Boerne hoping preparation pays off in playoff push
BOERNE — Among the things Boerne wanted to achieve this seasonwas play football in December.
The Greyhounds (9-2) are one victory away from making that happen. They can get there with a victory against Corpus Christi Miller (8-4) in a Class 4A Division I regional semifinal set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Alamodome.
“I’m just proud of our guys, of our effort and of our mindset,” Boerne’s third-year coach Che Hendrix said. “This started way back during quarantine, when we went to Zooms and all our kids were present. We kept that connection going between our players and our coaches. It really just sparked from there, and it’s been a really long journey.”
Getting to this point has been a haul.
After not knowing for most of the summer if there would be a season, the Greyhounds were ready to go when the UIL gave the green light in July to begin the fall football season with split starts. Schools below Class 5A began as originally scheduled in the final weekend of August. Classes 6A and 5A started a month later.
While the state’s biggest schools wrap up their regular season next week, the sub-5a playoffs have reached their halfway point. For those smaller-school teams, playing in December still carries clout.
It’s already been a big season for Boerne.
The Greyhounds captured their first outright district championship since 2005 when they downed La Vernia 40-32 on Oct. 30 for the 14-4A-I crown.
Boerne is venturing into the third round of the playoffs for only the second time in a program history that dates to 1924.
“This means everything to the seniors to be able to make history and leave our mark here at Boerne and showthe younger guys howto work together and be close,” senior defensive end John Warden said.
Their longest jaunt happened in 2004 when Boerne went four rounds deep before losing to Marshall, Texas, 21-6 in a Class 4A (now 5A) Division I state semifinal.
“It’s awesome to be one of those teamsthat’s made it this far,” junior quarterback Rashawn Galloway said. “It’s a good feeling for our seniors, especially.”
Here’s more history. Boerne has won at least nine games in a season eight times, including this year. They went 12-2 in 2004 and 10-1-1 in 1963.
The 2020 Greyhounds have placed themselves among the best to ever suit up for Boerne.
“It starts with our senior belief system,” Hendrix said. “We have guys who have played since they were sophomores. We have guys who have been in a lot of battles and a lot of tight games. They really want to compete and play for each other.”
Hendrix has made an im
mediate impact since his arrival. He previously coached seven seasons at Frisco Heritage, compiling a 30-43 record with one district championship and one playoff appearance.
In 2018 — Hendrix’s first season at Boerne — the Greyhounds went 9-3, shared a tri-district championship and won their first playoff game since 2005.
Boerne went two rounds deep again last season while going 7-4.
Then, this year’s breakthrough.
“Before he came, we couldn’t even get out of the first round,” Galloway said. “We were a first-round exit every year. For us to be able to get that first-round win my freshman year, it definitely gave us a spark that we needed.”
While it’s tempting to revel in their achievements this season, the Greyhounds aren’t done. They seek to make more history.
“I haven’t taken a lot of time to look back at it and reminisce, butwe have tried to stop and enjoy it because I think that’s important,” Hendrix said. “But, we’re pretty focused on continuing to play.”
It won’t be easy with Miller looming.
The Buccaneers are fresh off a 54-49 upset of Lampasas, which ended the season as the state’s second ranked team in 4A. Miller outlasted Lampasas thanks for an epic performance from senior quarterback Andrew Body, who totaled 567 offensive yards and accounted for all eight of Miller’s touchdowns.
Body passed for 300 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 267 yards and four touchdowns in last Saturday’s contest at Farris Stadium.
Body, who is committed to Texas Southern, is capping an extraordinary career. His 12,542 career passing yards ranks fifth all-time in Texas history. His 134 career passing touchdowns is 10th.
Miller is in the third round of the postseason for the second season in a row.
The Buccaneers are in the third round for the second straight season after getting this far as a 5A school last year.
“It’s definitely going to be abig, physical challenge this week, especially up front with the front seven,” Warden said. “It’s going to be who can dominate the line.”
If the Greyhounds can do that, December football awaits.