For the past six consecutive football seasons, a tight-knit group of athletes, who call themselves the “Goons,” have tackled the ups and downs of the game together. Their journey began back in 7th grade at Rogers Middle School, and they later transferred to Hays Middle School when it first opened. Fast forward to their 12th-grade year, and their friendship remains strong.

The Goons, consisting of Dylan Rhone, Victor Chionuma, Jonah Bowman, Cyncere Lindsey, Nick Butler, and Chris Nguri, embrace the football team motto of #LEO, which stands for “Love Each Other.” This motto has been a fundamental part of their friendship.

“I really feel like we do a really good job just being open with each other. I don’t think there’s anything that I couldn’t come to these guys with. We’re open with each other and I think that’s really important to have,” Jonah Bowman said. “And I think it makes us that much closer and I think it makes us play that much better on the field.”

One standout memory during their football journey is a game they played against Lovejoy High School during the 2020 fall season.

“We were down at half 27-7 and then we did nothing the third quarter. And fourth quarter we just picked it up,” Victor Chionuma said. “And we scored back to back to back. Multiple stops and everything. It was a good memory to have.”

Even though that game occurred during their freshman year, the camaraderie within the group has endured as they grow together.

“Something that’s kept us going is probably the love we have between each other,” Nick Butler said. “This group right here, we’ve known each other for so long.”

Their friendship extends beyond the football field, strengthening the bonds that tie them together.

“We work out and stuff like that,” Chris Nguri said. “We’ll do homework together, just making sure everybody’s grades are up, things like that.”

The Goons stay dedicated to football, even when training together during the summer or working on individual skills.

“We all want to see each other succeed at the next level,” Bowman said. “We all want to give each other the best chance and we don’t wanna sell any one of us short, so every Friday or game day we try to do our best.”

Throughout their football seasons, the boys have overcome hurdles. For example, several of them have faced injuries that have set them back. 

“I learned from Victor, no matter what happens, you gotta bounce back,” Cyncere Lindsey said. “Because he’s been through a few injuries, this and that. Some crazy stuff happened to him. He just bounces back every time.” 

Despite their fair share of hardships, the Goons have remained a close group, serving as each other’s support system. These challenges have helped them shape their unyielding commitment to the game. 

“We’re able to push each other to that limit,” Butler said. “To where we know if we’re not doing what we’re supposed to be doing, if we’re not getting the job done, if we’re not handling business– we can get each other to that point. And that’s really what elevates our teammates and the people around us and elevates our game.”

These friends and teammates have learned important life lessons from one another on and off the field.

“Something that I learned especially from Jonah, is that no matter the circumstance, you still gotta bring it, you still gotta play,” Butler said. “Like Jonah’s one of those who just doesn’t let the circumstance dictate the vision. He goes out there and plays no matter what the weather is, no matter what situation we’re in, he’s just always one hundred percent. And I’m gonna take that wherever I go, not even just football, just beyond life. If I get a job, whatever I do, I’m going to always be one hundred percent.”

What sets the Goons’ friendship apart are the diverse personality traits among them, with each member bringing their own unique perspective and individuality to the group.

“I think what makes our group “the group” is that everybody is different in their own way. Like no one can truly say everyone’s the same,” Nguri said. “We might have some similarities here and there, like we might laugh the same a little bit, or think certain things are funny that other people won’t, but everybody is their own person, which is hard to find nowadays.”

Among the football team, this group is known for its unmatched energy on the field.

“Let there be a time where we’re down in a game or we really have to fight, I know for sure this group right here will bring that energy and get everybody motivated and positive,” Nguri said. “To not look at the scoreboard, but to remember our goal at the end of the day.”

Rock Hill is in one of Texas’ 6A football districts, which makes their football seasons more challenging. 

“I think we take it head-on, you know. It’d be easy if we were in some random district, 5A or something. But we’re playing against the best competition. And I think we’re all better for it. You’re not gonna remember the game where you won sixty to nothing against nobody that matters,” Bowman said. “So I think we’re doing a really good job with just playing together– not looking at the scoreboard, just playing hard no matter what.

The Goons have an extra layer of support that adds to their intimate dynamic.

“It’s not just us, our families are close, so I think that’s gonna help us stay close together,” Bowman said. “We really do have a brotherhood.”

While they are taking different paths, such as playing college football, they have made a vow to stay in touch after graduation. 

“These 5 right here, I know for sure that I want them to be my lifelong brothers,” Dylan Rhone said. “Like I want my kids to grow up with their kids.”

Throughout the years, they’ve forged unbreakable bonds. It’s their unwavering support for each other and devotion  to the game that defines the heart of this group.

“We joke around a lot, we laugh a lot, we argue all the time,” Butler said. “But at the end of the day we have each other’s backs, no matter what the situation is.”