Sunlake head coach Bill Browning knows that to win a playoff game against a quality opponent, a team needs to play four good quarters of football.
On Nov. 21, he only got three.
“We won the second, third and fourth quarters,” he said. “Unfortunately, we lost the first quarter, but we lost the first quarter bad.”
Bad enough to put the Seahawks in a 17-0 deficit they couldn’t overcome against Gainesville, and they fell 27-19. It was the second year in a row that the Hurricanes eliminated Sunlake from the playoffs.
While on paper it looks like just another successful season for Sunlake with another playoff appearance, there’s more to it than that. They achieved a goal that Browning and Sunlake have pursued since the program started back in 2007.
“It was Sunlake’s first district title, and the school’s only eight years old,” Browning said. “There are schools that are still struggling for a district title in football that have been around a lot longer than us.”
Holding opponents under 100 points for the season — something they’ve done each year since 2012 — and presenting a balanced offensive attack were other highlights for the longtime football coach, now with 25 years on high school sidelines.
And while he’s proud of the district crown, Browning also is proud of the team that accomplished it. Many players had to overcome injuries, academic and personal issues to not only take the field, but perform at the level required to reach the postseason as a district champion.
As a result, Browning believes his players gained a lot more than points, yards and wins on the gridiron.
“The football field is an extension of the classroom, and there are some things in the classroom that aren’t taught,” Browning said. “I think all these kids learned valuable life lessons.”
While several players answered the call this past season, next year has many question marks.
Quarterback Dayton Feiden. Running back Nathan Johnson. Running back and linebacker Logan Wolfe. Linebacker Austin Yeloushan. All of those players were important cogs in Sunlake’s wheel, and all of them have played their last down for the Seahawks.
But while the team will look to replace more than half its starters next season, important pieces remain in place. Aside from center, the entire offensive line will return next year, which Browning said will be key to letting a running back settle into his new role.
He also has confidence in young quarterback Justin Hall, who impressed the coach with his mental preparations, even in a backup role. Talented receiver Nick Valdes also is returning, and Browning believes other players will emerge in the off-season based on their workout regimen and desire to step into a more prominent role on the team.
While he’s proud of the team’s accomplishments, he knows the team will have to focus on next year sooner or later. As for Browning, it’s definitely sooner: He plans to take just a few days off before getting back to work and starting preparations for next season.
And when it’s time to return, the players will find out that losing key players isn’t going to be an excuse to come up short of team goals. After going 0-10 their inaugural campaign, Browning has built a program with five straight winning seasons — and no more than three losses in any of them — a new district championship, and high expectations.
And lowering those expectations isn’t in his vocabulary. Neither is the word “satisfied.”
“I don’t think as a coach you’re ever satisfied,” Browning said. “Proud of what we accomplished? Absolutely. Satisfied? The day you’re satisfied is the day you better get out of coaching.”
Published December 3, 2014
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