Your senior year of high school is not easily forgotten. Epic homecoming game performances and one last go around with the people you grew up with makes that final year of high school worth the adolescent nightmares associated with growing up. For high school football teams, that final season means everything. Seniors are honored in front of the home crowd, and they get one final shot to win that fabled state title.
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Unfortunately for the seniors at Sabine Pass High School, they won't get the chance to experience any of that, or even finish a full season. With only a few healthy players remaining, the Sabine Pass football season was canceled after only two games. Fortunately, the Houston Texans heard about their plight and have offered a chance to make one lasting memory for the team.
After four injuries in the team's first two games, the small Texas high school was left with only 11 of its original 15 players, and the school decided it was in the best interest, and safety, of the remaining players to cancel the season.
The Sabine Pass ISD, the school's Athletic Director and head football coach Jason Thibodeaux offered a press release which reads in part:
"When discussing the team, student safety was the utmost priority.
"With low numbers and numerous injuries already sustained this season it was decided that playing at the varsity level would expose student athletes to a higher risk of injury and that participation posed a serious safety threat.
"Sabine Pass will continue to grow the middle school program that will directly lead into the high school program.
"We, as a district, have the obligation to provide each student with a safe learning environment, both in the classroom and on the competition field.
"This decision was based on the love and care of our students."
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District 12-2A Division II schools that will lose a game on their schedule as a result include Colmesneil, Evadale, Grapeland, Lovelady, West Hardin and Burkeville.
Sadly, the seniors on the team are the most hurt having little control over attendance and turnout for the football program, but the school district is in the right here to make sure the program protects the kids who would likely be way overworked having to play every single down of every game.
Located about an hour and a half west of Sabine Pass is Houston, Texas. After hearing about what happened to their team, the Texans will be offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to the seniors and staff of the Sabine Pass Sharks when the team takes on the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, October 14 at 1 p.m.
And who better to deliver the good news? None other than All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
As you would imagine, the Sabine Pass team gladly accepted the invitation.
What a cool way to honor such an unfortunate situation for the Sabine Pass football team. The seniors may not get the chance to play a complete season during their final high school year, but I bet a personal invitation to their community's favorite NFL team is a welcome consolation prize instead.
