Father-son QBs share state ties

By Sam Waller

In 1991, Clint Chapman quarterbacked the Albany Lions, coached by Denney Faith, to their first appearance in a state championship game since 1961.

In 2022, Cole Chapman did his father one better, quarterbacking the Albany Lions, still coached by Denney Faith, to their first state title since 1961.

“They’re both really good athletes, really good quarterbacks,” Faith said following Albany’s 41-21 victory over Mart on Wednesday, Dec. 14 at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium. “They were both easy to coach because they’re really intelligent. Both of them love to compete. One of the thrills I’ve had in coaching is be able to coach them.”

The significance of the achievement isn’t lost on the younger Chapman.

“It was fun, especially now that I can rub it in a little bit that I got the medal, and my dad didn’t,” Cole said. “He just told me to have fun and soak it up. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it was a blast.”

Clint Chapman, now pastor at Maranatha Fellowship in Albany along with other interests, said the one lesson he tried to impart to his son was the importance of having a strong relationship with his head coach.

“It’s kind of a trust-trust deal,” Clint said. “I always expressed that to Cole and to Coach Faith, also. After Cole got hurt, I went to Coach Faith and said ‘if you can trust in Cole, and he can trust in you, I think this team is going to win a state championship.’ There just has to be a lot of faith in each other to go out and compete like that.”

Cole missed four games in the middle of the season with a sprained knee ligament. During his absence, Albany suffered its only losses during a 14-2 campaign.

Cole said his father’s support remained firm during his recovery.

“He’s helped me through everything even when I was hurt,” Cole said. “He encouraged me, and here I am.”

Clint said the ordeal was a key point in his son’s development.

“When Cole got hurt, he started seeing everything through a different lens,” Clint said. “It kind of changes your vision. He made a few adjustments in life. He wants to play baseball in college, but he loves football and he told me he wanted to come back and play.”

Clint said the family’s faith played a large role in Cole coming back.

“(The injury) made him more hungry than he was before and gave him more of a fire to want to play,” Clint said. “We believe in God and Jesus Christ, and I think that was instrumental in his healing. We were praying that it was just his MCL, and that prayer was answered. I think God had His hand in that because when you look at that injury, you thought it was worse than it was. We just had to have faith to go through that.”

Cole returned to action by throwing three touchdown passes against Roscoe in the third district game. He set career highs with 315 yards and five touchdowns passing against Collinsville in the state quarterfinals, then capped the season with a career-high 129 rushing yards against Mart.

“There were a lot of people behind the scenes that helped him like Dr. (Samuel) Maroney and the staff at Revive,” Clint said. “Cole went four days a week and did his rehab. Those people played a huge part in his recovery.”

While Albany’s offense has evolved since 1991, Faith said either Chapman would be successful no matter the scheme.

“The thing that hasn’t changed is how competitive both of those guys are,” Faith said. “Whatever offense we’re in, they’re both going to play tough, not shy away from contact at any time.”

Cole put his own stamp on the program with an unflappable demeanor that was the same in the championship game as it was during the first days of practice in August.

“Cole’s got a lot of his momma in him, too,” Faith said. “She’s a great influence on him. Clint is, for sure, but Christi has a lot to do with how calm and collected Cole can be on a football field, or anywhere, actually.”

Faith said the Chapmans are just one of many father-son combos to come through the program over the years.

“I’ve been able to do that with a lot of them, on this team along with lots that came before them,” Faith said. “That’s one of the real thrills for me as a coach – to know I coached the kid and also coached his father. That’s a neat deal.”

Others on this year’s varsity team that are father-son combos are Landon and Roy Henry Balliew, Wyatt and Michael Beard, Koy and Robert Cauble, Tye and Bryan Edgar, Adam and Kevin Hill, Jayden and John Lucas, Parker and Brian Shelton, Lanxton and Adam Viertel, and Lute and Tony Wheeler, with several more on the JV level.

The ability for Clint and several other former players to witness their sons making a title run was a special experience.

“I think having the experience of being there before, you get to teach your son to work hard and what to look out for,” Clint said. “It’s just an honor having my son be able to play in that game. I’ve always wished for him to have these memories he’ll remember the rest of his life. You can’t buy that – it’s priceless – and I’m so proud for him.”

It’s not difficult to envision a day when Cole’s son quarterbacks the Albany Lions to another deep playoff run. And Cole knows what advice to pass along if that day becomes reality.

“Just have that bond with your team and you can accomplish anything,” he said.