The Hawks’ football season ended after the team lost to Southlake Carroll in the regional semifinal round of the playoffs on Nov. 29. The Hawks equaled their best finish since 2018, making it to the third round of the playoffs.
The game ended with the Hawks having the ball on their own 20 yard-line with just 15 seconds to play. Quarterback PJ Crayton dropped back into the pocket looking for open receivers, but took a sack on the play. The Hawks then hurried to the line, but failed to get off another play as time expired, ending the game with a final score of 42-37.
“It hurt to lose like that on the sack [and] not even be able to go make a play,” Crayton said. “It did not go to my mind that it would be my last high school game. I didn’t think we would lose that game [with] the way we were playing. When I didn’t get that last snap off, it sank in. It hurt seeing my family after the game.”
The Hawks finished the season with an overall record of 8-5 and a district record of 4-3, finishing fourth in the district and making the playoffs for the first time under head coach John Towels.
“Week to week, we just got better,” Towels said. “We went on a four game winning streak. That’s the longest winning streak we’ve had since I’ve been here. The light finally went on and [the players] accepted the challenge, and they ran with it. Everybody could see the results of that.”
Headed into this season, the Hawks were projected to finish in seventh place in the district. Defensive end Clay Lindmark said the preseason rankings were a motivating factor for the team, fueling the team to strive for success.
“Our goal was to make the playoffs, and we did that,” Lindmark said. “My expectations grew stronger throughout the year as I saw our team play. We proved everybody wrong. To go three rounds deep in the playoffs is not just beating my expectations, but blowing everybody else’s expectations out of the water.”
This season, there were 46 seniors on the team, most of whom had been a part of the program when Towels took over as head coach in 2021.
“[The class of 2025] have done everything right,” Towels said. “The biggest thing this season was we never stopped. We just kept working and preparing, and then as those things were ready, we were able to hit people with them. It has been an awesome journey where we all grew up, we got better and we earned our way.”
Towels said that, this year, the team has finally bought into the culture he preaches: “We over Me.” Lindmark said the team’s senior leadership also stepped up in a big way this season.
“It’s not just about playing football,” Lindmark said. “It’s the camaraderie of being on a team -– playing with your guys and working toward something that’s greater than yourself. I’m most proud of what’s to come for Hebron football and seeing how this year’s class legacy will impact the future. [The seniors] have set a foundation for the future. I just hope that [the team] can carry that on to next year.”
The Hawks finished the season ranked No. 31 in the state. Towels said they are looking to build off of this year’s performance. Towels said that, this year, the team also emphasized how important it was to have the support of the community and reciprocate that support to other programs.
“It was a heck of a ride, and we were happy to do well for Hebron as a community,” Towels said. “Everybody’s in this together. We don’t get to where we are today without every single person showing up every day and doing what they’re supposed to do. It’s about the school, not just about the guys in here. They can’t do it without the school; the school can’t do it without them. That’s how we’re going to always operate around here.”
