Two teams that Ennis soundly thrashed earlier in the season, Red Oak and Mansfield Summit, recovered and remain alive in the Class 5A Division I playoffs. That speaks volumes about the competition the Lions faced during the regular season.
Ranked No. 1 in the state since the start of the season, and bent on a state championship, Ennis saw their quest end prematurely, 42-28 last Friday to Mansfield Timberview at Midlothian ISD Stadium.
A look back at last week’s upset loss to Mansfield Timberview shines a bright light on two plays that could well have turned a 42-28 Ennis setback into a two or three touchdown victory. In both plays the Lions did nothing wrong whatsoever, though the same official made gravely erroneous calls that impacted momentum in the first and third quarters.
In the upcoming weeks The Ennis News will unveil All-District honors in volleyball and football. Watch for the annual Lions Tale, a commemorative review of the 2020 season. Its publication is expected in January. Congratulation ads are on sale now.
The sting of defeat is sharp and the instant heartbreak can be overwhelming. When it occurs in the playoffs, the sudden finality to what was expected to be a greater outcome carries an even deeper pain.
