DECATUR — Members of the Decatur Junior High Football team have been enjoying the lives of small town celebrities since they won the title of conference champions after an undefeated season, which ended with a win against Union Christian on Oct. 27.

The team’s achievements are the talk of the town and,for passersby not in touch with local gossip, the championship and undefeated season are announced on the Decatur StateBank marquee.

“They’ve been treated pretty good by the community. They want to do this (be undefeated) all the time so they get this treatment all the time,” said coach Shane Holland.

Teachers and school staff hosted a special breakfast for the team in teacher Cathy Pannell’s family and consumer science classroomon Thursday morning. On Thursday afternoon, a group of community members and local businesses pitched in to host a special lunch at the Gallery Cafe for the squad. Reuben Barnes and Leonard Meek also bought the team pizza to celebrate after the win against Union Christian.

“I’m very excited,” said eighth grade student Kyle Shaffer, who is already shifting his focus to the upcoming basketball season.

“It’s the first time I’ve won like this,” said ninth grader Levi Duncan, who said he plans to stick to football.

In fact, this is the first time in recent memory that a Decatur football team has had a perfect season, according to lifelong resident Brian Wilkins. Not only is Wilkins an alumni, but his father played on the first Decatur High School football team in 1955, and his two sons both played football and graduated from Decatur High School. Wilkins said hehopes to encourage as much community support for the team as possible.

“It’s a big deal to me,” he said.

“To come from pretty near not having a school a couple years ago to something like this is outstanding,” said Barnes, explaining that for him, Wilkins and many of the other community members supporting the team the roots go pretty deep. Barnes grandson Joey Barnes is a member of the team.

Both men, along with their wives Reta Wilkins and Margo Barnes, contributed to the dinner at the Gallery Cafe, as well as Charles Linam, Pat and Lester Austin, the Smith Family, Mary Wilkins, the Decatur State Bank, the Decatur Fire Department and Greenlawn Farms.

Eleven or 12 of the junior high players will advance to the senior high team next year, if they all decide to come out for football, Holland said. With only five graduating seniors, it could boost the senior high team’s numbers from 17 to as many as 25 players.

Sports, Pages 10 on 11/09/2011