BY RICH HILLIARD

SPECIAL TO THE HERALD DEMOCRAT

LEONARD -- While many football teams around Texas have already packed up the pads until next summer, there has been no need for that yet in Leonard.

The reason was written Wednesday on the back windshields of every players' and coaches' vehicles outside the Leonard field house: "Playoffs in 2009."

Leonard will play its first postseason game since 1998 on Saturday against 12-2A champion Omaha Paul Pewitt (8-2, 7-0) at 7:30 p.m. at Royse City.

A Leonard win would be the program's first playoff victory since 1986's regional advance.

"Going to practice in Week 11. It's been huge," fifth-year Leonard head coach Shane Fletcher said. "We had a 26-game losing streak here and to have now built to this. I attribute that to people being patient with the coaches and me to build a program," Fletcher said.

A preseason favorite to make the playoffs, Leonard (8-2) has been led by seniors Will Cowan and Reggie Robinson. The duo has combined for 40 touchdowns and more than 2,400 yards this fall.

"We had to get the kids to believe they could win. That's been the biggest thing," Fletcher said. "We knew since eighth grade that this group (of seniors) could be good."

However, Leonard's offensive success is also owed to its line -- seniors Sam Whisenhunt, Jacob Riley, Mark Eastin and Zack Bohannon and sophomores Gavin Buckaloo and Dario Gomez.

"Will and Reggie get all the publicity, but the offensive line has been great. They are big, agile, strong and smart," Fletcher said. "They make good adjustments. I'm really proud of them."

Meanwhile, the defense has been as good if not better.

"The biggest surprise has been our defense," Fletcher said. "I knew we'd be good on offense, but to have the No. 1 defense in the area has been the biggest shock. It's not that we're doing anything different. The kids have bought into it. It's been great."

Senior defensive tackle Tevin Daniels leads the unit, which led the area in yards allowed this fall.

"Tevin has been the man on defense," Fletcher said. "He's leading the state in sacks according to Maxpreps.com. He's been an animal. He's undersized for his position, but he has his motor running non-stop."

Though admittedly trying to be the state's sack leader -- the site notes him having 15 -- Daniels has a bigger focus when the field.

"I've tried to step up for my team -- not just by voice -- and am trying to show them what we need to do on defense. I'm not trying to make it all about me," Daniels said.

The road to Leonard's first playoff game began with a 4-0 start. Only district foes Gunter (10-0) and Melissa (8-2) managed to defeat Leonard, both posting 14-point wins.

Leonard secured the playoff trip with a 14-12 win at Howe, despite losing Cowan in the third quarter to a knee injury after he scored twice on runs in the first half.

"A lot of teams would have folded up their tents when their stud went down, but everyone pitched in and carried the load," Fletcher said. "It was bittersweet that night that we clinched -- but there's my quarterback (on the sideline). But he's fine and will play against Pewitt."