(4 in a Row State Championship Football Titles)
On Sept 27, the 1994 State Champion Sealy Tigers will be honored at T.J. Mills Stadium as this year’s Tigers play the Needville Bluejays.
The ’94 team started the record run as the first team to win 4-in-a-row state football titles and at this time there was only one division (3A Split in two division in 1998). Note: Needville was the first win on their road to 24 straight play-off wins, a record at the time. Celina 1998-2001 and Aledo also have 4 in a row but all with two divisions. Lake Travis (2007-11) has 5 but in the middle of their wins they were defeated in the regular season (2010) by Aledo, who were the Division II Champions (Johnathan Gray was on that team).
As you know it is easier to win when play-offs are diluted and with twice the chance.
To accomplish the first 4-in-a-row, the ‘94 Sealy Tigers beat the Atlanta Rabbits (36-15), in 1995 they defeated Commerce (21-20), in 1996 they beat Tatum (36-27) and in 1997 they defeated Commerce again (28-21).
Many young coaches and local fans, may not be familiar with the Tigers accomplishments and the obstacles they faced. Many say it is difficult to win with 2 quarterbacks but in 1995 and 1996 the Tigers did just that. In the 1995 season, the starting quarterback was hurt with a torn ACL but returned the next game to start. A back up had to play from time to time, sometimes in crucial situations and he played well. In 1996, the coach couldn’t decide on a starter, so a two-platoon system was used. Each QB had their special skills and they worked well together.
In 1997, the starting quarterback tore his ACL in the 1st Quarter of the Semi-Final game against La Grange.
A backup came in and played most of the game. The one exception was when the starter, while on sideline, in the 4th Quarter with the Tigers trailing, saw where the opponents were shutting down the offense. So, the starter while hurt, came in and tossed the ball to the running back then led him through a hole and blocked (with a torn ACL) the free safety which led to Sealy’s go ahead score and the Tigers win. The Championship game was mainly played by the back up to win the 4th straight title.
In 1994, the Tigers had a rematch with rival Columbus in the drenching rain at Rhodes Stadium. There were 21 fumbles, Sealy lost 4 and Columbus lost 5. Sealy won 12-6 on a jarring tackle on a wide-open runner. Then for the Semi-Final Game the head coach for Port Isabell re- fused to trade game film and so the staff had to scramble to find what they could for game film. They de feated their opponent 34 – 13. These were just a few of the challenges the Tigers had to face to secure their 2nd state title in over 16 years and to continue their 4 in a row streak.
In 1996, the Tigers were on a 35game win streak (Tied for most regular season wins at the time). They lost to La Grange in the 4th game of the season. This could have ended the season, but in next 12 games, the Tigers had 5 shut outs and scored an average of 35 points a game.
In 1997, the starting sophomore speedster was hurt in the 3rd game.
Any of these injuries or conditions could have halted the Tigers, but the Coaches and Players stepped up and worked together to accomplish this first time record.
Here are a few things the coaches did to achieve this first time 4 in a row state championship.
In 1993, the coaches decided to adopt their program to the players skill set, instead of doing what is popular, like today. They changed the offense and adopted a new defen- sive system to fit the players. They also decided to stop running sprints at the end of practice. The players got conditioning by going all out in drills and running from drill to drill.
The players became more focused on practice instead of saving energy for sprints.
By 1995, the Tigers had implemented a two-platoon system. In doing this a number of things could be accomplished. First you can correct mistakes after a series or score and not have to wait until a time out or at halftime. At some time a 2-way player is going to need a break. Also, if a 2-way player is injured you have to find two replacements. It also en ables more kids to play and combining with no sprints, the number of players increased. Talented students that might be walking the halls, joined the team.
As stated earlier the 1994 Sealy Tigers will celebrate the 30 year reunion of this great accomplishment at T.J. Mills Stadium on Friday, Sept 27. The other state Championship players from 1995-1997 are welcome to join them from 5 to 7 p.m. at the old Junior High Gym.
