Page 37 - Pearland High School Media Guide 2016

nent. Non-district and district coaches would look at their schedule
to make room for the Oilers as their homecoming guests.

In Heath’s first season - the Oilers
played six homecoming games count-
ing their own. And Pearland lost all six
-- including their own.

The 1997 season began with six
straight losses to run the streak to 23
games.

But something happened in the sev-
enth game of the season as the Oilers
took inspiration from a freshman run-
ning back by the name of Anthony Evans to register the first monu-
mental win for Heath’s upstart Oilers.

Pearland beat the Pasadena Eagles 24-13 on Friday, October 17,
1997 at Prensner Stadium as Evans rushed for 178 yards and scored
three touchdowns on runs of 3, 35, and 61 yards.

You would have thought that Pearland had won the Super Bowl.
The fans ran out on the field and there
were tears in the eyes of Heath and his
coaching staff as he watched his players
celebrate and finally see all of their blood,
sweat, and tears translate into a win.

The players gathered together to stand
in front of the band -- holding their hel-
mets and heads up high -- and hearing
the school fight song for the first time
since 1995 as winners!

The team then gathered around coach
Heath.

“Gentlemen, this is what it is all about!
This is what we have been working for all year. Enjoy it! Take it all in!
You did a great job!” Heath said.

It was exciting to see the total support by all who witnessed this
coming out party for the Oilers. The band saluted the team as play-

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