Rejuvenated FW Polytechnic is in the playoffs for the first time since 1990

By DREW DAVISON

Special to the Star-Telegram

Fort Worth Polytechnic didn’t have a football coach when spring practices were held last March. Nobody, after all, knew if the school would even be around in the fall because of poor academic ratings. It came eerily close to shutting down, but the students made dramatic double-digit gains on the TAKS test and saved the school.

And, in less than nine months, the entire culture around the east Fort Worth school has changed. Now, students are proud to say they attend Polytechnic High School and the buzz is growing.

After Fort Worth Dunbar defeated Fort Worth Western Hills on Friday, the Parrots football team learned they are headed back to the playoffs for the first time since 1990.

"This shows people how we still have beliefs and goals even after all the down talk about how our grades weren’t where they should’ve been," senior wide receiver Ezekial Richardson said.

Senior offensive linemen William Aguilar and Manuel Rodriguez both said "it means a lot" for Poly to get back into the playoffs.

Indeed, it’s been a long journey for the Parrots to make it back to the postseason. Over the past four years, the school has had three coaches, but, in his first year, Othell Robinson has rejuvenated the program.

After spending three years as an assistant at Fort Worth Eastern Hills, Robinson accepted the challenge of leading Poly. Robinson brought in an old-school mentality, focused on discipline and executing plays.

Robinson’s plan has worked from the start. The Parrots won their first four games, and then went 2-2 in District 7-4A, ending the regular season with a 41-7 victory over Western Hills.

"It’s been a whirlwind of a season because nobody expected us to be here," Robinson said. "We’ve been fortunate because we did get off to a positive start and things went our way. It definitely helped getting off to a positive start.

"And, of course, getting into the playoffs means a lot. The players really bought into what we were doing and they’ve done a good job of fighting all the way to the end."

With only 30 players on the varsity roster, the Parrots had to fight and claw for every yard this season. It also meant that several players had to play both ways. And, while the odds might been stacked against them, the Parrots certainly have talent.

Seniors Duran Hollis and Damion Thornton, as well as the 5-foot-4 Richardson, are Division I prospects. Hollis is a 5-10, 195-pound running back who can take it up the middle or make a move outside in the open field. Thornton is a running quarterback who has the ability to create his own plays, while Richardson has blazing 4.4 speed and can take it the distance on any play.

"When I watched film [before I came], I knew they had players that can make plays," Robinson said. "We just need to execute our plays and make sure we don’t run out of gas before the game is over."

So far, Poly has made enough plays to get back to the playoffs. And while the Parrots will certainly be big underdogs against Stephenville in the playoffs, simply getting there is the accomplishment.

"This means everything for us," Thornton said. "Because we can say we were part of the group that made the playoffs after the 20 years of missing out. We’re leaving a legacy behind us."

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