They’ve earned it
Sorry Carthage, I’m going with Liberty-eylau despite No. 1 ranking
“A month ago ... I prematurely wrote off the Leopards. My commentary all but eulogized their season, summing it up as a year of misfortunes. In a rush to conclusion, I must now offer my apologies.”
TEXARKANA, Texas — The adage “It’s not over until it’s over” has once again proven its timeless wisdom.
As a dedicated sports enthusiast with 38 years of life under my belt, you’d think this lesson would be well-ingrained by now. Yet, I find myself humbly retracting premature judgments — once again.
A month ago, following Liberty-eylau’s 56-12 stumble to Gilmer — their third consecutive defeat in a season plagued by losses — I prematurely wrote off the Leopards. My commentary all but eulogized their season, summing it up as a year of misfortunes.
In a rush to conclusion, I must now offer my apologies.
In the three weeks following that fateful Gilmer match, the Leopards have shown grit and tenacity. They stood toe-to-toe with the No. 3-ranked Pleasant Grove, instilling a sense of trepidation in the Hawks. This was followed by successive victories over Pittsburg and North Lamar, with the latter being a decisive 420 victory on Friday night at home.
Their resurgence has not only been impressive but has also propelled them into the playoffs — a turn of events they have earned with every ounce of their determination. Deservedly so.
The season began in a less than ideal fashion for the Leopards, marked by a disheartening 28-14 loss to Henderson in their opener. The following week brought no respite, as they were soundly defeated by Paris, failing to put any points on the board in a 30-point shutout.
In Week 3, fortune seemed to tilt in Liberty-eylau’s favor as they edged ahead of Mount Pleasant, carrying the lead into halftime. However, their stride was halted not by their opponents, but by the capricious whims of the weather. A series of lightning delays led to the eventual cancellation of the game, with Mother Nature claiming the final say.
Despite these setbacks, the Leopards managed to claw their way to a victory against Atlanta, a much-needed uplift in their journey. Yet, this was followed by two more losses, casting a shadow over their prospects as they approached the Gilmer game.
Now, after finishing the season 2-1 in its last three games, Liberty-eylau clinched a berth into the postseason and will get a shot.
It won’t be easy, though, as the Leopards will face the top-ranked team in Class 4A, Division II, the Carthage Bulldogs, on Thursday in the bi-district round at Pine Tree’s Pirate Stadium in Longview, Texas.
Carthage, the defending state champions, bring a daunting 26-game winning streak that dates back to Nov. 11, 2021. Maintaining an unblemished record of 10-0 this season, they have dominated the field, winning nine of those games by a margin of 25 points or more.
This upcoming encounter is steeped in a shared history, as Liberty-eylau and the Bulldogs are no strangers to each other’s playbooks, having engaged in preseason scrimmages over the years, including one this season.
Carthage may be the top Class 4A, Division II team in Texas, but I will not over look the Leopards, who have seemed to get hot at just the right time.
Anybody can win at any given time, and Liberty-eylau has proved that to me more than once. I’ve learned my lesson: I’m backing the Leopards.