Horsemen collect team and conference honors

PLAINS – The Horsemen football team had their end of the year celebration Thursday night as the coaches honored the players and parents for their support during the 2013 season.

The big award winner on the night was senior standout James “Brown Sugar” Rulison. He won the Flying Horseman Award, the Black Helmet, Defensive Player of the Year, and the teams Most Valuable Player Award.

The Black Helmet award goes out to the hardest hitter on the team and the Flying Horseman Award went to Rulison for his relentless pursuit on both sides of the ball.

Assistant Coach Orin Kendall said Rulison is everything a football player should be. He was a workhorse on the field and in the weight room. Head Coach Juan Lulack said Rulison set the record for the Horsemen Club, the off-season workout program, and his presence will be missed.

Rulison also earned All-Conference 2nd team as a linebacker and honorable mention as a fullback and punter. Several of the Horsemen were able to capture the honor of being All-Conference for 7B. Nick Barnes earned the honor at defensive end. Logan Goodwin as an inside linebacker and running back, Trent Brouillette as a defensive back and wide receiver (2nd team), Ben Gorham as a defensive lineman (1st team) and guard (2nd team), Brady Ovitt at center, Coltyn Bache at tackle, Cody Kinzie at tackle, and Jordan Uli at tight end.

Lulack was extremely proud of his team this season and thought he had the best group of seniors any coach could ask for, despite having so few.

“These guys are irreplaceable,” Lulack said. “They provided the leadership that we needed this season and they will truly be missed.”

The senior Horsemen have now been entered into the football brotherhood of all former Horsemen players. They received individual recognition from the three coaches about how much they had meant to the team and to the individual coach.

The players and coaches had built a lasting relationship through football, despite not winning. As the night wrapped up, freshman Ryan Ovitt came and put his arms around Lulack and told him he loved him and all he does for the team.

The coach gave away 35 different awards on the evening to the Horsemen players from this season. Nearly every Horsemen player earned his varsity letter during the 2013 season. Despite not winning a game, the young team gained valuable experience on the field to build for next season.

“This season was a great building season,” Lulack said. “We had a lot of kids who were committed to playing football. They played hard and played with a lot of heart.”

Coach Lulack knew his team left it all out on the field every game and could not be happier with the effort they put forth all season.

“I am proud of them for committing to us as coaches and a football team,” Lulack said. “It was very rewarding and I am proud of them.”

Lulack is already looking forward to next season with his team and hoped more student athletes would get involved for the upcoming season.

“I think we will have extra kids come out next year,” Lulack said, “We have our hands on a lot of ideas and right now we’re just working on the Horsemen Point Club.”

Lulack not only hoped to get the offseason program started, but he hoped to get involved and work out with his team. Lulack has his own personal off-season that falls in line with the football off-season. It provides the perfect time for him to get involved with his players and get ready for the season.

Coach Kendall put memory books together for each player. The books had stats, profiles, pictures and memories from the 2013 season. The coaches told the players the books might not mean a whole lot at this point in their life, but in the future they will cherish it.

“It doesn’t matter that we didn’t win a game,” Lulack said. “The kids will say these are my brothers I played with all season and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”