DECATUR -- Decatur has earned many distinctions over the years, from the best town under 1,000 award by Look Magazine in 1954 to the state of the art sewage treatment plant. But one distinct feature Decatur has recently earned comes on the football field at Decatur High School.
This season, the senior high football team boasts of not only a twin brother and sister playing on the same offensive team, but also the only all-Asian Hmong backfield in the state of Arkansas.
The only team to come close to this unusual achievement was last year's Magazine Leftwich High School, which had a partial Asian backfield.
"I don't know of any other programs that have this kind of backfield in this state this season," said Shane Holland, head football coach. "One of the in-service training programs that we as teachers have to attend at the beginning of each year is multicultural diversity and we are that."
Meng Vang, Leng Lee and Leng's brother Alex made up the all-Asian backfield for the Bulldogs, a fact in which all three take pride.
"We grew up together playing sports," said Vang, the senior member of the backfield. "We know each other's strengths and weaknesses and the level we can play at. We know what we can do and what we can't do."
Vang is the biggest of the three players, a trait he uses to his advantage. He has the ability to shift from one position to another if there's a need to break through the line when the Bulldogs employ the rushing game. He then shifts back to quarterback, allowing either Leng or Alex to run with the ball.
Leng is the agile member of the backfield. He has the ability to read the line and work around tackles. In several games this season, Leng has found himself in a pack of defensive players only to find a little opening and squeezing through to continue down field and into the end zone. Vang calls him "the shifty-legged one." Leng puts his all into every play in which he is involved. No matter how many points the team is down by or how hard he is hit when playing quarterback, he always has a smile.
Leng is very proud of his culture and the all-Asian backfield for the Bulldogs.
"I think being part of the all-Asian backfield is great."Leng said, "We can communicate with each other by our language and tell each other where to run."
Last season, Leng played football with his older brother, Matt. This season he played the roll as older brother to Alex, who played his first season of football for Decatur. Alex was a little timid at first but, as the season progressed, he gained more confidence and made some remarkable runs. He drew his inspiration from Leng.
"Sometimes, I look for guidance from him," Alex said.
Family in the Hmong culture is very important. Nowhere is this ideal demonstrated more than in the stands during a football game. Chia and Yeng Lee, Leng's and Alex's father and mother, along with sisters Emmy and Lilly, attend every game no matter if it is football, basketball or soccer. At home or on the road, the Lees are always in the stands supporting their family members' children. Chia Lee can be seen leaning against the front rail of the bleachers shouting encouragement to his sons, in Hmong.
"I asked Matt Lee, who played for us last year, what his dad was saying, Holland said. "He reluctantly replied, 'Hurt them real bad.' I don't know if that is what he said, but I know that he gets really excited during the game."
Although the Decatur Bulldog football season ended with a loss to Magazine on Nov. 6, the hard work and dedication that Meng Vang, Leng Lee and Alex Lee demonstrated on the football field serves as an inspiration to others in not only the Hmong but other Asian cultures. Decatur Bulldog football is truly a multicultural sport.
Sports on 11/11/2015