Southern Cal’s 2009 state title team celebrates 10th anniversary

In the wide world of sports, there is a popular quote among popular quote. The quote is that pain is temporary, and glory is forever. This anonymous proverb holds weight when it comes to the game of football.

A player – whether it is in high school, college or the professional ranks – put in hours of practice, team meetings and preparation to simply gear up for anywhere from nine to 20 games.  For coaches, those hours are tenfold.

Football is regarded as the ultimate team sport in the eyes of many, as it requires dedication and the perfect blend of toughness and grace. In its 150 years, the game has evolved into a unusual harmony between brutality and beauty.

When a team achieves their end goal of a championship, those fleeting moments are the culmination of everything that the players and coaches have done over the course of the season – from the mini-camps in early August to the shift from summer to autumn to the bright lights of a title game.

In Iowa, the football season begins with the heat of summer and ends with the cozy comforts of the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls.

Many teams have dreamed of playing inside of the 43-year old structure, several teams have built themselves to make a push for the 16,324-seat stadium and few teams take to the turf inside of the home of the Northern Iowa Panthers.

In 2009, one of those four squads to represent Class A was the defending champion – the Mustangs of Southern Cal.

Going into the Dome, the Mustangs had put together an 11-1 record. Two games and a nailbiter of an overtime later, those clad in burgundy and gray held up their second straight championship trophy. 

Those fleeting moments are something that molded players into local legends and created memories that will live in memories and history books until the end of time. 

At halftime of South Central Calhoun’s Homecoming game against Ogden on Sept. 27, nine members of that team were honored. After all, it was the 10-year anniversary of the Mustangs’ back-to-back championships. Following the game, a reception was held for the players at Macke Motors in Lake City.

The man who guided the team, and its spiritual successor in the Titans of South Central Calhoun, was none other than SCC head football coach Bryan Case.

“This was a team that showed true grit the entire season,” Case said. “We never really blew anyone out, but we hung around long enough to give ourselves a chance in the fourth quarter. This team believed in each other and they believed in the scheme. They were just a hard-nosed blue-collar team that refused to lose.”

The year before, the Mustangs claimed their first title since 2000, with a 13-1 record and a 22-21 victory over North Tama. Following a 10-point setback to Prairie Valley to begin the 2009 season, the Mustangs rattled off 13-straight victories.

That string included victories over Alta, Akron-Westfield and Gehlen Catholic of Le Mars. The latest was a 14-9 triumph, which took the Mustangs to the Dome.

According to players such as Chase Willett and Kirby Vogel, one of most memorable games of that season came in a 21-20 victory over Clay Central-Everly. Until that point of the season, the Mavericks only allowed 10 points.

“We went up there and it was really close game,” Vogel said, who played as a sophomore that season. “It came down to the last play, where our defense stopped them. I just remember it being really wet and muddy.”

“Believe it or not, it was the regular season game against Clay Central-Everly,” Willett said. “They scored really late to get down by one, and they went for two to try to win the game. They had a really good running back, and on that play, we stuffed him. It was just a sloppy, rainy game and we ran in a packed in offense for three yards and a pop. It was a crazy game.”

Willett also recalled the championship game – which ended on a “swinging gate” two-point conversion to bypass Newman Catholic of Mason City with a 28-27 victory.

“Coach Case called the play ‘Pole Cat,’” Willett said. “To win our second straight state championship on that play was surreal. Especially with all of the guys we lost the year before, but we had a great group of guys. There were a lot of close games all year and things just bounced our way.”

Case also named the final play of that season as his fondest memory. 

“We went two in overtime (against Newman Catholic) and made it happen for the win… for the second year in a row,” Case said.

Of course, there was knowledge to pass down from one great team to another. This season, the Titans currently sit at a 6-0 overall record and appear within striking distance of putting together their second consecutive unbeaten regular season.

Case, being the main link between the two squads, had plenty of words of wisdom for his players.

“This year’s team needs to stay hungry and work to improve every day and every play,” Case said. “We can’t get complacent, think things are going to happen and go our way all the time. We have to go out and make things happen. We have the potential to be a special team, but we need to keep pushing forward and keep getting better.”

Of course, the former Mustangs also offered advice for players currently suiting up for the program.

“Enjoy the ride and have fun,” Willett said. “This team looks to be a really good football team. If you can continue to stay focused and execute, I believe that they have a great shot at making a run to the Dome this year.”

“Just play as a team and enjoy the moment,” Vogel said, echoing his teammate’s words. “It goes by so quickly, so take advantage of what you have. Sometimes, you can’t remember all of it, and all you’ll have left is a video to look back at.”