spoonbill

I hope everyone continues to think that way.
No one thought we would make the playoff's either.......

Just a side note...  It was a little less than 8 years ago, L-train went into a game as a major underdogs vs. The defending state Champs, LaMarque Cougars.  Lumberton didn't back down, played good defense, ran their offense, and pulled off a 3 point upset.  This  Lumberton team has a little bit of that grit that the 2007 team had.  This game may be more interesting than most think!

Although my son and his team were knocked out of the playoff picture last Friday night, I suddenly realized this week will be his last HS practices and game.
We are very lucky that he will get to go on to pursue his education and play at the next level, but as he told me "Dad it just isn't the same as my HS team"
Got me thinking so I found this while surfing the web.
 
Dear FOOTBALL PARENT, 
You dreaded this year’s arrival, but it has come just the same. A year full of promise, but so many “last times.” Over the years you have helped with countless team meals, washed mounds of sweaty uniforms, chauffeured to more early morning practices then you care to remember. You have been top-of-the-world elated when your son has had a good night and endured his deathlike silences when he hasn’t. It is amazing how the family mood bobs with the rhythm of each game. You have laughed, cried, screamed, sulked, pouted, sweat, pulled your hair, bit your nails, bit your tongue, paced, worried, shoved, frowned, and smiled all very gracefully and within a two hour span. 
Such is the life of a football parent. 
You may not be in on the big play, but you feel the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat right along with your son. You keep your composure when some fan behind you wants your son’s head while the opponent on the field is mashing it into the grass. “Get off him, that's my baby” you’d like to shout! You breath football at this time of year, especially this time of year when your heart whispers “just a little longer” as the season slides by. You plead and bargain, knowing full well that some other parent on the opponent's team is making their own deal with the Almighty, but you do it anyway, because you no more want it to end than your son does. You do not want to see the desperation in his eyes and the pain on his face as he struggles to put away his childhood dreams. You are helpless in the stands, with no way to make it better. 
Is it worth it? 
YOU BET IT IS! 
Every lost game sock, busy Friday night. Every recovering Saturday, every aspirin, every ruined hair do, hot bath, goose bumps, and every obnoxious fan and sports writer you’ve had to tolerate is worth it. The fun isn’t measured by how many times your son gets into the newspaper, the game, or what he does when he gets there. The fun - what makes those trips to the ER for the pigskin stitches all worthwhile, is watching a game, what a sport experience can do to convert your little boy into a young man. Watching him tackle the world and you have a front row seat. 
You still see that rambunctious 5 yr old playing football in the yard. You bite your lip and hold back the tears because though you are fiercely proud of the young man he has become, you miss the boy. In fact you mourn for all the little boys. You have watched them grow up together, plot and scheme together, win and lose together. They have raided your kitchen, camped out in your basement, stole your heart. They are blessed with something they will never have again. They know it and you know it. So you pray that wonder will last another game, and then another, because as long as it does, you hang on to a piece of your boy for a bit longer. Watching him walk off that field one last time will be no less painful then giving birth to him all those years ago. 
We will miss this group of young men. 
We will miss watching them run on to the field like soldiers going to battle, the hi-fives after a great play, the chest slams after a great tackle, the celebrations over a big win and the sober faces after a disappointing loss. We will miss watching the boys we love, play the game they love.....Football. 
Anonymous

Much of what you just said about the Raiders also describes the Bulldogs.  They are a very good team with a good coaching staff and they will be ready come Friday night.
These boys in Lumberton have been through some of the worst seasons imaginable.  Most people don't know the kind of grit it takes to persevere when your football team goes 1-29.  When many folks were leaving Lumberton 3-4 yrs ago for greener pastures because they didn't want to stay and fight, these boys paid the price.  They are battle-tested.  They have been abused and humiliated and kept fighting with their brothers.  We kept telling them to look around you and remember who is still standing next to you fighting.  They remember little things like when a certain Nederland RB tweeted after the HF game last year, "Oh No, We Suck Again" about Lumberton.  These boys learned to trust and depend on each other during the worst times and have picked each other up every step of the way.  They have fought so hard and for so long that it is impossible for them to quit on each other.   I can't predict who will win this Friday.  But I do know it is going to be a dog fight (no pun intended).  May the Hungriest Team win!!!

I'm not sure where this pressure you speak of would be coming from. Please enlighten me.

This game is very winnable by Lumberton by all means. As good as my Dogs can be, they can be as bad as well. If you watched the game as I do, from being there and video of it we are very beatable. I believe in our heart that we would win, but won't be surprised if we don't. If they do their homework they win, because what is seen doesn't change. I feel that is also the reason we don't advance far in playoff, tape don't lie if Lumberton look they should know what to do. All in all this the type football games you want to see, hope all players come out injury free and respect each other. After all when the last whistle blows we have some 21-5A butts to get ready for.

Crosby fan thinks every thread is a Crosby thread

Crosby fan thinks every thread is a Crosby thread

Prayers going out for a quick, complete recovery.

Have not really looked at what everybody else has said to this point, but I am gonna go with a Lumberton win. I think those Lumberton boys are pumped and believe in themselves...in sports that's huge! Now add the fact that these young men are well coached, disciplined, gritty and play as a family...add it all up and that makes a tough football team that's hard to beat on talent alone. Opponents will have to match the desire and unity along with execution and toughness. Not trying to make those Lumberton boys seem better than they are but they are no push over. Best of luck Raiders go big guys!

It should be interesting in the first round. Sure 215a is the favorite in all games. I love it how they beat thay chest cause they are in the upswing of the cycle. When they are down and getting smoked first round, we can run our heads too. It's hard to talk much trash because they beat us. But that trend won't last forever

Ooooh, someone got too close to the train.

Is this real life? Are my boys really in the playoffs? 

I love it when Lumberton is considered the Underdog.

And yes, I care plenty.  I have a son playing in this program right now, and we aren't interested in participation medals.  However, regardless of how his high school career turns out or how many playoff wins he experiences I know he has experienced a program that will have a very positive impact on his life.  Your profile has you in Katy, so I'm not sure how invested you are in Vidor anymore.  For some of us it's more that chirping on a message board.

Please refer back to the post about not bashing coaches. Matthews is a great coach, Lumberton just the better team this game.

Ehh...Lumbertons group of seniors this year has been tough since they started in 7th grade. It was only a matter of time before they got to this point.

Coach Mathews personally called the kid that was called a racist name and cussed and apologized. Class act all the way. He also made the offending kid tweet an apology. I expected nothing less!

Coach Mathews personally called the kid that was called a racist name and cussed and apologized. Class act all the way. He also made the offending kid tweet an apology. I expected nothing less!

Coach Mathews personally called the kid that was called a racist name and cussed and apologized. Class act all the way. He also made the offending kid tweet an apology. I expected nothing less!

Very few people will paint an entire town racist over a few remarks from a young kid who is rambling at the mouth. Hopefully, he takes this situation and learns from it. If his parents are ANYTHING like mine were, or how I would be to my Son,  I would not want to come home today......lol

Before it gets said we at Vidor DO NOT condone racism at our school. Example number 1 on Twitter. I don't want the world thinking that Vidor is like that anymore. We have tried too hard to shake that persona for years to have it ruined by a few boneheaded kids who pop off at the mouth.

you're so wrong.......lol

He probably should have had someone proof read it lol. :-)

I guess that Vidor kid has never heard of a screen shot lol. I've got a good feeling coach Mathews won't let him see the field tomorrow night.