What happened tonight validates our program. When you play with a lot of character and heart like our kids did it makes the game fun.

All these kids were around wearing face paint. The common thread is character and heart. It comes from the town. They've seen other kids do it and know what it takes. It's a very close-knit town and community.

This is a good group of sophomores. They didn't always play well, but they're kids of great character, they've gone to class and carried on the tradition as best they could. I'd like to tell them thanks for being here the two years they've been here. It's been pretty good.

I have to give our kids credit for bowing up and making the play there at the end.

They have a new coach and a new system. Their kids always play hard and we expect them to be up for this game.

I'm so proud of these kids. To play for J.L. Mann, you've gotta have your head, heart and both feet into the program, and they have given so much time and energy into this, and they deserve this.