Michael Norris / Amarillo Globe-News Garry Walsmith, left, and Caleb Mendoza are part of Bushland's senior class that has won 34 of 37 games the past three seasons.

When Bushland meets the Daingerfield Tigers for the Class 2A Division II state championship Saturday at Wichita Falls, nearly two dozen Falcons seniors will be playing in their final high school football game.

Most of these seniors have been an integral part of Bushland's football program the past four years. In that span, it has gone from a 4-6 record in 2006, the Falcons' first season, to this year's 15-0 mark heading into this final game.

In between, the team posted records of 9-2 in 2007 and 10-1 in 2008. In each year, the team's season ended after just one playoff game.

During this short span, there have been five first-team all-staters, including three this season - Sawyer Cornelius, Crockett Gillmore and Caleb Mendoza.

And with more than a dozen juniors and sophomores returning next year, in addition to junior varsity players who have gained valuable practice time these past six weeks, the future appears bright for the Falcons.

A number of the seniors were asked this week what kind of legacy they would like to leave behind when this season ends.

The responses were as varied as their personalities:

Michael Welch, starting offensive guard: ''I hope we leave a winning legacy behind, especially a winning one in the playoffs. I'd want them to win playoff games every year. That's what I'd like to see.''

Ryan Munns, receiver, linebacker: ''Sportsmanship is the best legacy we can leave behind. That's what I would say.''

Caleb Mendoza, offensive guard, linebacker: ''It would have to be winning a state championship. That's about it, just winning a state championship.''

Tyler Moore, receiver, linebacker: ''Every year we've raised the bar, and this year we have raised it to its highest point. After this year, other teams that follow will have to raise it just as high.''

Caleb McGuire, running back, linebacker: ''Having pride in everything that we do. That is what I hope we leave behind.''

Colton Blessen, center: ''I hope that we can leave behind the legacy of being a classy team. ... just class, that's it.''

Garry Walsmith, running back, linebacker: ''I hope that we have set a new tradition for the school, and one that people will be proud of.''

Crockett Gillmore, receiver, defensive end: ''Hopefully we can leave a legacy of winning championships behind us.''

Michael Matthews, receiver, running back, safety: ''It would be one of reaching the playoffs every year, and to get a ring in the process.''

Bushland is the first Amarillo-metro football team since the 1948 Amarillo High squad to reach a state championship game.

Bushland, in fact, is the 22nd area football team (either 11-man, 8-man or 6-man) to reach the championship game in University Interscholastic League history.

Eleven have brought home the big prize. Amarillo High's four titles remain the most among area schools, followed by Wheeler and Stratford with three and White Deer, Dumas and Canadian with two.

AHS and Wheeler have appeared in six state finals each. The Sandies are 4-2 in championship games, while the Mustangs are 3-3.

AHS and Stratford are the only area teams to win three state titles in a decade - the Sandies from 1934-36 and the Elks in 2000, 2005 and 2008.

State Finalists From Area

The area football teams that have played for state championships:

1930 - Tyler def. Amarillo High, 25-13.

1934 - Amarillo High def. Corpus Christi, 48-0.

1935 - Amarillo High def. Greenville, 13-7.

1936 - Amarillo High def. Kerrville, 10-6.

1940 - Amarillo High def. Temple, 20-7.

1948 - Waco def. Amarillo High, 21-0 (2A).

1954 - Phillips def. Killeen, 21-13 (2A).

1956 - Stinnett def. Hondo, 35-13 (1A).

1958 - White Deer def. Elgin, 44-22 (1A).

1961 - Dumas def. Nederland, 6-0 (3A)

1961 - Donna def. Quanah, 28-21 (1A).

1962 - Dumas def. Pharr San Juan-Alamo, 14-3 (3A).

1965 - Willis Point def. White Deer, 14-0 (1A).

1972 - Schulenberg def. Clarendon, 14-10 (1A).

1973 - Troup def. Vega, 28-7 (1A).

1974 - Newton def. Spearman, 56-26 (2A).

1974 - Follett def. La Pryor, 28-22 (8-Man).

1975 - LaGrange def. Childress, 27-6 (2A).

1975 - Big Sandy def. Groom, 26-2 (B).

1976 - Rockdale def. Childress, 23-6 (2A).

1977 - Wheeler def. Lone Oak, 35-13 (B).

1978 - Union Hill def. Wheeler, 14-7 (B).

1979 - Wheeler def. High Island, 33-21 (B).

1984 - Groveton def. Panhandle, 38-7 (2A).

1987 - Wheeler def. Bremond, 23-21 (1A).

1988 - Corrigan-Camden def. Quanah, 35-14 (2A).

1988 - White Deer def. Flatonia, 14-13 (1A).

1991 - Memphis def. Oakwood, 21-14 (1A).

1997 - Granger def. Wheeler, 40-0 (1A).

1998 - Tenaha def. Wheeler, 20-13 (1A).

1999 - Texas City def. Hereford, 27-14 (4A, I).

1999 - Gordon def. Groom, 54-34 (6-Man).

2000 - Stratford def. Burkeville, 49-14 (1A).

2004 - Shiner def. Stratford, 33-19 (1A).

2004 - Richland Springs def. Valley, 58-38 (6-Man).

2005 - Stratford def. Big Sandy, 21-20 (1A).

2005 - Throckmorton def. Valley, 68-22 (6-Man).

2007 - Canadian def. Elysian Fields, 40-25 (2A, II).

2008 - Muleshoe def. Kirbyville, 48-26 (2A, I).

2008 - Canadian def. Mart, 38-7 (1A, I).

2008 - Stratford def. Cayuga, 24-13 (1A, II).

2009 - Goldthwaite def. Canadian, 29-25 (1A, I).

2009 - Bushland vs. Daingerfield, ??? (2A, II).

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Pursuit of a Title

# The Game: Bushland Falcons (15-0) vs. Daingerfield Tigers (14-1) for the Class 2A Division II state championship, 6 p.m. Saturday, Wichita Falls' Memorial Stadium.

# Coverage: Follow the game with a live blog from Amarillo Globe-News sports editor Lance Lahnert and sports writer Lee Passmore. You can sign up to join the blog here
# See Sunday's edition of the Globe-News and amarillo.com for coverage by sports writer Les Giles and photographer Michael Norris.