SHINER òòò½ÊÓƵ” An 0-3 start could be disastrous for a young football team, but Shiner head coach Daniel Boedeker was determined to prevent the season from slipping away.
Boeeker turned to his five seniors to help the Comanches maintain their confidence.
òòò½ÊÓƵœWhen adversity hit early in the season, those were the guys who were always the calm for us,òòò½ÊÓƵ Boedeker said. òòò½ÊÓƵœItòòò½ÊÓƵ™s been big for us to have those five guys leading the way.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Kye Adamek, Caleb Lehnert, Carson Schuette, Barrett Shelton and Jared Werner accepted Boedekeròòò½ÊÓƵ™s challenge and helped Shiner turn its season around.
òòò½ÊÓƵœWe might be a small class, but we have a great work ethic,òòò½ÊÓƵ Werner said. òòò½ÊÓƵœCoach Boedeker said we had to step up and take them under our wing and show them this is how we can have a better season.òòò½ÊÓƵ
The example set by the seniors has helped the Comanches (12-3) win 12 straight games and advance to the Class 2A, Division II state final against Muenster (13-2) at 7 p.m. Wednesday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
òòò½ÊÓƵœFrom the first week of practice to this last week, they always set the tone,òòò½ÊÓƵ Boedeker said. òòò½ÊÓƵœJust starting in the locker room and when we get out on the field, theyòòò½ÊÓƵ™re the ones leading everything for us. As coaches, youòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve got to love that. When you have guys like that who are positive always, it goes a long way.òòò½ÊÓƵ
The five seniors were motivated by last season when Shiner finished third in district and lost in the area round of the Division I playoffs.
òòò½ÊÓƵœLast year, we had a really bad season by our standards,òòò½ÊÓƵ Schutte said. òòò½ÊÓƵœUs as upperclassmen, we took that personally. We worked this offseason to make sure we came and got to this spot this year.òòò½ÊÓƵ
The five seniors often hung out after practice, which made it easier to set an example on the field.
òòò½ÊÓƵœAlmost every day we go out to eat together,òòò½ÊÓƵ Schuette said. òòò½ÊÓƵœWe go do something. We try to do something everyday, and to do something to keep us tight and to keep this team tight.òòò½ÊÓƵ
The bond paid off when Shiner fell behind early in the semifinal game against Bremond, before rallying for a 41-33 win.
òòò½ÊÓƵœWe went down early and seeing the way these guys fought back and the way they kept their heads in the game and stayed focused was amazing,òòò½ÊÓƵ Schutte said.
Boedeker credits the seniors for helping the underclassmen to develop and take over key roies.
òòò½ÊÓƵœWeòòò½ÊÓƵ™re really proud of the way our young kids grew up,òòò½ÊÓƵ he said. òòò½ÊÓƵœWith the guidance of our seniors leading the way and those young kids seeing how it needed to be done, it was the total package of everything working together of what it takes to get us to this level.òòò½ÊÓƵ
The five seniors were freshmen in 2021 and watched from the sideline as Shiner won its fourth state championship.
òòò½ÊÓƵœAny bit of experience going there definitely helps,òòò½ÊÓƵ Boedeker said. òòò½ÊÓƵœThatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s where I feel theyòòò½ÊÓƵ™ll play a role. Weòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve got a lot of young guys who are excited about this opportunity. But at the same time, the seniors know we have a job to do.òòò½ÊÓƵ
The seniors have made it clear to the underclassmen how important finishing their careers as state champions is to them.
òòò½ÊÓƵœYouòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve just got to treat it like another game,òòò½ÊÓƵ Schuette said. òòò½ÊÓƵœYou canòòò½ÊÓƵ™t get too caught up in the moment. You can take a moment during pregame to just realize, òòò½ÊÓƵ˜Dang, Iòòò½ÊÓƵ™m here.òòò½ÊÓƵ™ But then youòòò½ÊÓƵ™ve got to play it like another football game.òòò½ÊÓƵ
