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This may be behind the paywall, but I think you can at least get at least one of the photos on the free site. It was the lead article on the front page of the Express-News sports page on Saturday.
High School Football
‘Much more than a football game’
Six-man game filled with poignancy
By Raul Dominguez Jr., For the Express-News
September 19, 2015
Giddings State School would spend much of Friday night running through the Castle Hills Eagles, but the evening started with the Indians confounded with a sheet of paper.
Figuring out the proper way to run through a spirit banner is a tough call for a team that plays all its games on the road and whose fans are usually limited to the staff of the maximum-security detention center they are housed in.
Most of the team’s players had never run through a banner and even fewer had heard their play elicit loud, joyful cheers made by the Eagles’ faithful.
“They are not used to any of this,” Indians coach Sandy Brown said. “Probably most of their lives they’ve never had any positive attention. It’s a new experience.”
Giddings held on for a 40-33 victory over Castle Hills in TAPPS six-man football at San Antonio Christian in the Indians’ first “home” game of the season.
“It’s kind of the mixed feelings right now,” Eagles coach Jeremy Samplaski said, smiling. “You’re battling, ‘Man we just lost, I don’t like that.’ But, at the same time, there is so much more. There is so much more than just a football game. We tell our boys, we’ve won two state championships the last two years, but there are going to be more important days, there are going to be bigger days.”
And Friday was certainly one of those days for Castle Hills’ two-time defending TAPPS state champions.
Opened in September 1972, Giddings is a maximum-security detention center located 120 miles northeast of San Antonio, between Austin and Houston. The facility houses juvenile boys from throughout Texas who have committed serious or violent crimes.
“For whatever reason, the boys are here at the school,” said Dave Birkey, Castle Hills Athletic Booster Club vice president.
“I don’t know what it is, but it doesn’t matter. They are still boys, and they still need to have a chance. They still need to be shown by somebody, anybody, that they matter. If we can have some small part in that, than this is worth it.”
Castle Hills essentially gave up a home game to Giddings, allowing the Indians a sense of normalcy in a chaotic life. Giddings had homemade banners, cheerleaders and fans thanks to Castle Hills.
“It was a great experience,” Tamarkus B. said. “Everything was a great opportunity. I’m glad to be out here.”
Because its players are housed in a detention center, Giddings does not allow players’ last names or close-up pictures of them to be published.
Football is a reward for those housed at the state facility. Brown said only one out of 20 residents has done enough to earn the privilege of being on the team.
Giddings was rewarded with a win Friday, but Castle Hills got as much out of it.
“We won state last year, and this game was the highlight of our year,” Birkey said. “It was the best moment.”
[email protected]
This may be behind the paywall, but I think you can at least get at least one of the photos on the free site. It was the lead article on the front page of the Express-News sports page on Saturday.
High School Football
‘Much more than a football game’
Six-man game filled with poignancy
By Raul Dominguez Jr., For the Express-News
September 19, 2015
Giddings State School would spend much of Friday night running through the Castle Hills Eagles, but the evening started with the Indians confounded with a sheet of paper.
Figuring out the proper way to run through a spirit banner is a tough call for a team that plays all its games on the road and whose fans are usually limited to the staff of the maximum-security detention center they are housed in.
Most of the team’s players had never run through a banner and even fewer had heard their play elicit loud, joyful cheers made by the Eagles’ faithful.
“They are not used to any of this,” Indians coach Sandy Brown said. “Probably most of their lives they’ve never had any positive attention. It’s a new experience.”
Giddings held on for a 40-33 victory over Castle Hills in TAPPS six-man football at San Antonio Christian in the Indians’ first “home” game of the season.
“It’s kind of the mixed feelings right now,” Eagles coach Jeremy Samplaski said, smiling. “You’re battling, ‘Man we just lost, I don’t like that.’ But, at the same time, there is so much more. There is so much more than just a football game. We tell our boys, we’ve won two state championships the last two years, but there are going to be more important days, there are going to be bigger days.”
And Friday was certainly one of those days for Castle Hills’ two-time defending TAPPS state champions.
Opened in September 1972, Giddings is a maximum-security detention center located 120 miles northeast of San Antonio, between Austin and Houston. The facility houses juvenile boys from throughout Texas who have committed serious or violent crimes.
“For whatever reason, the boys are here at the school,” said Dave Birkey, Castle Hills Athletic Booster Club vice president.
“I don’t know what it is, but it doesn’t matter. They are still boys, and they still need to have a chance. They still need to be shown by somebody, anybody, that they matter. If we can have some small part in that, than this is worth it.”
Castle Hills essentially gave up a home game to Giddings, allowing the Indians a sense of normalcy in a chaotic life. Giddings had homemade banners, cheerleaders and fans thanks to Castle Hills.
“It was a great experience,” Tamarkus B. said. “Everything was a great opportunity. I’m glad to be out here.”
Because its players are housed in a detention center, Giddings does not allow players’ last names or close-up pictures of them to be published.
Football is a reward for those housed at the state facility. Brown said only one out of 20 residents has done enough to earn the privilege of being on the team.
Giddings was rewarded with a win Friday, but Castle Hills got as much out of it.
“We won state last year, and this game was the highlight of our year,” Birkey said. “It was the best moment.”
[email protected]
