The FHS Band was the only area school to qualify for state competition. Big Spring High School’s Steer Band failed to make the area finals in Class 4A competition in Odessa Saturday, while Stanton High School finished seventh overall at the Class 2A Area Contest in Lubbock.
Forsan band members survived a marathon of sorts to earn their latest ticket to state.
Director Jim Rhodes said the band returned home from Forsan’s Friday football game in Bronte at about 11:30 p.m. Friday, then embarked on its trip to Amarillo three hours later, arriving with about an hour to spare before opening the competition at about 8:50 a.m. Saturday.
Then — as if their day hadn’t been long enough — they qualified for the area finals only to learn they would be the final band to perform late that evening.
“We started the contest and we ended up closing it, as well,” Rhodes said. “I guess you could call it some sort of poetic justice.”
But the Buffalo Band’s grueling odyssey was definitely worth the effort. Forsan placed second behind reigning Class 1A champion Sundown to qualify for next month’s state contest in San Antonio’s Alamodome.
“We just decided to take what was dealt us and get the job done,” Rhodes said. “We’re just on Cloud Nine. I’m so excited for them, especially with some of the obstacles they had to overcome.
“The kids really stepped it up,” he added. “They assured me they could get it done — and they did. I’m just so proud of this band.”
Forsan will seek its first state marching title Nov. 5 in San Antonio. After finishing second in 2005 (bands compete at the state marching contest on alternate years), Rhodes said this year’s group has set its sights on the top prize.
“There are 16 bands still standing, and we’re one of them,” he said. “We’re going down there to win the state championship. We want to be one of the major players in our classification and the kids have that hungry look in their eyes.”
Big Spring was eliminated in Saturday’s preliminary round at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa, but Director Rocky Harris said his group went down swinging.
“They did very good,” Harris said. “I thought it was their best performance to date ... I was very proud of their effort, even if they didn’t advance.”
Stanton, competing in Lubbock Saturday, finished ninth in the preliminary round, which qualified the “Best Band Herd” for a spot in that evening’s finals. The band moved up two spots in the finals, but that was not good enough to earn Stanton a spot at state.
Contact Staff Writer Steve Reagan at 263-7331, ext. 234 or by e-mail at
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