Warriors headed back to state title game

By Jim Irish/Contributing writer

Posted November 23, 2020

Tribe Consolidated advanced to the Texas Association of Independent Athletic Organizations (TAIAO) Division I six-man football state final without playing a down.

The Warriors (10-1) won against Dallas UME Preparatory Academy (5-4) by forfeit because of COVID-19 issues, Tribe coach Brent Golemon said.

’I feel bad for their guys who worked to get to the semifinals,” Golemon said in an email.

The victory was Tribe’s ninth consecutive this season.

The Warriors battle Austin Royals (7-4) in the final at Blum High School at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Blum is 48 miles south of Fort Worth.

Tribe is ranked No. 25 among all six-man teams in the state, while the Royals are ranked No. 44.

Tribe is seeking its fourth consecutive TAIAO state title. It captured the Division I title in 2019 and 2018 and the Division II title in 2017.

“We have to play turnover free football in title games,” Golemon said. “Special teams and turnovers are key in big games.”

Golemon scouted Austin Royals’ victory over Johnson County 56-44 in the other TAIAO semifinal.

He said Johnson County had the ball with 1½ minutes remaining in the fourth quarter with two timeouts and trailing by four points.

“They threw a pick six on the first play,” Golemon said.

Tribe defeated the Royals 86-71 at home on Oct. 16 in a highly competitive contest.

“We have to tackle better than the first time we played them,” Golemon said. “We also have to block better. They are as talented as any team we have played this season.”

Tribe’s Samuel Osborn, a 5-foot-8, 160-pound senior, has been unstoppable this season with 2,558 yards rushing (12.5-yard average) and 52 touchdowns. He has also completed 13 passes, including four for touchdowns. He has thrown only one interception.

Hansen Collie has caught four touchdown passes for Tribe.