State champs honored at Hall of Fame

For the second year in a row, the Albany Lions football team was honored with a reception by the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame.

The event was held Sunday, Jan. 21 at the Hall’s facility in the Mall of Abilene. Both the Lions, who claimed the Class 2A Division II championship, and the Benjamin Mustangs, who won the Class 1A Division II title, were recognized.

The 2023 season marked the 15th and 16th times Big Country teams have earned the second of consecutive state crowns. Albany also won back-toback titles in 1960-61.

In 2023, the Lions went 16-0 to set a school record for wins in a season. The 1961 team went 15-0.

The Lions will begin the 2024 season on a 27-game winning streak, secondlongest in school history. The 1960-61 teams won 29 games in a row.

The Hall is selling Back 2 Back state championship long-sleeve T-shirts at the museum. The front includes theAlbanyandBenjamin logos. The back lists 11 other Big Country backto- back state champions, including Abilene High, Stamford, Breckenridge, Brownwood,Goree,Roscoe, Jayton, Panther Creek, Stephenville, Strawn, and Throckmorton.