WATCH: State champion Red Devils receive rings

The Mountain Pine High School football team display their state championship rings following a ceremony at the school Wednesday. The 2020 Red Devils football team won the 2020 2A Eight-Man Football state championship in November. - Photo by Richard Rasmussen of The Sentinel-Record
The Mountain Pine High School football team display their state championship rings following a ceremony at the school Wednesday. The 2020 Red Devils football team won the 2020 2A Eight-Man Football state championship in November. - Photo by Richard Rasmussen of The Sentinel-Record

MOUNTAIN PINE -- Forty-one years ago, Charles Nevels was part of Mountain Pine's second state championship football team.

Wednesday morning he was among the over 20 players and coaches who received their state championship rings in a ceremony in Red Devil Fieldhouse.

"He's almost like the face of Mountain Pine," said Mountain Pine athletic director James Galarza. "He had the privilege of being a part of the last state championship team, and his name is on some of the boards up here at the fieldhouse. You can see him in the annual. You can see his picture around. He has stayed around to help, not only in peewee, which I'm sure if I were to ask he worked with a lot of these boys and peewee, and then he volunteers his services to help with the high school.

"And every year he tells me, 'Coach, we've got to get this state championship. This is what we've got to do. We've got to get that. We have to move these guys. We have to do this. We have to do that.' Because he is driven to win. Sometimes people don't like that he yells, screams, stomps, throws his hat, but that just kind of goes with the territory."

The Red Devils once again celebrated their 62-34 state championship win over Spring Hill Wednesday morning with the entire high school, as well as many parents and community members, in attendance.

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"When these student-athletes take the football field or a game field or a court at a young age, peewees -- and it starts at the lower program -- they are always told to achieve a great season, a winning season, win their conference, win their district, if it involves regional playoffs, win region," Galarza said. "And then the ultimate goal is to get that ring. I've heard it many times in my coaching career, as well as playing, being associated with different schools, when it comes to athletics, you want that ring. Now, I don't know what the exact percentage is, but I've been told in the past that ... the actual percentage, I guess is what I should say, of athletes and coaches in the state of Arkansas that obtain a rating like this is less than 20%. If that is true, that means grandpas, moms, dads, uncles, brothers, all these players that may have made it to the next level, these gentlemen right here are fixing to become a part of that 20%, or less, of owning a state championship ring."

While Red Devils head coach Sam Counce said that earning the ring is nice, he does not want his players to become complacent.

A Mountain Pine High School football player displays his state championship ring during a ceremony at the school Wednesday. The 2020 Red Devils football team won the 2020 2A Eight-Man Football state championship in November. - Photo by Richard Rasmussen of The Sentinel-Record
A Mountain Pine High School football player displays his state championship ring during a ceremony at the school Wednesday. The 2020 Red Devils football team won the 2020 2A Eight-Man Football state championship in November. - Photo by Richard Rasmussen of The Sentinel-Record

"This is really special for all of us, especially as a coach, you don't get this opportunity very often," he said. "One thing I noticed that Mr. Galarza did say is that ring, and I'd rather have those rings. So we're gonna get more of them, guys. We'll get more. I mean, it takes a lot of hard work, a lot of talent, and we're gonna get it done."

Counce praised the hard work that the team put forth, especially the senior class.

"We're gonna miss these guys that were seniors," he said. "I'm proud of those guys. They got a chance to play for a state championship in Eight-Man football. The night of the championship it was just as nerve-wracking, and it was for championship just like if it was any other sport. .... So guys, I appreciate your attitude and your hard work and what you've done to get this ring in the ceremony."

The Red Devils will be losing five seniors from this year's team.

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