The Tiger football team was treated to past football history Thursday before they made their trip to state. Charmayne Hughes catered a banquet for them, and representatives who have supported them and who have played on past teams attended. Among those present were Tank Parman, a member of the 1967 GRC Champs; Craig McNeese, a member of the 1981 team which was the first team to make the playoffs; Gary Wood, who coached the 1981 team; Duane “Comish” James, Tiger superfan and historian; Hall of Fame Coach Chuck Borey, now the principal; long-time football booster Rick Ridge; and P.J. Sanders, who quarterbacked the first state championship team in 1995 and who spoke to the team.
“There are two things that stand out about you guys,” said Sanders to the team. “You’re always fired up, and none of you are selfish. You’ve all made the decision to make time for the weight room and made a pact with each other to do whatever it takes. You’ve played your roles and have done your jobs.”
Sanders said that in order to make a name for themselves, they couldn’t just be satisfied with playing and winning a few games. He said that everyone was proud of them and that winning opened doors and opportunities for them in real life. He said that at the Learning Academy, there was already a kid there who wanted to be just like Mason Hawk, calling him, “Mason the Hawk.” Things came full circle this year for the tall Tiger lineman and defensive end; when he was in second grade carrying water for the ‘Lil Tigers, he got yelled at by then-coach Richard Baker for not doing his job and he was in tears; he looked up to the football boys and wanted to be just like them.
“Everyone builds around you,” said Sanders. “You make the community stronger. We feel the joy and thrill of winning, and we want you to carry it on.” He said he remembered Comish supporting them when they made their successful run at the state title. For a long time, Comish had a picture of the safety the 1995 team scored in the snow at Nodaway-Holt in his shop.
“You’ll look back and never forget it and the lessons you’ve learned will help you accomplish things when football is over,” said Sanders. Back in 1946, the Tigers won their second-ever GRC Title after overcoming a 20-7 deficit at King City along with the referees giving the Wildkats a fifth down on one of their scoring drives. Over 60 years later, we spoke with one of the players who was a lineman on that team; he went on to become a successful person. But at almost 80 years young, he could still remember how Worth County ran the same play several times in a row with runningback Frank Maudlin to score the go-ahead touchdown as they went on to win 28-20.
Craig McNeese game his own talk to the players as well. “Your opponents are neither as good or as bad as people say,” he said. He recalled the 2001 team, which beat a hyped-up Miami of Amoret team 48-40 in one of the best games he saw played. “Everybody rose to the occasion that year,” he said. For example, Chris Healy had 19 tackles and two picks that game. “At some point, things will not go your direction,” said McNeese. “That’s when you have to turn it around or let it get away.”
Following the banquet, there was a pep rally at the school to raise funds to cover the expenses. Col. Dave Brown was the auctioneer. The Worth County cheerleaders led everyone in cheers. “I’m every proud of all of these guys,” said Assistant Coach Jon Adwell. “They’ve been working for this goal and getting in the weight room ever since they’re been here.” The team left Worth County at 9:30 Friday and got a sendoff at Northeast Nodaway, walking through the school building to cheers from the student body before heading down to Springfield to successfully win their seventh state title.
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