When you think about Texas High School Football, teams like Katy, Allen and Southlake Carroll are always at the top of discussion but the Knights of Cibolo Steele deserve to be in the conversation as well. The last 5 years have consisted of two state championship appearances for the Knights. Not bad for a team that was just established less than 10 years ago.
Every player on this team looks like a D1 prospect. The second string plays just as well as the starters. I watched Steele play Canyon Friday Night and it was like watching the old Miami Hurricanes; superior talent all over the field. Every player carried a cargo of confidence, wanting to dominate everything in their path. Corners trash talking receivers twice their size. Running backs that took every carry with attitude. A coach that was passionate about his craft. A team on a mission to takeover.
The Knights finished the regular season at a perfect 10-0 and back to back champions of 25 6A. Besides being undefeated in the regular season for the third time in school history, this team seems different from recent past. The players seem even bigger, faster, stronger and more motivated than before. Coach Scott Lehnoff has these young men utilizing every ounce of their god given abilities. Some players that stood out to me were Wide receiver Antoine Cox-Wesley (Texas Tech Commit). At 6’5, Lehnoff loves putting Wesley in perfect formations to dominant with his size. The senior is averaging over 15 yards a catch. He’s a deep threat nightmare for defenses. Defensive End Mark Jackson (Texas A&M Commit, US Army All-American) stands 6’4 240. He’s the staple in that defensive. His long wingspan allows him to really set the edge and keep everything in front of him. They’re a bunch of men amongst boys out there.
Although the players love playing for coach Lehnoff, they still have a soft spot for former head coach and now Texas Tech running back coach, Mike Jinks. So much that 5 of the 11 offensive starters have already verbally committed to Texas Tech to be reunited with Jinks. He was widely noted for developing running back, Malcom Brown into the number 1 high school prospect in the country in 2011. Also under his watch, Steele made an appearance on ESPN for the first nationally covered Texas High School Football games ever. Jinks created this legion and left it on a foundation to continue for years. All the players realize this and try to keep the stock high in Cibolo.
The Knights are becoming a fierce program in the state of Texas. The talent this team possesses is second to none. They know they have the best players and they seem to prove it every Friday night. Going into playoffs, it is going to be great to witness future collegiate stars take the field in quest to grasp the state crown once more. If you ever get a chance, I would highly advise you to go watch some Steele football. It’s like watching the Avengers team up; you get to see some many different talents come together as a team and dominate in unison.
Pictures taken by Aubrey Oswalt.
