GOLIAD — Caden Gonzalez and his Goliad teammates didn’t lack motivation as they squared off against Lexington in the final event of the Class 3A State LineMAN Challenge.
The tug-of-war competition was not only worth double the points of the other 10 events, but was a matter of pride.
“Everybody gathers around and everybody is screaming,” Gonzalez said. “It’s a lot of fun. You get everyone watching you and you get into a mode where you’ve got to give it everything you got.”
The Tigers won the tug-of-war and wrapped up the overall championship with 76 points Saturday at Shelton Stadium on the campus of Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. Lexington finished second with 54 points.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Gonzalez, a senior who plays guard and defensive tackle. “All of our linemen get to be together and create that bond that we need during the football season and do what we need to do to be successful.”
Goliad also won the truck push, finished second in three events and third in three events to become the first area team to win the challenge since El Campo in 2021.
“It gets really competitive, especially in the tug of war,” Gonzalez said. “If you just kind of look around, you can really tell people are competitive.”
Goliad head football coach Kevin Salazar encouraged his linemen to compete in the challenge, which includes events such as a tire flip and bench press.
“Our linemen have seen our guys go to 7on7 tournaments and go to state qualifiers and do a lot of that,” he said. “These guys were looking for something to do to stay competitive in the summer and work together.
“Everybody’s goal is to go and win it. But the big thing is doing it together, being around one another, working together and encouraging one another and preparing them for August.”
The Tigers hope the chemistry they developed at the challenge will carry over into the upcoming season.
“It really creates a bond between you and your teammates,” Gonzalez said. “That leads right into the season and two-a-days and preseason and district games.”
NOTES: Goliad is ranked No. 9 and Edna is No. 5 in the Texas Football Class 3A, Division I preseason football poll.
