Champs back at school

Nick Ianniello

Mineral Independent

The Superior Bobcats football team walked the halls of Superior High School in pride Monday, some wearing their jerseys for the last time this season, others wearing their uniforms for the last time in their high school career.

"There's nothing like going out on top senior year," said senior Tyler Stenberg.

In the wake of Superior's first Montana State Football Championship win and a perfect 12-0 season, the Bobcats have a lot to celebrate. After receiving a hero's welcome Sunday evening, some of the players are still in awe at how proud of them the community is.

"Last night was the biggest thing I think," senior Brian Labbe said Monday afternoon. "It's kind of settled down today. But still going to the store and stuff, there are people recognizing you all over. It just shows how big a community thing it was."

Senior kicker Yim Sribenjakul and senior quarterback Travis Stroot commented that they never expected to be greeted in Superior by parade of honking cars and flashing sirens, let alone a gym full of screaming parents and fans.

While the Bobcats hardly expected to be ushered into Superior by a horde of happy football lovers, the state championship win is not exactly a surprise. The Bobcats have been known to chant "STATE CHAMPS!" after big wins, and Bobcats Head Coach Dan Lucier has had his eye on the state championship trophy since football camp this summer.

The players have had their eyes on the prize as well, and Lucier has been providing them with goals and inspiration they have needed all season long.

"I think we just wanted it that bad," said Sribenjakul.

Taking the state championship is something that Superior has come close to several times, but never accomplished. For the Bobcat seniors, there is no better way to finish off the football season.

"It's about time Superior won this. We were due," Stroot said.

While the Bobcats defeat of the Wibaux Longhorns was expected, it was not an easy win for the Superior team.

The Bobcats went into the fourth quarter of the game behind 6-21, but they rallied and won the game 28-21 (see full game coverage on page 9).

"I'd say when we scored our first touchdown in the fourth quarter you could feel the momentum shift. You could see it on their faces too, they knew something was coming," Stenberg said.

Playing on the other side of Montana, against a tough team and tough conditions, the Bobcats held strong and brought home the title they've been claiming all season long.

"It's the best line we've been against this season," Labbe said about the Longhorns.

The wind in Eastern Montana also took the Bobcats by surprise.

"We had to keep it short, if you let it get up in the wind it would just sail away," said Stroot.

With the season over, the Bobcats are winding down and finding it hard to believe that the ride is over.

"I said, you know, we're going to look back on it and when we do it's going to be kind of a let down because we knew we were going to do it and at that point it will be like, wow, it's over," said Lucier.

The Bobcats are taking this week off, but for many of the school's athletes, the end of football season is just the beginning of another opportunity.

"I'm just getting ready for basketball," said Stenberg.