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The hiring of Chris Gilbert as Lancaster football coach in the spring of 2011 jump-started a program that desperately desired to step up among the elite in the Dallas area.
Aside from going three rounds deep in the 2000 playoffs, Lancaster was too often a quick out in the years when they did manage to reach postseason.
Chris Gilbert, Lancaster head coach
Courtesy photo
In Gilbert's first season last fall, the Tigers went to the second round of the playoffs.
And look at the Tigers now.
Lancaster (13-1) will face 12-2 Rider (Wichita Falls) in a Class 4A Division II state semifinal 2 p.m. Saturday at Justin's Northwest ISD Stadium.
The Tigers earned a shot at the fifth round by holding off Poteet (Mesquite) 21-13 for the Region II title on Friday.
For his team's play in that game and throughout the season, Gilbert was chosen as Dallas area Coach of the Week presented by Comerica Bank.
"Everybody, players and coaches, are 100 percent behind what we‘re doing,'' said the Dallas native. "This is a great bunch of kids that gives our staff a chance to coach them. Last year, we were new here and we had to fight them a little bit. But this season has been great.''
Gilbert made three stops as an assistant coach before becoming head coach at his alma mater, South Oak Cliff (Dallas) seven years ago. From his three years heading the Golden Bears and two at Terrell, Gilbert saw the Lancaster program through the eyes of an opposing head coach. He believed Lancaster possessed enough talent to contend for a state title.
"I didn't think the program was that far away,'' Gilbert said. "I was told early in my career not to take a job at a school where football isn't important. And it is important in Lancaster. But I didn't expect to get results this fast.''
Gilbert credits the Lancaster administration for making changes that his predecessors didn't have — better alignment with the middle school and class schedules for his coaches that allowed for more interaction with players during the off-season.
Gilbert's major on-field change was to open up the offense with more passing.
A dramatic 26-21 win over John Tyler (Tyler) in the second game of the season provided a springboard. The Tigers secured the victory with a goal-line stand in the final seconds. It remains the only loss for Tyler, which has a Class 4A semifinal game of its own against Guyer (Denton) in the Division I bracket.
"After Tyler, we knew we could compete with the big boys,'' Gilbert said. "Especially the way we won it, having to fight right to the end. Those kinds of wins make a difference.''
Following Lancaster's only defeat, 17-0 to Red Oak, the Tigers responded in Week 9 by blasting then-undefeated Ennis, 51-14.
Lancaster began its playoff run by overpowering Jacksonville, 34-2, and followed it up with a 41-16 ousting of previously-unbeaten Lovejoy (Lucas).
In the 36-29 third-round victory over Prosper, Lancaster had to come from behind in the second half. Daeshon Hall's catch of a 9-yard touchdown pass from Demarcus Ayers put the Tigers ahead for good.
Against Poteet, junior Nick Harvey scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 14-yard run late in the third quarter for yet another comeback victory. The Tigers defense thwarted a desperation drive by the Pirates at game's end.
"Those final few seconds were agonizing,'' Gilbert said. "I was so happy when that clocked showed zeroes.''
Harvey, a Texas A&M commit, often comes up with the key play. He leads the team in receiving and scoring, is the No. 3 rusher and the No. 2 passer.
"We use Nick for everything,'' said Gilbert. "He plays some cornerback and safety, returns kicks, runs the ball and catches passes. We have a lot of good football players and they make me look good.''
Two other Tigers have made college commitments: Hall, a defensive end, to Washington and Ayers to Washington State as a receiver. Gilbert expects more seniors to receive scholarship offers.
"One of the great things about a long playoff run is the opportunity for players to be seen by more colleges,'' Gilbert said. "Players can expand their highlight tapes.''
Standing between Lancaster and the state title game at Arlington's Cowboys Stadium is Rider.
"At this stage in the playoffs, any team you play is going to be passionate,'' Gilbert said. "We've been going at it this season for a long time and we're close to the end now.
"Playing this deep is new to us. But we're well aware of the fact that there is no guarantee we will ever get this kind of chance again, so we better make the most of it.''
