In 2007, Reicher fans were overjoyed to win a state championship over heavily favored Grapevine Faith Christian.

It was nearly the same in 2008, but by 2009, the Cougars had come to expect December road trips for a TAPPS state title.

So entering 2010, it stands to reason players, fans and coaches are looking forward to a fourth straight state championship and their 10th overall.

“Our motto is 10 in ’10,” coach Mark Waggoner said. “It was nine in ’09. Eight in ’08. We’ve been hitting them pretty good.”

While the Cougars lost 17 starters, four seniors and a junior return with 14 total rings and valuable experience.

Captain Nick Martinez, who will play tight and defensive end, will join running/defensive back Isaac Gonzales, running back/linebacker John Ekman and lineman Justin Dvorsky in trying to become the only Reicher players with four state championships. Junior lineman Luis Ramirez is seeking his third.

But don’t expect them to talk about the past, or anything other than this week’s game, for that matter. They will start Reicher on its quest at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Academy.

“We tell ourselves, ‘There’s no pressure (right now),’ ” Martinez said. “We’ll just play our game. It’s going to be a lot tougher later, and we know the pressure’s going to be on us then.”

Reicher moved up to Division II in the last realignment and figures to have a tougher slate in district and beyond.

Reicher’s enrollment is 225, which used to be the most in its district. Now the Cougars are at the bottom.

“It’s tough, but we always play (UIL Class) 3A teams. That’s nothing new for our kids,” Waggoner said. “Where it hurts is when you face one-way starters.”

That will be a major test for Reicher, where most players play both offense and defense. And in the heat of late August and early September, it can take its toll.

A dominating finish

Last season, the Cougars dropped to 1-3 early in the season as Waggoner finalized his depth chart. They rebounded, winning their next 10 by an average of 33.5 points.

Reicher first won a state championship in 1958 and added back-to-back victories in 1962-63 and ’74-75. Coach Waggoner got his first win in 2004 before the current streak began.

And what a streak it has been.

2007 featured a district loss to Grapevine Faith. Several key Reicher lineman were injured and Grapevine bottled up the Cougars for the win.

Less than two months later, the two schools fought again in the title game.

“I invited (former Mart and University of Texas star) Quan Cosby to talk to them,” Waggoner said. “He was very soft-spoken. After he was done, I thought, ‘Man, we’re going to get whooped.’ ”

That didn’t happen. The Cougars fired out of the locker room and steamrolled Grapevine Christian, 41-7.

The road to glory

With the majority of the team returning, 2008’s title game was a ho-hum, 49-17 drumming of Austin Regents. Ross Rasner, now at the University of Arkansas, ripped through the Regents defense with 146 yards rushing in the first quarter alone and Reicher breezed to a championship.

“That year, I wanted to get one for myself,” Ekman said. “The first year we weren’t really a part of it (as freshmen).”

2009 was much tougher. Reicher earned a 35-28 victory after Bullard Brook Hill tied the game at 28 early in the second half.

It all paved the way for a chance at a four-peat.

Waggoner’s son, Blake, will take over at quarterback this season. Gonzales and Garlin Gonzalez will lead the running game. Andrew Drennan, Keton Schulte and Martinez should pull in many more catches as the Cougars transition to a more pass-oriented attack.

But the Cougars’ main strength will be its defensive front, with defensive tackle Gonzalez and defensive end Martinez anchoring the line.

This year’s title may be the toughest yet to win, but the Cougars are determined.

“We don’t want to be that class to let Reicher down,” Gonzales said.

bbateman@wacotrib.com

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