SPECIAL EDITION
DREAM SEASON!
‘Not the same Tomball’
The Varsity football team has the chance to make history here at Tomball High School. The last time the football team made it this far into the playoffs was 1984 and 1985, when they played in the state title game in back-to-back years but came up short both times. The quarterback at the time, Lance Pavlas, is in the Texas High School Sports Hall of Fame. Photo by Jaime Rowe
Cougars face Bridgeland at home in regional final by lucas botello
T
he Varsity football team has the chance to make history here at Tomball High School. The last time the football team made it this far into the playoffs was 1984 and 1985, when they played in the state title game in back-to-back years. After 36 years, the Cougars are back in the regional finals, deep into the playoffs. The team - an afterthought in high school football playoffs for more than a decade - has defied expectations, beating schools that were district champs or even nationally ranked. As the team has proclaimed since the season began: We’re not the same Tomball. The Cougars have pushed themselves to their limit in every game, defying what many people thought possible
as they push deeper into the playoffs, and showing all season that this is a team other will need to watch. “A lot of people doubt us because we haven’t made it this far for a long time but it feels amazing to be in the spot we are and we know we’ve earned it,” said senior WR Derrick Taloy. The Cougars started the year strong, opening with a five-game win streak but ran into some trouble against the Klein ISD schools. However, they beat Klein High School in the last district game to secure the final playoff spot. Since then, they have beaten Cy-Park, Willis and Rockwall Heath in the playoffs. Cy-Park and Heath were both considered state title contenders. “Winning playoff matches is an believable experience but it’s only possible because we all trust the process and believe in each other,” said senior DE Luke Roaten.