The varsity football team, with a record of 7-2, was full of momentum and confidence on their way to the playoffs. They go to bed on November 6 only to wake up the next day with a new gut-wrenching reality. Due to a “clerical error,” they now have an ineligible player and a new record of 1-8. Preparing for a game against rival Tascosa, they walk into school at 8 a.m. with a knot in their stomach, feeling everyone’s eyes. With the odds stacking against them, the question remains: what do they do now?
Their only hope to continue to the playoffs depended on beating Tascosa, knowing that even if they do, it all really comes down to the coin toss between the coaches and for Lubbock High to win. The accusations brought on a lot of stress, not only for the team but for the entire school. The rumors following the team, and the coaches brought a bad reputation onto the school going into playoffs.
“Finding out about the accusation, I just felt so frustrated, frustrated with the entire situation,” Head Coach Chad Dunnam said. “I was so shocked and in disbelief. I was concerned about our kids and concerned about our program as a whole.”
News about ineligibility spread quickly and brought entirely new feelings into the hearts and minds of everyone involved. Whispers through halls, posts on social media and the tension that everyone tried to ignore left the school on edge. As the big game approached, the stress level rose for all concerned, but the players tried to fix their minds on something more positive.
“We were pretty fired up; it was pretty fun,” senior Jett Lopez said. “We kind of thought that it was our last game so we were just trying to have fun with it despite everything.”
The stadium rang with the cheers of die-hard fans and echoed with tension never before felt in the hearts of students with a “Must Win” mindset at the Amarillo High and Tascosa game. Students spread the scores of the Lubbock High Game through the stands because they knew their entire hope of moving to playoffs tied to Lubbock High’s win. Everyone in the audience held their breath. Students all snapped their heads to the scoreboard as the final seconds ticked by. Then, the breath morphed into a resounding cry of victory. With a final score of 63-21, the team relied on a coin toss against two other schools for a shot in the playoffs. For the moment, however, the students could only think that, despite the odds, their school had pulled through and beat their rival.
“I feel personally like even through adversity and breaking my leg, my team and I were still able to compete well,” senior Kason Stroud said.
Past and present players held immense pride for their team. This win, despite the pressure and over a major school rival, Tascosa, brought the pride to an entire new level. No matter grade level, the position or even if on the team, the entire school held their head with dignity.
“[My first reaction to the game] was just how much we killed them,” senior Ian Herrick said. “It was also so fun because of how loud the crowd was. I never lost faith in my team.”
Pride was not the only emotion that people felt, however. Seniors felt a strong sense of apprehension, aware that their season might have come to an end. The want to continue the season pushed the entire team into conquering uncharted territories that helped prepare for the future.
“It really just got us going and prepared us for playoffs.” senior Austin Sluder said. “It felt like we were going into the playoffs with a lot of momentum. I was really happy with [our performance]. I kind of thought it would be my last game and I was super grateful for the opportunity.”
In a gas station parking lot in Plainview Texas, three football coaches stood in a circle awkwardly staring at each other, trying to ignore the roller coaster of emotions inside them, each praying to have the one coin with the opposite side facing up. After waiting with anticipation, Dunnam flipped his coin last, his heart beating louder, trying to breathe in a normal rhythm. It all came down to this moment. This whole season, all of his players, all of the hopes of everyone seeming to rest on his shoulders. With a deep breath and a silent prayer, he watched as his coin fell. It clattered to the ground and landed on tails. Dunnam let out a breath of relief, realizing he could tell his team to get ready for the playoffs.
“[The coin toss] was kind of a unique situation, that’s the best word I could say, and my first situation like that,” Dunnam said. “I was grateful for it, although it was for an unfortunate reason. It was a situation that I certainly wish didn’t have to happen.”
Reporters approached admin for comments, but they declined any comments on the game, coin toss or feelings about the ineligibility.
The team’s wild and unexpected ride had ended, but it is not something likely to forget. The events show the true power of what can happen when a school bands together. The experience of coming together whenever hard call-outs happen and showing school spirit that everyone thought they had lost, brought pride, dignity and honor to the 2025 football season.
“As a student, it’s really cool to see our school wrapped up in a huge story like this,” senior Ethan Silva said. “I think people are gonna remember this for a while.”
