PHOTOS BY GABE WOLF Junior running back Brode DuBose prepares to deliver a stiff arm while carrying the ball during Tuesday's practice. The Badgers face Hutto tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the season finale. Most players do not want to practice.

The Badgers, however, do not want to stop practicing.

On Wednesday evening, after a long day of school and football practice, instead of hitting the showers and then the sack, several members of the varsity squad opted to continue fine-tuning their skills.

"I couldn't get them off the field," head coach Ryan Bailey said. "It was the last practice as a team, and they went down to the other end and played some catch.

"They stayed out there an extra 30 or 45 minutes."

For many teams, after suffering through nine winless games, the end of the season could not come soon enough. But the Badgers are a tightknit group of players who have grown closer from facing adversity on and off the football field -- especially the seniors.

"Those kids have been through a lot in high school," Bailey said. "They've had three different head coaches, they've suffered through a lot of hard times, and they didn't know what was to be expected of them from one day to the next.

Quarterback Vann Millican finds himself in the unfamiliar position of catching a pass. Millican will start tonight's game under center as Astin Murray is expected to be sidelined. "But this year, they came together, they became a unit, and they gave it everything they had."

For many of the Badgers, tonight's season finale against Hutto marks the last time they will don a set of shoulder pads for a competitive contest. While an aura of bittersweetness will surround the event, once the ball is put into play, however, Lampasas intends to make its last contest count.

"I know our kids are sold out on this game," Bailey said. "These kids are going to go for it, try to let them have it, and they'll have as much fun as they can on that field."

Even with emotion on their side, it will not be an easy task.

Despite sporting a streaky 5-4 overall record (1-4 district), the Hippos field a dangerous offense capable of running all over their opponents.

Jonathan VanLiew (43) breaks inside of Adrian Castillo as he attempts to haul in a pass. VanLiew was the Badgers' top target during the previous two games, making seven catches for 69 yards and one touchdown. Two weeks ago, against Killeen, Hutto rushed for 287 yards. The previous Friday it ripped off 270 against Marble Falls.

Quarterback Ryan Naivar combined for 181 yards in the two games and ranks second on the team in rushing with 745 yards for the year.

"A lot of the things they do are directed through the quarterback," Bailey said. "We've got to get the ball out of his hands and put them in a situation where they throw it because they don't throw it very well.

"If we can get them to spread it out and throw the ball, then we'll be in good shape."

Since being torched by Lake Travis for 318 yards through the air three weeks ago, the Badgers have given up a mere 224 combined passing yards on 17 total completions.

Offensively, the Badgers are beginning to click -- even if it does not reflect in the final score.

Offensive line coach Ben Needham (right), a former pre-season All-American lineman at Tarleton State University, straps on a helmet and assumes a three-point stance to show his players exactly what he expects. Before suffering a setback against Killeen last week and losing 38-3, Lampasas posted consecutive season-highs in points scored against Dripping Springs and Marble Falls.

In part, the improvements can be traced to the play of quarterback Vann Millican, who will start against Hutto while Astin Murray continues to nurse an injured knee.

"Vann has had times this year when he looked really good, and we're hoping he finishes out on a good note," Bailey said.

Should Lampasas pull out the victory, it will snap a 19-game losing streak. But even if the Badgers fall to Hutto tonight, they have already won something more valuable than a tick in the win column.

They have earned the admiration of their coach.

"This group has given everything they had," he said. "They did everything the coaches asked them to do, and they were just outmatched at times.

"They didn't let it get to them. They kept their spirits up, and they went out and had fun together. I'm proud of this group."