MASON, Texas — This proud and tight knit Texas Hill Country community takes pride in its cattle and ranching industry and football.
The Mason Punchers are annual state title contenders. Traditions are plenty beginning with their palace, a home stadium which sets itself apart from other stadiums across the state of Texas.
The Puncher Dome is a former horse racing track that was turned into a football stadium. A special place I visited three years ago and was in awe of it while producing a feature story. Click on the link to that story which is attached.
The current head coach of the Punchers, Kade Burns, has never experienced a loss at the Puncher Dome. Burns has been the head Puncher since 2011.
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In fact, under Burns' guidance, Mason has experienced the taste of victory 100 times. You can count on two hands the number of losses during this eight year stretch with only nine setbacks.
Tradition is a portion of this success.
"It's something that we feel like is important to our football program," said Burns. "It goes back to the previous coaches that have been here, previous players that were here. They established the tradition we have here in Mason."
The Punchers captured a state title during Burns' first season in 2011.
Since then, Mason has won at least 11 games six times, including this season.
The Punchers are a perfect 14-0 and are one win from playing for the 2A division one state title.
Mason will meet San Augustine, a former state champion from East Texas, Friday night at Waco ISD Stadium.
A Punchers win over the Wolves will punch Mason's ticket to another trip to Jerry World, AT&T Stadium in Arlington.