he will always have our back, win or lose.”
Teammate Elijah Thompson feels the same way about Coach Tolleson and knows his head coach is always going to have his back.
“Coach Tolly always builds relationships first and coaches second,” Thompson said. “He is a hard coach because he wants us to go out and look put together on the field. But what people don’t see is Coach Tolly hanging out with us outside of practice to do team bonding — this helps the relationship on the field grow so we become a unified team.”
This Indian team has had many bumps this season but has continued to fight for what they want, so when they run out under those stadium lights on Friday remember to cheer with pride and soak in the glorious memories.
