ENNIS, Texas — Under shimmering stadium lights in Ennis, legendary high school football Coach Sam Harrell led his storied Lions onto the home field one final time.
Harrell announced earlier this week that he would be retiring from coaching due to health complications -- the Texas High School Football Hall of Famer and member of the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor has been battling multiple sclerosis for years.
It's not the way Harrell wants to leave. In a press release, he said he would coach another five or ten years if he could.
Ronnie Greer, a member of the 1975 state championship team and Lions commentator, has had a front-row seat to Harrell's career since his arrival in 1994.
He calls Harrell a mentor, a friend, and a community leader who has influenced thousands of kids.
"When Sam came in, he took the program to new heights. He brought the spread offense to Ennis, and once it got rolling, they scored 50 to 60 points per game against real talent," Greer said. "Games were sold out. The visitors' side was sold out. They would, of course, come to see their kids play, but also wanted to watch the 'greatest show on turf' as we liked to call it."
Greer isn't exaggerating -- Harrell had a record of 146-46 in his first 16 years with Ennis. He took the Lions to the playoffs 13 of those years and won three state championships in 2000, 2001, and 2004.
His son Graham Harrell led the team at quarterback as a sophomore to the state title in 2001 and, until graduation, set state records for the following:
- Passing yards in a season (4,825 in 2003 over 13 games)
- Career passing yards (12,532)
- Single-season touchdown passes (67 in 2003)
- Career touchdown passes (167)
- Single-season pass completions (334 in 2003)
Fans coming to Harrell's last home game Friday night remember those good times, too.
"It always felt like winning was expected, every season," lifelong fan and season ticket holder Cruz Arteaga said. There were always one or two games a year where they did something extraordinary. It always felt when you went to a game that somehow, someway, they were going to win."
The fabric in the community isn't woven without Harrell either, fan Jina Armstrong said.
"We loaded up the van and followed the team everywhere they went," Armstrong said. "It was like we felt part of the team, and our town felt closer because of the Lions. We were a better town because of the Lions."
In 2010, Harrell stepped away from football for the first time due to MS. He underwent stem cell therapy treatments in Panama and got to the point where he could return to the sideline. In 2018, when Jack Alvarez vacated the head coaching position in Ennis, Harrell was the obvious choice to return.
He's 203-79 overall with Ennis and is 50-28 since returning.
At his final home game Friday night, the 2004 state championship team was honored before the game. They greeted Harrell and stood with him at midfield as their names were called out individually. It was the last team that won a title under Harrell.
Harrell stood and waved when his name was called out. Standing is not so easy for Harrell these days, who has coached mainly from the press box before he returned to the sideline on a scooter. Greer said it hasn't been easy to watch.
"The toughest thing is watching him go through it -- the pain of it all yet finding a way to be there for these kids," Greer said, holding back tears. "He loves it so much. He doesn't want to leave - - he has to leave."
Harrell remained at midfield before kickoff when the district honored him for a career that is impossible to put into words. The home crowd took to their feet and gave him a standing ovation.
It's hard not to get emotional knowing when a great chapter is ending -- but the road Sam Harrell has paved until now is simply unforgettable.
"It's just one of those things that come along once in a lifetime," Greer said.