Getting dirty ... But not down: Hard work paying off for FHS Posted On: Tuesday, Oct. 20 2009 05:07 AM By Nick Talbot
Killeen Daily Herald

Brian Ross's jersey was soaked. It wasn't raining. It wasn't wet out.

It was just a little sweat and some dirt that turned the senior's jersey from a brilliant white to a dull black.

Judging by the jersey, one might have thought, Florence had lost to Jarrell. The smile on Ross' face gave away the truth. On Friday, for the first time since a 28-14 victory in 1996, Florence defeated the rival Cougars.

And it was not even close. The Buffaloes won by an embarrassing margin of 70-7, which is a type of win the program has not had often in its history – if ever.

In the last 20 years, only three Florence teams have had a winning record (1992, 2001 and 2002) and only one of those teams – the 2001 team coached by Greg Carter – made the playoffs. And that 2001 team was the first Florence team to make the playoffs since 1958.

One of the main differences in the program is head coach Paul Smith, who came to Florence with an overall coaching record of 57-22-1.

That mark has already taken a substantial hit. Florence is 2-5 so far this season, but Smith took over the program in July with the mind-set knowing it would take time to turn things around.

The challenge has been getting the players, and just as important, the community to buy into his system.

After the 63-point win over Jarrell it is easy to see the players have bought into what he has been preaching.

"It is a lot of practice time. We have been working over the basic plays and getting them rock solid, and doing screen plays over and over and doing our pulls again and again," Ross said. "We are finally getting to the point where we have done it enough times that it is clicking."

Ross' blockers offensive linemen Christian Bohannon and Cody Kyle said the change in culture and of course, the repetition in practice is what has led the Buffaloes team to believe they can get the program on the right track.

"Our coaches makes us work every day, just rep, rep rep. After you rep it so much, you can do it right in the game," Bohannon said.

"I have been pushed further than I had ever thought I could go," Kyle added. "I have been in pain I did not think I could feel. But I seem to be able to still be able to push through it."

Despite, a 1-2 district record, Bohannon said he still expects Florence to make the playoffs this season.

The task ahead is daunting, though. Lexington, Lago Vista and Academy finish off the Buffaloes' schedule. And all three teams, along with Rogers, are ahead of the Buffaloes in the standings.

For the outsiders looking in, the playoffs almost seem out of the equation. Florence would have to defeat all three just to get into the picture.

The players believe, though. Even if it does not come this season, it will come soon, and more than likely for some of their current teammates.

"We just have to take it one game at a time," Kyle said. "We can't worry about any of that. We have Lexington now and we have to conquer that first."

Ross said the team started to believe in the turnaround after the Buffaloes' 22-14 loss to perennial 2A power Blanco.

"Although we lost, we played one of the best teams in the state and held up with them pretty good," Ross said. "Their coach came up to us after the game and let us know we deserved to win. The score did not show it, but I say that is where things started to turn.

"It is pushing the boulder over the hill and it is going to pick up some speed and start coming pretty hard."

The same can be said of Ross' running style. The senior started against Rosebud-Lott and pounded out 176 yards. In the three games since, he has carried the ball 49 times for 354 yards and is now seventh in District 25-2A with 534 yards and is averaging 6.51 yards a carry.

No carry may have been more crucial than a 72-yard tote on the opening possession of the second half against Jarrell, though.

The game was already in hand at 28-7, but the run gave the Buffaloes an exuberant confidence that they were going to crush the Cougars like they had never done before.

"Against Rogers (which defeated Lexington 21-20 and Florence 55-7) we made a couple of simple mistakes that were crazy whether it was on screens or a block," Ross said. "We understand all we have to do is get that one block."

"Lexington is now an attainable goal."

All three players only have one message for those teams that might underestimate the team based on its past.

"Here we come," Ross said. "That's all I can say. Here we come."

Contact Nick Talbot at ntalbot@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7569

Wiping out the past

The Buffaloes record the past 20 seasons.

2008 – 1-9

2007 – 4-6

2006 – 1-9

2005 – 3-7

2004 – 4-6

2003 – 1-9

2002 – 6-4

2001 – 7-4

2000 – 4-6

1999 – 1-9

1998 – 3-7

1997 – 2-8

1996 – 2-8

1995 – 3-7

1994 – 3-7

1993 – 3-7

1992 – 8-2

1991 – 2-8

1990 – 1-9

1989 – 1-9

Total – 60-141