Ben Whitehead
WAURIKA — For most, a 4-6 season in high school fooball is nothing to be proud of. Waurika head coach Larry VanBeber says it’s nothing to be ashamed of.
After starting the year 0-6, VanBeber’s squad could have turned it in and quit. With all the injuries and eligibility problems surrounding the 2009 season, it is a testament to the kind of character the Eagle players have to have finished the year with four straight wins.
“Everyone was disappointed after starting the season the way we did,” said VanBeber. “But after we got that first win, we were excited to watch the film and go out and practice for the next game. Give credit to those guys for not quitting.”
The Eagles were hit with the injury bug early on in the year. An offensive lineman had to sit out the season after having his gall bladder removed. Then, the starting center and starting linebacker was injured in a 4-wheeler accident following the homecoming parade.
“They were just freak incidents,” VanBeber said. “I guess things like that happen to every team once in a while.”
The Eagles were led offensively by two bruising senior running backs in Levi Henderson and Gil Griffin. Each was over six-feet tall and weighed over 200 pounds.
“Those guys were real good for us,” said the coach. “I probably had two of my linemen playing in the backfield.
“They surely will be missed.”
Midway through the year, senior quarterback Jace Dunn stepped in and aided in the team’s turnaround. Dunn had been a wingback, but was needed to fill in for sophomore Tyler Fuller.
A young offensive line grew up despite the losses early on and played much better in the last four games.
Seeing his team pull it together at the end excited Coach VanBeber. Building momentum to finish the year was important, especially for a team that returns most of its players next season. The Eagles will have nine players that started on offense and seven who started on defense on their 2010 roster.
“We won’t be as big, but we probably will be quicker all around,” VanBeber said. “We’re going to get our entire offensive line back. We’ll be lean like a lot of Class A teams are and could use a few more players, but that’s just the way it goes.
“Alot of these guys will go play another sport now. I think that’s the best kind of off-season because it keeps them working hard and in shape. When they come back next year, they’ll be ready to get after it.”
There is no doubt that the Waurika Eagles will be eager to step back onto the football field next year. The 2009 season was two seasons in itself. The disappointing 0-6 start culminated with a 4-0 finish in which the Eagles soared to heights not seen back in September. It will be up to the 2010 version the Eagles to start the year just as they finished 2009.
