The Houston County senior class left it all out on the field this season and will leave a legacy all their own

expectations for this class were high coming into this season. The end results

met those expectations and then some according to their head coach. “This

senior class has been through a lot of adversity and in today’s day and time

sticking around and fighting unfortunately is not the norm,” said Bears

head football coach and athletic director Ryan Crawford, who has lead the

program the past three seasons. “I have just tried to preach sticking

together and continuing to work and good things will eventually happen.”

Those good things run the gamut, from winning the season opener at Perry to

defeating a then undefeated Peach County in an overtime thriller. Moments that

none of the players involved will ever forget. “Playing football teaches

character and a lot of traits that you will use in life as an adult.”

Antuan Adams, Zykee Bogan, Daniel Aremndariz, Sammie Harper, Jaquan McKenzie,

Chris Koehler, Dorian Love, Drew Smith, offensive lineman Jason Moore and

defensive ends Harrison Herbert and Eric Ross had been through so much as a

defensive unit the past three seasons. This year’s run to and through the first

two rounds of the playoffs and the overall success of the season as a whole has

a lot to do with how the seniors stuck with it week after week.

and Bogan, starters last season as well, had career years this season. “I

feel as if we really got this program back off the ground,” said Bogan,

who recently received an offer from Hanover College, a Division II program in

Indiana. “We helped show the younger guys what it’s going to take to play

here. There’s a good blueprint we left behind and we feel this tradition will

keep rolling.” Armendariz (23 total tackles) continued his role as the

team’s on-field emotional leader and improved as a playmaker this season,

tallying six tackles for loss this campaign.

mid-season four-game losing streak could have broken a lesser group. The 0-3

start to Region 1-6A play could have had this team of veteran players

questioning why they are still trying to play this game at this level, but

neither things happened. Instead, the Bears kept fighting, winning a must-win

season finale over Northside before going on that two-game playoff win streak.

this season), a starter since his sophomore year, played one of the best games

of his career. Not statistically, but emotionally, personally. The game came

down to a number of key possessions and Rigby kept the ball out of the hands of

the defense and in possession of his team when they needed it the most. “I

think we got the program back on the right track and showed the lower class how

seniors should lead a team,” said Rigby.

the season the ball was also in the hands of senior running back Eric Williams

(career high 299 yards rushing this season), a player that has had his carries

go up and down the past two seasons but has never stopped running hard whenever

he got a chance. There were a number of games where Williams kept the ball

moving downfield, both giving the offense a push while giving the defense a

rest. His statistical contribution might not jump off the screen but those who

understand the game know how important it was to the Bears to have a sturdy

ball-carrier like Williams in close games.

Isaia Harris (72 receptions for 1,034 yards and 11 TDs, named 2019 Houston Home

Journal Offensive Player of the Year), Leeshoen Jarrett (43 receptions for 467

yards), Jaylen Mills (43 receptions) and Kyah Plummer (22 receptions) came up

through the ranks together and each made plays throughout the season that

helped keep their goal of making the playoffs alive. Harris caught seven balls

for just 69 yards Friday, but for the playoffs he has over 500 yards and five

touchdowns. Harris began his career as a sophomore backup quarterback and ended

it as arguably one of the best receivers in school history. “Our season

didn’t end how we think it should have, but I think we left a foundation that

our young guys can build on in the upcoming years,” said Harris. “We

lost that foundation after my freshman year (in 2016) and our senior class did

what we could to bring it back. Now it’s just up to our young guys to continue

the legacy.”

and Plummer combined for four receptions during the loss at Harrison but both

have reassured themselves and equally as important, college recruiters, that

they can be counted on to make big catches in big games. “I feel like we

started a new path for HOCO,” said Plummer, who also stars for the Bears track

and field program. “From going 2-8 for to years to making it to the third round

of the playoffs, anything can happen if you work hard and believe.

of Auburn commit Wesley Steiner (81 total tackles, 8 for loss) has had the

spotlight on him since he was a freshman. During his four years as a Bear he

has played fullback, running back and linebacker, returned kicks, wherever the

program needed him Steiner was there. The Southeastern Conference, and the

Auburn football program in particular, will be getting a very good player and

overall athlete.