The Underdogs of Southeast

"Tell us the truth," Suber said. The rest agreed.

"I think you guys have a lot of heart, but we have a lot of work to do on fundamentals," Lewman said. "A lot of us are strangers to the weight room. A lot of us need to work a lot more.

"If we don't have a team next year, wherever you underclassmen play, you've got a lot of work to do on fundamentals," he said. "But know that I am proud of you for being here, and I'm proud of you for playing. Now let's get on the bus and go home."

Lewman walked off the field, and the team followed. Bryce Pulliam looked at the stands. "My dad was here?" he asked. "I didn't even see him."

Day was the last one off the field. He held his pads at his side and absently rubbed the knot in his shoulder. He stopped for a second and turned to face the north goal post. Behind him, the Eagles' mascot had removed his mask and was dancing in front of a group of Grain Valley parents.

"We did our best," Day said. "Just got to go back and work harder and do better next time."

The day after the Grain Valley game, a story ran in The Examiner, a daily paper covering eastern Jackson County. Most of it focused on Eagles running back Billy Creason. But Rovello, the Eagles' coach, kept mentioning the Knights. After beating them handily, Rovello spoke of his respect for the team. "All I know is, they played hard for a team with only 18 players," Rovello told the paper. "I know I would be dragging and down if I was in their shoes."

Things didn't get much better for Southeast. The season ended with a 45-6 loss to the Pleasant Valley Roosters. Southeast finished with a 1-7 record.

Corporal now says he wants to get neighborhoods more involved in the football programs and develop a districtwide feeder program that would get kids playing earlier. Lewman hopes the district will also approve a measure that would allow kids who transfer from Southeast to continue playing for the school.

Just the same, Lewman is concentrating on next season.