When you get a bunch of coyotes together, you’re bound to hear some howling. When posed with the question, “What does it feel like to play in a state championship game as a senior Coyote?” the seniors of the Richland Springs Coyote Football Team of 2012 howled or voiced various reactions. Offensive Spreadback and Defensive Linebacker Chance Bush said, “It’s a chance to rewrite history—be the first team in 6-man football to win SIX state championships!” Quarterback Thomas Fowler quickly added, “It’s my senior year, and I want to go out with a bang, and I’d like to make my family proud by winning this last game.”Soon, other coyotes circled round, and Defensive Rusher and Offensive End Gunner Mann said, “It feels good to be going there for the 3rd year in a row! Tradition never graduates, and we work hard to win.” Chris Munoz added, “It’s a chance for glory…to prove people wrong who said we couldn’t do it.” Kicker Trevor Tinney agreed, “We’re going to prove them wrong…all the people who said that the last year’s team was a one-man show.” Center Patrick Phillips said, “It means a lot to me to get a chance at another state championship and to play with my teammates one last time my senior year.” Corey Turner added, “The Coaches made us practice every day, so we could win, and now we get a chance at another state ring.”As the seniors prepared for their last high school football game, they reflected on what it had taken to get them to this point and the sacrifices they had made. Chance noted that to win every game this football season, the team had put in many hours of hard work, hours of watching films, hours of practicing, and hours of dedicating themselves to the game and winning. He recalled the pain of having one’s kneecap pop out of place three times in one game and not having time to work and earn needed money and not having time for friends and family, but agreed that it was a chance of a lifetime. Chris Munoz said that his body had felt pain such as the time he dislocated his shoulder and the time when a cleat came through his facemask. He noted he had given his time, his blood, his sweat, and his life to make this dream come true, and he believes the dream has come true because the Coyotes play with their hearts.Thomas Fowler agreed that much hard work and long hours have gone into preparing for the biggest game of all, and he attributes the team’s success to that and to having a brotherhood. He pointed out that team members gave up their Thanksgiving holiday and put in a lot of sweat in order to practice and keep playing football games.Gunner and Trevor agreed that hard work, hours of preparations, dedication and the concept of playing together as one have all been contributors to the team’s success. Gunner mentioned he had given up time with his family while Trevor pointed out that he wished he could have worked more hours, and he missed the time with his family. Patrick Phillips believes it takes playing with all your heart, not missing practices, and preparing well to make it to the state championship game. He reflected that he, too, had missed time with his family and being able to just do other things that he wanted to do, but that in the end, it’s all been worth all the sacrifices.The conclusion appears obvious. Hard work, preparation, dedication, studying, and playing with one’s heart constitutes champions. The Richland Springs Coyotes play for their sixth state championship title this Saturday at 2:00 in Shotwell Stadium in Abilene.