Page 164 - 2004.Millard.North

A perfect season with the perfect ending makes fo

Fini~

on

For the second year in a row, the my first game. But with each succeeding
undefeated Mustangs played in the state game, I felt more and more confident that
championship to win the coveted trophy. I'd be fine," JeffTarpinian said .
They played the only other undefeated team Tarpinian showed that he could be
in Class A, Creighton Prep. The game gave just as un stoppable, with six wins in all six
the Mustangs the chance to show everyone starts, until he was injured in the semi-final
who the better team was. They didn't settle game against North Pl atte. Junior Robbie
for anything less than the best. Knight stepped in and made his first start at
Remembering the controversial the quarterback position in the bi ggest game
loss the year before, the team didn't want a of hi s high school career, the state
repeat. With 20 of the 58 players as seniors, championship at Memorial Stadium in
leadership was at its highest. Lincoln. Knight, along with the rest of the
"The strongest point of the team Mustang football team, dominated
was the guidance from the seniors. Usually Creighton Prep 38-7.
there's one or two vocal leaders, but this "The season was amazing. We had
year every senior was a leader both on and a few bumps along the way, but winning
off the field," senior Cliff Tullis said. state was the most impot1ant goal of all , and
Three games left in the regular it felt good to win it for the coaches," senior
season, the football team and coaching staff Seth Olsen said.
was hit by news that no one expected. Finishing on top with a 13-0 record
Senior standout quarterback Adam Shada and a first-ever state championship, there
had a blood clot in hi s right shoulder and was no doubt in anyone's mind th at the
was out for the rest of the season. 2003 Mustang football team was not only
Senior Keith Lloyd kicks off after a scoring drive
during the championship game. Lloyd received All- Sophomore JeffTarpinian took his place. the best team in the state, but one of the
State honors as a punter. photo by Rachel Fischer "When I first heard that Adam was best Class A teams in the history of
out for the year, I was nervous going into

Junior Robbie Knight stops the Papillion offensive
effort. Knight helped keep the Monarchs to only 28
points. photo by Rachel Fischer
Seniors Luke Christenson and Brad Rooker celebrate a mu ch
anti cipated state championship win . The Mustangs dominated the
Creighton Prep Junior Jays 38-7. photo by Rachel Fi scher

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