Cisco football team ready to atone for first-round upset against Spearman

CISCO — The state-ranked Cisco football team, champions of District 4-3A Division II, will be a heavy favorite in its first-round matchup with Spearman.

Sound familiar?

The Lynx — a fourth-place team, as they are now — edged the unbeaten Loboes 33-29 in bi-district last season in one of the state's biggest upsets of the opening round.

The surprisingly early start to its offseason became fuel for Cisco, which will have a chance to avenge the loss when the two face off again Thursday night.

"It was kind of depressing, but all of us used it as something to work towards," senior running back/safety Stanley Callahan said, "and hopefully we'd meet up with them this year. Luckily, we are."

Elements of an upset

Some would look at the 2018 result and chalk it up to a team, 9-0 at the time, overlooking its opponent. Spearman entered the playoffs on a three-game losing streak that pushed it to 6-4.

But the Lynx weren't a typical No. 4 seed.

Spearman was battle-tested with the likes of Canadian and Childress in district. In fact, all four of District 3's teams won a playoff game, with three making the third round. The Lynx ended up winning twice before falling to eventual state runner-up Canadian.

It didn't help that Cisco's two-way star Callahan was sidelined for the game. The All-Big Country safety and team's leading rusher missed the contest after suffering an injury the week before.

"It was really depressing knowing I couldn't go out there and give my all," Callahan said. "I'm really excited that I get to hopefully be a part of this team for a while."

The Loboes committed six turnovers and soon found their season over.

"We hadn't had a turnover problem all year long, and then that one, we ran into one," Cisco coach Brent West said. "Certainly not trying to make excuses, but if you turn the ball over that many times, you're going to lose the game."

Not this time

It was a stunning ending, but No. 6 Cisco (9-1) has tried to make it a positive. Players remember the experience, which added to the Loboes' desire to chase a state championship.

"You could see it ever since two-a-days," senior running back Jailynn Humphries said. "We always talked about, 'We're going to break it. We're not going to fall in the first round. We're coming back harder, faster, stronger. We're going to push ourselves each day to get better and better.'"

It's just icing on the cake that a playoff run would start with a win over the team that caused 2018's pain.

"It's kind of like revenge, and I'm ready for it," senior quarterback Gibson Hearne said. "I know this team's ready for it, so hopefully Thursday night we can come out and show what we've got."

Callahan, who has a team-high 973 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, is glad he'll have a say in this year's meeting.

"I've wanted it, just because I didn't get to play them last year," Callahan said. "It's just something we've all wanted. We want a little revenge."

The team feels better prepared this time, too. Last fall, Cisco didn't play a game within 28 points the final six weeks of the regular season. This year's district had improved teams at the top, providing tougher tests for the Loboes.

"It could've had an effect, not seeing very good competition (last year)," Hearne said. "But this year, Anson was a lot better, Ballinger's a lot better, even Bangs. This year we had a lot better look, and I think we're ready."

This year's Spearman

Like last year, Spearman's record isn't fear-inducing. However, the Lynx (5-5) again faced tough competition throughout the season and have Cisco's full attention.

"I do feel like (our) district is stronger than it was last year, however, we're playing probably one of the strongest districts in our region, at least," West said. "...It's two very strong districts getting after each other."

The Lynx offense is spearheaded by quarterback Jack Wilkerson and Brenen Thompson, who will line up at running back and receiver.

"They're two very dynamic players that Canadian had trouble tackling last week," West said. "They really did a good job of putting some stress on Canadian. That was a good football game and obviously (against) a real good team. That's the two guys we've got to stop in their system.

"Everywhere else, they're just real sound. There's not a bad football player anywhere you can go pick on."

West isn't ready to say the motivation from last year's loss will push them past Spearman. He knows his team will have to perform, or end up in the same position as last fall.

"I don't know that (the loss) helps or hurts," West said. "The psychology of that, I try not to get into too much. All of that is something you can talk about until kickoff, and then it's all over with.

"It's the same thing with a big pep talk before the game. None of that means anything (after) kickoff time...They beat us last year, and they're capable of doing that again."