Pasadena Independent School District

Longhorns stand with Santa Fe in football opener

Posted on 09/04/2018

By: Jade Wise
Pasadena ISD Communications

This weekend, at a packed stadium in Santa Fe, the Longhorn’s 2018 high school football season kicked off with Dobie showing their love and support for the Santa Fe community.

The game was the first for both teams since the tragedy that took the lives of 10, including two varsity football players, and injured 13 at Santa Fe High School on May 18, 2018.

With the community still coping from the events of that morning, the game served as a healing moment and a chance to return to a sense of normalcy.

Emotions took over during the national anthem, and tears could be seen in the eyes of several players on both the Longhorns and the Indians, as they stood together in a single-file line.

Dobie sent a powerful message of a tribute of solidarity under Friday Night Lights. The players wore green wristbands, while the cheerleaders donned green bows and the marching band tied green ribbons on their instruments. Meanwhile in the stands, Longhorn fans held homemade signs with the message of #SantaFeStrong.
 
The game included a host of local media attention, appearances by Christian Covington and Greg Macz of the Houston Texans and was featured as ABC 13’s “Game of the Week.”

With the score tied 21-21 late in the fourth quarter, Dobie running back Chris Morris ran for a 39 yard touchdown with less than three minutes remaining for what would be the winning score.

Santa Fe had a final opportunity on fourth down from inside the red zone, but the ball slipped through the hands of the receiver for a turnover-on-downs. 

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Dobie celebrated the hard fought 28-21 victory to open the season. 

 “Santa Fe is a tough football team and very well coached,” said Dobie Head Coach Kevin Berneathy. “The community should be so proud of these kids with everything they’ve been through.”