By JASON GORDON
There were two winners at Shelton Stadium Friday night.
Hays won 28-27 on the scoreboard, but the Lehman football team won respect from Rebel coaches, players and fans.
One longtime Hays fan could be overheard saying, “I had no idea Lehman would be that good.”
The best football team Lehman has fielded to date was as good as advertised and perhaps even better.
The game boiled down to whether Hays’ ultra-talented quarterback Caleb Kimbro or extraordinary Lehman running back Levi Medley would make the final big play of the game. It happened to be Kimbro, or the game easily could have gone the other way.
Kimbro finished the game with 237 total yards. Medley finished with 227 rushing yards.
That’s how close the game played out on the field too.
“Those are two special athletes and they are even better young men,” Lehman head coach Steve Davis said. “They put on a show for the fans tonight.”
Lehman has certainly come a long way since the days Hays gave the Lobos a couple of 50-point smack downs a half-decade ago.
The playing field is leveled. Both schools have an equal number of gifted athletes and the Lobos aren’t afraid of Hays when the two square off in any sport unlike in the past.
Lehman expects to win and that was certainly apparent Friday night at Shelton Stadium.
“They have a lot of good athletes and a great coaching staff,” said Kimbro. “Levi Medley is the best running back we’ve played against all year. I think Lehman can compete with anybody.”
Kimbro added that he thinks the Lobos have definitely turned the corner and will no longer be the district doormats.
“They showed last night what they’ve been showing all season, they have a great football team,” he said. “Every team that plays them will have a challenge.”
Lehman senior defensive end/receiver Matt Riojas said the Lobo players walked off the Shelton Stadium field with their heads held high after the narrow loss to the Rebels.
“We felt as if we earned respect from the community for our school,” Riojas said. “We played with class and I’m proud to be a part of this football team.”
Riojas said this year’s Lehman football team is setting a foundation for future Lobo athletes to follow.
"We’re trying to get everyone on board,” he said. “We’ve been talking to the underclassmen, trying to make them understand if you want to be successful you have to show up early and work hard when you are supposed to. What we did Friday night against Hays will set the foundation. People now realize Lehman is coming to play each and every time that face us.”
