Page 174 - 1998.Millard.North

Seniors Andy Bi ga and Colin Cald well celebrate after
uP
the Mustangs victory over Papillion. This victory was
the first in two years aginst th e Monarchs. photo by
Sara Lenz TEAMING
Junior Nick Pearson throws a pass while
scrambling from th e Omaha North defense. The
Mustangs went again st the Vikings in the first FOR THE
round of the state tournament. photo by Erika
ToucHoowN

By: Amy Farrell

Team unity and the willingness to Factors, such as, injuries and
push their limits, played a key role in the sickness were also an unwelcome part of
varsity football team's success this sea- this team's season. These things weren't
son. Even though the team didn't go to able to keep them from having a great
state, the team spirit that surrounded the season overall.
players was still apparent after the final "A couple key injuries sort of hurt
game was done and the crowds had gone us, but it was nothing to dwell upon, "
home. · Ahern said.
Junior Derek Caldwell said the The team unity surrounded more
team played great under any circumstance than just the seniors or the starters, this
and the whole team came together with a team's unity stretched all the way to the
strong sense of team togetherness. second and third strings on the bench and
"Our team had many strengths. the fans in the stands.
Some of those major ones were the team "Our season was really unpre-
unity and the high level we were deter- dictable, we only lost three games by a
mined to play on ," senior Tom Ahern span of eight points. But the whole team
said. was real level-headed, and we knew how
In addition to the strengths the to play like a team. It was like we were
team had, there were many smaller fac- one big family," Caldwell said.
tors that added to this team's ability to "Even though I did not get to play
compete senior Ray Rose said. very much, I still think the season was
"The most important key to our great. We all had fun at the games, and
games this season was the defense. When even if I wasn't playing, I cheered really
our defense could make the stops, we loud. That's how tight we were, " junior
won the games," Rose said. Tim Bouckhoit said.

The Mustangs display
their team spirit before
kick-off. Team unity
played an important role
in' the varsity team's
success. photo by Sara
Len z

The Mustang offense lines up against th e Papillion/
LaVista Monarch defense during a pl ayoff game. The
Musta ngs went on to lose 20-16. photo by Melissa
Ballentin e
Junior Judd Davies rushes around the defensive end
during the fi rst game of the season again st Millard
South . The Mustangs relied on a ru shing style offense
to overco me opponents.