Outlaws Credit Community Support Throughout Season

The outpouring of community support for Marlow’s run to the Class 2A State Football Championship game has been the Outlaws’ secret weapon, and it continues this week as the team prepares for the big game.

Head Coach Matt Weber said that the team appreciates Marlow residents for their support.

“Marlow has always supported everything about our school,” Weber said. “I sometimes feel sorry for opposing teams because many never get to experience the support our small town brings.”

Superintendent George Coffman said that the team’s success in the 2021 season has much to do with the Marlow community.

“It’s a great community, and they support everything Marlow schools do,” Coffman said. “We’ve had bigger crowds and louder fans than any opponent we’ve had. The band, the cheerleaders, Bootleggers, the student section, those are important to the wins we’ve had and so have the fans that show up and travel and cheer on our way out of town.”

School support extends beyond the football field as well.

Last week in preparation for the State semifinal game, Marlow High School art students painted the windows of businesses on Main Street to encourage the Outlaws. MHS art teacher Arlyn Brantley said that the project was funded by donations and assistance from businesses in the community.

“Otasco and Blue Rock Rehabilitation gave a cash donation for supplies,” Brantley said. “The art classes bought ribbon at Marlow Wholesale Floral and Nita’s Flowers made 60 bows with it to display on light poles in town.

“402 Printing company made over 20 signs at cost to place throughout town, which Larry and Annys Brantley paid for, and Baby Glam and Mama Too installed a nice large printed banner on the west side of their building,” Brantley added.

The Marlow High School Ag department also made bows in class that hang along the entry to the high school administration building and the high school office.

This week, the Bootleggers dance team made and hung spirit signs in the high school hallways. The colorful signs have slogans like “Players to Remember Play in December,” “Hustle, Hit, and Never Quit,” and “You Came to Play, But We’re Here to WIN.”

A post on the Marlow Football Facebook page expressed thanks for the season-long support.

“Thank you to the parents, families and fans that load up and hit the road to show up in person to outnumber every home crowd we have faced - and it isn't even close when you look in the stands,” the post read. “Thank you to the cheerleaders and Bootleggers for keeping the crowd going and for constantly cheering for the Boys throughout the games. The run-throughs, and spirit lines, have been unforgettable!

“Thanks to the Bleacher Creatures for dressing up with a different theme each week and for standing the entire game and hollering at the top of your lungs for 48 minutes! It's so much fun to watch you and to listen to y'all's interaction during the game.

“Finally, a special shout-out to our incredible band! How many other school's bands have to be told more than once during the season, by the game officials, that they are too loud and need to hold it down when the other team is on offense? That's a credit to their numbers but also to their skill!”

The post emphasized the Marlow Band’s impact at the semifinal game against Eufala.

“they outdid themselves! They played NON-STOP from before kickoff until the last second ticked off...they played so loud and played so hard that some of them have blisters and their hands are bleeding from their drumsticks and instruments!

“Don't think for a second that all these kids above don't want it just as bad as the [football] l team, too! They may not have been on the practice field for two-a-days or all of the other practices for the last 17 weeks. But, they were in the gym, or at the track, in the band room or on the band field working, sweating and preparing hard for this season as well...and your efforts are greatly appreciated and deserve to be recognized.”

The Marlow High School students will gather on Friday at 1pm at the gym on Ninth Street for an all-school pep rally to help send the Outlaws to victory at the State Championship game.