Photo courtesy of Kamaan Morgan
Record-setting season highlights success on the field and in the classroom
The Life Lions varsity football team is making school history and giving the Life School community plenty to celebrate.
At the halfway point of the regular season, the Lions are 5–0 for the first time since 2015 and ranked No. 8 in the state by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. The ranking marks the first time in school history that the Lions have earned a place in the state’s top ten.
Under third-year Head Coach Welton Johnson, the Lions have transformed a program that previously finished 2–8 into a playoff contender earning statewide recognition. Johnson has already recorded 16 varsity victories in just two and a half seasons, making him the winningest varsity football head coach in school history.
Through five games, the Lions have outscored opponents 318–87, with 11 different players scoring touchdowns. That production highlights the depth of a team whose contributions extend well beyond any single player.
“I’m extremely proud of the turnaround under Coach Johnson and his staff’s leadership,” said Life School District Athletic Director Scott Thrush. “This is an outstanding group of student-athletes who bring energy, personality and a tremendous work ethic to our program. They take pride in representing Life School and are fully committed to one another and the team’s success. The resilience and unity they’ve shown through adversity this year and how they handled it speak volumes about their character.”
Thrush emphasized that the team’s academic achievement reflects the same commitment driving its success on the field.-“Having every player passing at our eligibility check is a tremendous win, it speaks to our student-athletes taking responsibility in the classroom and to the tremendous job our coaches are doing. We want our students to succeed as athletes, students, and young people, and this group is giving us a lot to celebrate.”
Junior quarterback Camren Phillips has led the offense with 1,883 total yards and 32 total touchdowns this season, bringing his career total to 7,537 yards. Junior wide receiver Antonio Hammond has contributed 385 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, while freshman athlete Dankia Landor has made an immediate impact with 298 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Senior Joshua Washington and junior Jatavion Smith-Adams have also played key roles in powering the Lions’ offense, adding depth and versatility to a talented group of playmakers.
Defensively, junior linebacker Cameron Beaty leads the team with 34 tackles, followed by sophomore defensive end Marco Angeles with 27. Their efforts are part of a defensive performance Johnson believes has been central to the team’s success.
“We’re playing at a high level right now, and what makes this group special is that it’s a complete team effort,” Johnson said. “You could look down our roster and find contributions from almost every player. Having 11 different players score touchdowns speaks to our depth and the way our kids play for one another. Our defense is playing the best football it has since I’ve been here, and I believe that has been the difference maker. There’s still plenty of work ahead, but I’m proud of the effort and commitment our players have shown to get us to this point.”- Welton Johnson stated.
The Lions now turn their attention to their district opener against Whitesboro on Friday, October 9, which will also serve as Life School’s Homecoming game. With an opportunity to improve to 6–0 overall and 1–0 in district play, the evening promises an exciting atmosphere for students, families, alumni, and fans.
Life School invites the entire Lions community to pack the stands, wear their school colors, and celebrate the hard work of the players, coaches, and staff behind this historic start.
Come celebrate Homecoming and help the Lions keep the momentum going!
