BERLIN, Md. -- The euphoria of victory echoed through the halls of Stephen Decatur High School as the football team basked in the glory of their historic state championship win. Defeating the Huntingtown Hurricanes 21-13.
The Seahawks concluded their season with an impressive 14-0 record, marking the first state championship in the school's history.
Directly after the game, the locker room was a scene of pure joy as exhausted yet elated players danced as music blared in the background.
Gavin Solito, a key player for the Seahawks, expressed the team's collective sentiment.
"I'm a little tired, we were up late, but it's just a great feeling waking up knowing we're state champs," said Solito.
As the clock hit zero, the players surged into stands filled with family members and friends.
Brycen Coleman, the starting quarterback, reflected on the overwhelming support.
"It was just like we had ten times as many people as they[Huntingtown] did, and it was just unreal, just the amount of support that we always get. It's just awesome, and you know, what a great experience, really," said Coleman.
The celebration extended beyond the stadium, with the team's buses receiving a special escort back to Stephen Decatur High School. Police and fire crews, complete with sirens, lights, and all, led the way, creating a spectacle that left a lasting impression on the players.
"Seeing the lights in the distance, I said to Brycen it looks like we're at Winterfest of Lights because it was so lit up," said Brogan Eastlack, the Seahawks kicker.
For Coach Jake Coleman, waking up less than twelve hours after the pinnacle of his coaching career, and victory still hadn't set it.
"It's surreal, you know, I think I sent out 500 different texts telling everybody how it just feels like a dream," said Coach Coleman. "I rolled over this morning and I asked my wife, I was like 'did this really happen?' and she gives me a big hug, she's like half asleep, she's like 'yeah, it happened'."
Thomas Sites, Stephen Decatur High Schools Principal, said he knew this moment would come after interviewing Coach Coleman just a few years ago.
"I said to my Assistant Principal in charge of athletics Dr. Bunting, this man is going to win a state championship," said Sites. "It may take ten years, I may not be principal anymore, but he's going to win a state championship, and I'll be darned if he didn't do it in four."
Berlin's mayor, Zack Tyndall, who graduated from Stephen Decatur, said he couldn't be happier for his alma mater.
"Well I'm telling you, waking up, I don't know if I ever went to bed," said Tyndall. "So watching the game, following everything going on, bringing the team home, you couldn't ask for a better night."
The Stephen Decatur Seahawks took care of business on the field and are now gearing up for additional celebrations. The players revealed plans to participate in Ocean City's Christmas Parade on Saturday, and they will lead Berlin's Christmas Parade next Thursday.
In an effort to make sure this moment is an everlasting one for each player, the team is looking for help to buy championship rings.
"That's been my focus all day today, is we've started a GoFundMe page and you know our goal is to make sure that every single kid get that ring for free," said Coach Coleman. "We don't want to stress out families right before Christmas, but, we want to make sure that all these kids, they get that ring."
If you would like to donate to that GoFundMe, you can find the link here.