The Texas Lutheran Bulldogs football team recently achieved a remarkable milestone by securing its third consecutive Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) regular-season championship. This achievement underscores the team’s dedication and resilience throughout the season.
On Saturday, the Bulldogs clinched their title with a decisive win against Centenary, marking their second undefeated home season since 2014. This victory not only solidifies their dominance in the conference but also sets the stage for their upcoming match against conference rival Hendrix, where they aim to replicate their earlier victory this season, where they triumphed 34-0.
Head coach Neal LaHue attributes this success to the team’s exceptional work ethic and a formidable defense. “We have a very experienced and talented defense,” LaHue remarked. “A lot of older guys, and they’ve done a great job. We’re first or second in the country in interceptions at 28 or something like that. We have a young man that’s broken the NCAA record in pick sixes at five, and so we’ve had a lot of turnovers, and they’ve kept us in every ballgame.”
However, the Bulldogs are navigating through a challenging and emotional time, following the tragic loss of two of their teammates, A’Jean Augustine and Deyreck Dean, in a car accident last week. This loss has profoundly impacted the team, bringing them closer together as they support one another through grief.
Senior defensive back Troy Tomaselli, who lost his roommate Dean in the accident, expressed the gravity of the situation. “I mean, to lose one of your brothers and to have to bury him and to play a game two days, three days later, I think is insane, you know what I mean?” Tomaselli stated. “I think all of us have been leaning on each other, pushing each other. We know what’s forward, what’s at step. We know the goals we have. We’re not going to let anything get in the way of those goals.”
In the face of such adversity, the Bulldogs remain committed to honoring their fallen teammates by continuing to show up for each other and striving toward their goals. As they prepare for their game against the Warriors, they carry with them the spirit of their lost friends.
The Bulldogs are set to kick off against Hendrix at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas, this Saturday at 3 p.m. This match not only represents a critical step for the team’s playoff aspirations but also a tribute to the bonds of brotherhood that define Texas Lutheran football.
