It didn’t turn out the way they wanted it to, but the nine seniors who carried the load for the 2006 Alex Longhorns had a pretty darned good season. They played their best game of the year at Pioneer Friday and lost a 44-40 heartbreaker under the cloud of three controversial calls in the Mustangs’ last-minute, game-winning drive.

Nonetheless, it was a great football game, the cream of the first-round eight-man matchups. Whether or not the calls and the hanky pick-up were justified can be argued forever, but they’re done and nothing can be done to un-do them. That’s part of what you have to be willing to contend with to play this, or any, game.

Football expectations are always high at Alex and there were a lot of high school players cruising Sonics around the state last Friday night that would have been very happy to have traded places with these guys. With the dust settling a little, it’s a good time to look back at their senior year.

The big fellas who get the least ink, interior linemen Josh Leatherwood, Justin Tillman and Kevin Mills, held the trenches together all year. Unfortunately, statistics aren’t kept on tackles, pass rushes, hurries, sacks and the other intangibles that a good defensive line rings up game in and game out. Neither are they kept on the crushing lead blocks and gaping holes created on the offensive side that make the skill position guys look so good.

Life on the line is tough, and these three horses were in there every night out on both sides of the ball, playing just about every down through eleven games and playing their best when it really counted. They were outsized Friday night, but made Pioneer quarterback Garrett Diel’s life miserable. They did the same to Chaz Gilliam and manhandled the Cyril defensive line through four overtimes to clinch their playoff spot last month. They have their imprint on every yard of the team’s big offensive numbers.

“Fifth-year senior” Johnathan Hutchins’ unique comeback story got him and Alex statewide attention on Van Shea Iven’s Oklahoma High School Sports Express. Hutch was the vocal team leader on his crutches last year and on the field this year. He wrapped up his comeback story with three big plays Friday night--a 42-yard run for Alex’s first score, a 65-yard reception to set the table for another and a crucial interception late in the game.

Used primarily a short yardage guy and lead blocker (a role he said he came to love), he still finished with 562 yards on 88 carries and seven touchdowns. He also emerged as a surprise receiving threat late in the year, pulling in six passes for 165 yards and three more scores, including the huge grab against Cyril that sent the game to overtime and paved the way for the big win.

Bryson Braziel left it on the field every week--literally. There are little bits and pieces of this kid on just about every football field Alex has played on. His season wasn’t official until he got hurt. Ankles, concussions, hands, whatever--the tough three-year starter played with more pain than some teams combined. Braziel did everything--run, block, tackle, intercept, punt, kick off and return kicks--with a ferocity that rubbed off on his teammates and made them all better. Second in rushing with 748 yards on 116 carries and seven touchdowns. First in receiving with 191 yards on eight grabs and three more scores. Second in kickoff returns with 168 yards and one touchdown and first in punt returns with 205 yards and another score. First in interceptions with three and yet another touchdown. Second in all-purpose yards with 1,375 and first in athletic tape used, all in ten games.

Damon Avery was the rushing leader with 1,046 yards on 110 carries (9.5 per carry) and 17 touchdowns, averaging 95.1 yards per game. He was second in receiving with 68 yards on eight grabs, added 315 more yards and a touchdown on 13 kickoff returns, another 67 on punt returns and led the team with 1,519 all-purpose yards, averaging 138.1 per game. The game-breaker could run over or around you and didn’t care which. His slashing style and explosive speed made him a threat every time he touched the ball--he was first in scoring with 19 touchdowns and 122 points.

Avery, however, found himself in a new and very unfamiliar role in the Horns’ biggest game---defensive noseguard against a very big and physical Pioneer o-line. Totally outsized in the trenches at about 5-10 and a buck-eighty, he used his quickness and speed in a set created specially for the Stangs to disrupt their offensive blocking schemes and create different matchups for the big guys. It worked, and kept Alex in the game all night.

Kelby Ketchum answered the biggest question mark coming into this season when he took over at quarterback after Jon “Munchie” Mills graduated. Ketchum, a converted tailback, added a whole new dimension to Alex’s offense with his “Michael Vick” style and skills. He showed off a strong and accurate arm from the pocket and could also move the pocket at will and throw well rolling out or scrambling.

If his receivers were covered, Ketchum would just go back to his roots, tuck the ball and go. Pioneer found that out Friday when they flushed him out and he scrambled out of trouble and outran the field for a 65-yard touchdown.

Third in rushing with 705 yards on 106 carries and ten touchdowns, he also exploded for a 98-yard keeper right up the gut in his first outing at Cashion in week one. He passed for 539 yards (29 of 74) and six more touchdowns. He was third in overall scoring with ten touchdowns and 74 points. He led the Horns in total offense with 1,244 yards (113.1 per game) and was fourth in all-purpose yards with 669.

Jake Baker was one of those versatile “utility” type guys who could do about everything on the football field well. Quarterback, tailback, lead blocker, punter, linebacker, tight end…Baker, an all-around athlete and player, did them all to help the team. He battled Ketchum for the starting spot under center in the pre-season but just got nosed out. He had a solid season at tight end and as a linebacker/defensive end. He threw a 72-yard touchdown in backup duties against Tipton, pulled down three receptions, led in punting with 228 yards on ten punts and was one of the quiet kids who led by example.

Chris Thrash broke his arm in the pre-season and only saw action in three games this year. He still had three receptions for 65 yards from his tight end spot and played well from his defensive end spot down the stretch run. A big contributor last year, he had to spend most of his senior year on the sidelines.