Players accept, meet challenge
Back in October at the dedication of monuments honoring Albany’s past state champions, Lions head coach Denney Faith pointed out that there was room for more, and he challenged his2023teamtoadd to the collection.
“I’ve been challenging them all year,” Faith said. “I said if they want to add a monument,theyweregoing to have to earn it. Nobody was going to give them anything, and that was our motto all year long – let’s go out and earn it.”
Challenge accepted and met.
Albanyearneditsfourth state championship Thursday, Dec. 14 by beating No. 2 Mart 28-10 in the Class 2ADivisionIIfinalatAT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Now, it’s time to order another monument.
“The guy that makes them sent me a text as soon as the game was over,” Faith said.
For the Lions, it marked the second season in a row to be ranked No. 1 entering the season and be holding the trophy at the end. Unlike 2022’s 14-2 team, the Lionsmaintainedtheirgrip on the top spot from start to finish, going 16-0 to set a school record for victories in a season.
“We had some injuries and stuff last year that we had to overcome,” Faith said. “This year was a little bit different team, played a little bit differently, and relied on different things.”
Repeating as champions involved replacing key players such as quarterback Cole Chapman, running back-linebacker Coy Lefevre, and wide receiver-defensive back London Fuentes. Enter holdovers such as Adam Hill and Cason Fairchild among11returningplayers along with transfers Chip ChambersandJaxsonHoel.
“There were some holes to fill because we lost a really good class last year,” Faith said. “We felt that we had the potential to have a another good team; it was just a matter of things falling into place. We’re 16-0, so I guess they fell pretty close to where we wanted.”
The season started with thrilling 22-21 comeback victory at Lubbock Trinity Christian. The game saw Albany trail 21-7 in the second quarter, the biggest deficit the Lions faced all season.
After blowing past Dubblin 55-7 in Week 2 and fending off Seymour 41-14 in Week 3,Albany survived its two stiffest tests of nondistrict thenexttwogames.
In a rare matchup of reigning state champions, Albany held Hawley at bay to win 27-14 on Sept. 15 in a game the Bearcats led 8-0 and 14-13.Aweek later, the Lions put the final touches on the nondistrict slate by beating Comanche 31-13. Both games were on the road and avenged Albany’s two losses from 2022.
Heavily favored to win the District 6-2A Division II crown, the Lions left no doubt, outscoring the next five opponents 271-7. Albany defeated Miles 41-0, Cross Plains 49-0, Roscoe 44-7, Hamlin 71-0, and Abilene TLCA 66-0.
Albany rolled through two rounds of the playoffs with wins of 60-0 over Eldorado and 56-0 over Celeste.
The Lions withstood their strongest challenge in the playoffs, getting past Muenster 19-14 on Thanksgiving weekend in the regional round. For the first time since the season opener, Albany trailed at halftime at 7-6. Two scores in the middle of the second half put the Lions ahead, butnoonebreathedeasyuntil Fairchild’s last-minute interceptionintheendzone.
Sufficiently motivated by the close call, the Lions returned to form by dominating fourth-ranked Collinsville, which had beaten Muenster by 28 points. Albany led 31-0 before the Pirates were able to score.
In a 34-14 semifinal win over No, 10 Sunray,Albany again found itself trailing 7-6 early before Branson Beal’s touchdown reception put the Lions ahead to stay. Beal later intercepted a pass to protect a 20-14 leadaftertheBobcatsdrove deep into Lion territory.
Lastweek,Albanytrailed forthethirdtimeintheplayoffs at 3-0. Three TDs in the second quarter turned the tide as the Lions defended a state title for the second time in school history.
Albany will enter the 2024 season with the second- longestwinningstreak in program history. The Lions have won 27 in a row since a 31-28 loss to Comanche in 2022. The 1960-61 championship teams recorded 29 consecutive victories. That streak ended with a 14-0 loss to Olney in the 1962 opener.
