MAY 28, 2014 – COVINGTON
I’m been putting this off for as long as I could – writing a “Season In Review” for the 2013 football season – not because other things came up or I didn’t feel like writing it .

The reason I waited so long to write the “Season In Review” is because of selfish reasons – I just never wanted to see this senior class graduate.

This was a special class, a special group of kids that have had an impact on the community – not only on the football field, but in all sports.

In regards to football – and no disrespect to other senior classes – this group of seniors may have very well been the best group of kids to come through the Covington football program since I can remember.

No class in recent memory has had as much of an impact as the senior class of 2014; Dalton Bordelon, A.J. Ouellette, Jacob Albright, Justin “Sunshine” Williams, Chance Setters, Jordan Wolfe, Bobby Alexander, Chris Homan, Alex Fries, Colton Murphy, Zakk Collins, Justin Daniel, Dustin Freeman and Hayden Williams.

This wasn’t the most athletic group – although there were some unbelievable athletes. It was a group that had everything as a unit; determination, togetherness, attitude, accountability and effort. This was a group that epitomized everything Buccaneer coach Dave Miller has tried desperately to establish since Covington was blessed to acquire this great football coach seven years ago – a coach who teaches kids life lessons and values they will utilize for the rest of their lives.

This group of kids went went above and beyond what was expected of them in regards to preparation. They set up workouts on their own – even taking it upon themselves to drive around the district to pick up teammates who didn’t have rides. For example, during the down week between summer conditioning a two-a-days, the seniors got teammates together on their own to work out and followed by playing seven-on-seven at the practice fields.

This group set the standard in the community with the way they touched folks at the Covington Care Center and made them feel a part of the team – with the way they organized school and community functions outside of football.

They set the standard of school pride with the way they got involved with the younger kids in junior high and Little Buccs – stopping by to help at practice and going to watch some of their games.

And, behind the leadership of the senior class, the 2013 Covington Buccaneers were a state championship caliber football team – a team that ultimately ran into what many call a “Dynasty” in the regional semifinal – falling to the Marion Local Flyers 35-28 in the final 29 seconds of the game.

If was a painful loss, not because the Buccs came up short on the scoreboard, but because it was the end of a seeing a special group of kids in Covington uniforms.

“I wasn’t upset about the loss (to Marion Local),” said Buccaneer coach Dave Miller at the award’s banquet, with his voice cracking and his eyes watering. “I just really wanted to see this thing through (to state) because I wanted to spend every day I possibly could with these kids. I wanted to spend Thanksgiving Day with them on the practice field. That’s the hardest thing. I know I’ll never get to coach this group of kids again and that’s what hurts the most.”

It wasn’t only the seniors that made the season special – it was also every class under them that contributed to the success. But the seniors were the leaders and left behind an example of how “Championship Teams” do things.

“Look at their example and follow it,” Miller emphasized to the younger kids of the senior class at the award’s banquet. “Build on the leadership they provided. Carry on what these seniors have established for you.”

There’s no reason to boast of the statistics and records these kids put up or relive each game this team played because this group isn’t about records, stats, wins or losses.

The 2013 Buccaneers are about on thing – “Doing Things The Right Way”.

That’s how this team will be remembered.