Ryan Dominguez, a 2010 Hays High graduate, serves up a Red Rebel and a Blue Lobo float at Buda Drugstore’s Soda Fountain. (Photo by Cyndy Slovak-Barton)
by JASON GORDON
Although her children attend Hays High School, pharmacist Tammy Gray said her Buda Drug Store would try and stay neutral this week.
The store will sell both “Red Rebel” and “Blue Lobo” floats.
Finding local people who don’t feel strongly about one side or another, however, may be difficult to do this week as the Rebels and Lobos get set to square off for the fifth installment of their varsity football rivalry game.
Lehman and Hays will do battle Friday night at Shelton Stadium.
“I think this game is so special because so many students played little league, or little dribblers with kids that are now going to the other school,” Gray said. “Every student and adult in both the Buda and Kyle communities knows somebody at both Hays and Lehman.”
Former Hays school board member Joe Muñoz’ daughter Ylissa is a senior at Lehman.
“I have seen the rivalry heat up as the two schools have grown closer in overall student population numbers,” Muñoz said. “I think the rivalry will continue to grow even more in the future.”
Lehman has been getting steadily closer each of the past few seasons, but last year’s 27-7 Rebel win is the closest the Lobos have ever come to beating Hays.
Lehman head coach Steve Davis said he will try to prepare his players like he does for any other game this week, but said he knows reality will set in Friday evening.
“This will be a high-energy game for both players and fans,” Davis said. “If you can’t get fired up for a game like this you don’t have a heartbeat.”
Hays head coach Bob Shelton said it’s no secret that Lehman would love to walk out of the stadium that’s named after him with a victory.
“We know how badly they want to beat us,” Shelton said. “We know we have to come to play.”
Shelton has noticed the improvement in Lehman’s program the last couple of years. In 2009, the Lobos came close to making their first-ever playoff appearance. This season, Lehman has won three straight games heading into its matchup with the Rebs.
“I think the rivalry has grown stronger since Lehman is winning more,” Shelton said. “It will be a big game.”
It will also be the District 27-4A opener for both teams.
“We all know what’s at stake Friday night,” Lehman linebacker Matt Riojas said. “We have to be ready to play and I know we will.”
Hays senior captain Billy Tabor said the Rebels aren’t going to be the first group of Rebel varsity teammates to lose a football game to Lehman.
“We have a winning tradition; they want a winning tradition,” Tabor said. “That’s what this game is all about – keeping that winning tradition alive.”
Alex Rocco, a fellow Hays senior captain, didn’t mix words either when talking about the rivalry with the Lobos.
“All I have to say is as long as I’m a Rebel, losing to Lehman is not an option,” Rocco said.
Kickoff Friday night at Shelton Stadium, where Hays is designated as the home team, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
