Canyon Lake senior Joe Shone’s sentiment put a stamp on the attitude that has carried the “Original Nine” Hawks from the practice fields of Smithson Valley to being on the verge of making the playoffs for the first time in school history.
In just their second-year in District 8-3A, the Hawks face Fredericksburg on Friday with a chance to earn the first playoff spot in school history and it all began with a bunch of kids one spring in 2007.
In the Texas heat
Former Texas A&M and Alabama coaching legend Paul “Bear” Bryant had “The Junction Boys” back in 1954 and coach Matt Monzingo had his Hawks.
“I was just hired and coming down to Smithson Valley 3-4 days a week to work with the kids,” Monzingo said. “We used one of the Rangers’ practice fields and I just remember those first practices were not that pretty.
“We couldn’t line up a football team because we didn’t have enough players. We had no linemen, so we’d run 7-on-7 or cover drills. We made do with what we had in those early days.”
The players had a common memory of those early practices: Hot.
“It wasn’t fun out in the heat,” senior Eric Nelson said. “Some of the kids couldn’t hack it and quit. We kept wondering if we were every going to be a team.”
The day of unity
What started out as 20 players soon dwindled down to nine, as the heat and practices had taken their toll on the bunch.
But the day of unity came when Monzingo showed up unannounced to Smithson Valley with a present for each of the kids.
“I pulled up and they were all sitting in the bleachers. They finally saw me and came running down,” Monzingo said. “I brought them each Canyon Lake gear that we got in and it was like a celebration.
“The kids couldn’t wait to put them on. They stripped off their shirts right then and there to put the new gear on. They couldn’t wait to wear the green.”
Many of the kids remember the day they became a team.
“We were official,” James Richard said. “It was really nice to be called Hawks and we were proud then and are still proud of being Hawks.
“It isn’t every day that you’re the first group to open a school. We’re setting the foundation for this entire program and it all began during those hot days of practice.”
Recruiting a team
After the doors finally opened on Canyon Lake High School in the fall of 2007, coaches and students did their best job of recruiting to help build up the football team.
“We had to recruit back then,” Monzingo said. “I knew it was going to be tough when I took the job. I went through the same thing at Pflugerville Connelly and we knew that better days were ahead.”
Monzingo opened Pflugerville Connelly 15 years ago and went through the same trials and tribulations that come with a new program.
Which made him the perfect man for the job at Canyon Lake.
Playoff potential
He has Canyon Lake on the verge of making the playoffs, something that was unheard of after winning just one game in 2008.
But here we are.
The Hawks could secure a playoff spot on Friday when they face district foe Fredericksburg and the stands would surely empty in celebration if that tale would come to pass.
But no matter the outcome, it all began with nine guys in the Texas heat two years ago that have forged the traditions and laid the foundation for the future of Canyon Lake football.
“They’ve been a fun group to coach,” Monzingo said. “We’ll always remember those guys and their parents that helped us out so much. Those guys have persevered and survived, which makes them special.
“They’ll always have memories of being the “Original Hawks.”
