The 2009 football season hasn't exactly been a cakewalk for the Gatesville Hornets, who seemingly have had to deal with bigger battles in their fieldhouse than they've had to contend with on the field.
"It has been (a trying season)," Gatesville coach Kyle Cooper admitted. "But injuries are a part of football. I feel like we've been through the ringer early, and maybe that will be beneficial."
It might be having to deal with all the turmoil that's helped keep the Hornets focused to the tune of a 4-1 record. And Cooper said his team's confidence is high as it prepares to open District 7-3A play at Whitney (2-3) at 7:30 tonight.
"The kids feel good about where we are at," Cooper said. "They are excited. They know that winning breeds confidence and confidence breeds success."
But success definitely has not come easily for the Hornets, who are looking for their first playoff appearance since 2002.
Before the season began center/nose guard Jacob Hunter, who had started 20 consecutive games and was picked by the players as team captain, was injured and missed the first three games - a 47-25 loss to Mexia, a 35-27 win over Cameron Yoe and a 19-0 win over Fairfield.
Hunter returned for the Hornets' 49-48 win over Lampasas. Receiver Ross Wallace caught 12 passes for 238 yards that night but suffered a season-ending injury late in the game.
And the Sunday after the Yoe game, quarterback Jake Truss was involved in a one-vehicle accident that sent him to the hospital overnight. According to his father, David, Truss had a bruised lung and was very sore through his chest, back, and neck. The elder Truss also stated that Jake was "feeling terrible" emotionally because he was driving and the accident caused his girlfriend to spend several days in the hospital.
Truss missed several practices that week but played the entire game against Fairfield, then led the Hornets to the win over Lampasas and a 44-34 win over Waco Connally the following week.
"I've been proud of our staff and the kids in how we've made the necessary adjustments," Cooper said. "The kids have all stepped up and the backups have been ready and performed when they had to go in. It's a credit to our kids that they know it wasn't about 'me;' it's about 'we.'"
The Hornets had a much-needed idle week last week and have what would appear to be a relatively easy opponent in Whitney. In their last three meetings, the Hornets have outscored the Wildcats 165-0, including last season's 43-0 win in the district opener.
And with Gatesville set to play 1-3 Hillsboro next week, it would seem the Hornets could easily be thinking ahead to the final part of the schedule, in which they will face Glen Rose, West and China Spring. The Hornets lost close games to Glen Rose and West last season before being handed a 33-7 defeat by China Spring to end the season.
But Cooper has emphasized not looking ahead.
"We told them every game is a big game," he said. "That's all there is to it. Whitney is a good ballclub and they are 2-0 in their last two games. So they have a lot of confidence, as well, and they have some talented skill players."
With the battles the Hornets have had to face each week even before they hit the field, there's little chance that they will overlook the Wildcats. They have had to remain focused and play at the top of their game just to survive week to week thus far, so there's no reason to think that will change this week.
And Gatesville also is focused on the big picture. The Hornets have been on the outside looking in at the playoffs for six straight years despite having only one losing record, so they know how important every game is.
"They know where this program is at," Cooper said of his team. "We were on the bubble last year and lost two close ones. That's been our driving force since last November. The more you have invested in something, the harder it is to quit. And they've really invested in this season."
