Despite loss, Bucks enjoyed successful run

Smackover opened its football season with two games in six days. The Buckaroos beat Foreman 45-24 on a Monday and Junction City 46-20 on that Saturday.

Foreman and Junction City, by the way, will meet in the 2A state semifinals on Friday.

Smackover had to forfeit the game against the Gators and, after beating the Dragons, went two weeks before playing another game after getting a forfeit win over Hampton.

A forfeit win, a forfeit loss, two weeks open and two opponents destined to compete for state championships, all in the first month of the season? And, it was just the beginning for the Bucks, who saw the rollercoaster season end Friday, 24-21, to Osceola.

“It’s been a great season,” said Smackover coach Brian Brown. “It’s a really good bunch of guys to coach. Practices have been great. They practiced hard. I’m just proud of the way they played. One of the things you can’t teach (is effort). You can get out there and teach all these different things, but the effort

level is one of the best I’ve ever seen. I hope that’s a tradition we continue here. The effort level of these kids was second to none as far as the effort they’ve given. I was real proud of that. Our seniors were great leaders.”

Smackover finished with a 10-2 record and the 3A-5 championship.

The season-ending loss was a microcosm of the Bucks’ year. Adversity hit often on the muddy field at Buckaroo Stadium. Smackover managed to climb out of all the holes, including a goalline stand in the fourth quarter. Finally, Osceola converted its only field goal of the season, a 25 yarder that crawled over the goalpost.

“This is the best team I’ve ever coached as far as that. This team is never out of a ball game. We’ve preached standing up and playing the game the whole game,” said Brown. “This is one team that

has absolutely believed in what we’ve coached as far as playing as hard as you can play, every play. That showed on that goalline stand and scoring late. It’s just a resilient team that overcame so much to get where we were.”

Smackover’s season finished short of the finish line it had established for itself. Brown hoped his players walked off the field Friday night with something more valuable than a ring.

“We talk about overcoming adversity and not letting it affect what you’re doing,” he said. “We always tell the kids, no matter what’s going on in your life, whatever it is, you can overcome that adversity. We’ve really overcome … some (things) that people don’t even know about. That’s been a teaching lesson. Our coaches have preached to the kids each day, next play, next set of downs, let’s move forward. That forward thinking has helped us to a great year.

“I’m just proud of our guys. Hopefully, we can continue it on next year.”