It all stood in the balance on a wet night at John Clark Stadium, as the varsity football team (8-3, 6-1 in District 6-6A) started its playoff push against the Allen Eagles (7-4, 5-2 in District 5-6A). 

At the beginning of the season, a district championship was presumably a given en route to challenging for a Region 1 title. Instead, the Coppell Cowboys (11-0, 7-0) took the district, and the Farmers’ season ended in an 18-17 loss to the Eagles.

“It was a reality check,” senior cornerback Tony-Louis Nkuba said. “We have to look back to the whole season, all the little things we could’ve done better. We didn’t play as well as who we thought we were going to be.”

Special teams had been a focus all season and became a strength of the team down the stretch. Against Allen, however, special teams miscues surrendered nine points, half of the Eagles points in the game.

“The quickest way to lose a game is special teams,” Nkuba said. “The safety killed us early. That’s free points [for Allen], and it’s a big sway.”

Neither team led by more than one score at any point. The Farmers outgained the Eagles with 231 yards to 170, and the defense kept the team in winning position holding Allen to three second half points. 

However, the Farmers offense was also held to a field goal on four second half drives. Senior quarterback Ethan Terrell was 8-for-20 and rushed for a game-leading 144 yards, under pressure for most of the night.

“There were lots of mistakes we made,” head football coach Michael Odle said. “From myself to our coaching staff and players, our preparation and execution just didn’t work out. We had multiple chances to overcome our mistakes and couldn’t do it.”

Senior running back Viron Ellison was limited to 11 yards after a season of leading the team in all-purpose yards and scoring 17 total touchdowns. The Eagles sacked Terrell four times, the toughest matchup the team faced at the line of scrimmage all season.

“We left a lot out there on the field,” Ellison said. “We definitely could have won that game, but I’m just glad I got to play one more playoff game with my dogs.”

The Farmers enter the offseason with key players set to graduate shortly. The senior class includes Terrell, Ellison, a majority of the offensive line, linebacker Mark Cooper, Nkuba and top defensive back recruit Jaydan Hardy. 

“You love seniors and appreciate the things they did for this program,” Odle said. “We’ll just spend time together, encourage the young guys and be there for the guys that just played their last game.”

Junior safety Zephen Walker may be next in line to start at quarterback after two seasons as Terrell’s backup. Sophomore running back Tenel Hill stood out as a tough runner to succeed Ellison, and junior defensive end Sean Oliver was the Farmers most productive pass rusher, finishing with 13.5 sacks on the season and leading the team in tackles. 

“We left that winning standard with our expectations and work ethic,” Ellison said. “The young guys have had people to look up to. I feel like we’ll have a good team that can ball out if they get their heads out of the gutter.”

As of now, all the team can do is trust those players to step up and build habits to avoid another early exit a year from now.

“We’re confident we’ll find a group of men to compete at a very high level and get us back into the playoffs,” Odle said. “The loss is something we have to live with and get better from each day, but it’s a tough feeling to not play your best when your best is needed.”