Smoking For Jesus football wins another district title

CAPTION: The Smoking For Jesus Eagles checked off one goal — winning the district crown — to add another trophy to their case. Photo by Stennis Shotts

The Smoking For Jesus football team held off a rally by Bulverde Gloria Deo Academy Oct. 28 for a 36-34 victory to win the district crown and enter the Texas Association of Independent Athletic Organizations’ playoffs as the No. 1 seed in its division.

As a result, the Eagles (5-5, 3-0) will have two weeks off before starting the playoffs the weekend of Nov. 19.

“They were excited, they were overjoyed,” head coach Charles Frazier, Sr. said of his players. “It’s a three-peat for us for district championships. We’re trying to go for the big one now. It’s good motivation for us. We’re trying to stay hungry all the way through.”

As for the win against the Lions (6-3, 3-2), Frazier commended the opponent for demanding the Eagles play their best.

“They put up a good fight, and we stayed poised,” he said. “We had to stay poised.”

The game came down to a tackle by sophomore Benjamin Frazier when the Eagles punted on the last play of the game.

“Benjamin used his speed and made the tackle to end the game,” the coach said. “Before that, I called a timeout to go over what needed to happen.”

Meanwhile, senior dual-threat quarterback Isaac Legier was his usual self in making plays on both sides of the ball for the Eagles.

The senior had an interception he returned for a touchdown. Frazier credited senior defensive end Bryson Culver for bringing the pressure to the Lions quarterback and forced him into the error.

“The quarterback was trying to get the ball out of his hands, and he launched it,” Frazier said.

Legier nabbed his second interception of the game to preserve a 38-36 advantage.

The coach said the reason the game was close was because of some Eagle miscues that allowed the Lions to stay in it. Smoking For Jesus led 30-20 at the half. Gloria Deo cut it to a 10-point deficit thanks to a late touchdown.

“It was a good game,” Frazier said. “We’ll see them again in the semifinals in the playoffs. The boys played well, both teams played well. It was a high-intensity game. It really was a good one to end the regular season.”

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