Never mind that the Grey Wolves had an opportunity to clinch District 12-5A’s final playoff spot by themselves, only to fall to Temple before Belton’s win over Bryan bailed them out.
Or the fact that Shoemaker squeaked past fellow fourth-place teams Killeen Ellison and Belton based on tiebreaker points.
The Grey Wolves and the only head football coach Shoemaker has ever had are relieved the wait is finally over.
“We felt like we could do it ourselves and obviously we didn’t, but it still feels good to be here,” said Gray, who will lead Shoemaker (4-6) against Tyler John Tyler (5-5) - making its 28th playoff appearance - at 5 p.m. today at Midlothian ISD Stadium.
And the rest of the school is soaking up the moment, as well.
“We’re pretty much the talk of the town,” Gray said. “It feels like homecoming.”
The long-awaited playoff berth might be even sweeter considering how the Grey Wolves started the season.
Shoemaker dropped three of its first four games, including a heartbreaking 42-41 overtime home loss to Bryan in which running back Dion Demers was stopped at the 1-yard line on the potential game-winning two-point conversion.
The Wolves rebounded to win three of their next four games, including a victory over a College Station A&M Consolidated team that tied Temple for second place.
“Early on we weren’t playing well,” Gray said, “but we hit our stride and were as hot as any team down the stretch.”
Junior quarterback Jameill Showers, who has a scholarship offer from Texas A&M, suffered a thigh contusion last week against Temple but is expected to start. He is second in the area with 1,897 passing yards and third with 18 TD passes.
Demers has rushed for 855 yards and 11 TDs and M.J. Porter leads the area with 884 receiving yards on 46 catches.
They’ll face a bend-but-don’t-break Lions 4-3 defense that has allowed 315.6 yards and 21.7 points per game. The leader is end Ashton Dorsey (6-2, 280 pounds).
“He’s a man-child,” Gray said of Dorsey. “He’s a big force up front.”
On offense, the Lions feature a run-based spread attack led by junior quarterback Jeremy Johnson (6-0, 165). Johnson is 84-for-185 passing for 922 yards and eight TDs and is second on the team with 733 yards rushing and eight TDs.
Running back Ky’Ordric Black leads the team with 818 rushing yards and 24 receptions for 184 yards.
“They’re a spread-you-out team,” Gray said. “And their quarterback (Johnson) will break some ankles with his speed and moves.”
The Shoemaker-Tyler winner will advance to the area round to play Richardson Lake Highlands (9-2), which beat South Garland 42-14 on Friday.
cmeister@temple-telegram.com
