By Chad Conine and Brice Cherry

Tribune-Herald staff writers

Since helping Reicher to state championship game appearances as a player in 1963, 1964 and 1966, Johnny Tusa has waited a long time to get back.

Tusa, who won state titles with those Cougar teams in ’63 and ’64, has been a head coach for 29 seasons, compiling 207 victories. He’s the only head coach the Lions have known since three Waco ISD schools consolidated to form Waco High in 1986, and now Tusa and the Lions will play for a state title.

Waco High plays La Marque at 7:30 Friday night at the Alamodome for the 4A Division II state championship.

After Saturday’s Lion victory over Wolfforth Frenship, Tusa made it clear the Lions will not be happy just to be in the title game.

“We’ve got one more job to do,” Tusa said. “Our task is the same as it has been for the first 15 weeks of this season.”

The old Waco High won five state championships between 1922 and 1948 and tied for another one in 1945.

To bring another title to the school district the Lions (13-2) will have to knock off La Marque (14-1). The Cougars defeated Schertz-Clemens, 27-14, to reach the 4A Division II final.

Waco fans can ride charter

Waco High fans wanting to watch the Lions’ state title game against La Marque on Friday just need to get on the bus.

A charter bus for Lion fans will leave the high school at 3 p.m. Friday. The cost for the round-trip ride is $25 per passenger, not including game tickets, and hors d’oeuvres will be provided.

To reserve your seat or ask questions, call Clark Travel at 799-3284 or 722-7429.

For Centex teams, title road goes through Cisco

Cisco isn’t exactly Central Texas, but the Loboes — Mart’s opponent in the 2A Division II title game Saturday — should be familiar to area football fans.

Crawford was the last local 2A team to win state in 2004, and the Pirates’ most challenging test of that postseason came against Cisco in the area round. Crawford fell behind 14-0 before rallying to win 27-24 on a Shawn Fulwider field goal in double-overtime.

Two years before that, Cisco lost to another Central Texas team in the 2A Division II state final, as Jordan Parcus and the Rosebud-Lott Cougars ran all over the Loboes, 34-0.

Cove players drawing interest from recruiters

With the season now over for Copperas Cove, the focus for a number of Bulldawg players will turn to their recruiting decisions.

Cove senior defensive back Mario Goins changed his commitment from Arizona to Wisconsin last week, the Arizona Star reported. As a junior in 2005, Goins racked up 47 tackles, six interceptions and four sacks.

Two other Cove seniors previously made pledges to Division I schools. Receiver Rashad Hawk has committed to Texas Tech, and defensive lineman Craig Wood is bound for UTEP.