This is an opinion piece.

Chan Lowe’s goal one day was to become a head football coach.

He just didn’t picture it – nor want it – to happen the way it did.

Lowe took over the program at Leroy High School after the fourth game of the season when head coach Jason Massey was deployed.

“It was kind of a shock to all of us when it happened,” Lowe said this week. “But it was a next man up mentality. The culture has been built. Coach Massey has done a great job with that for the past 10 years. I’m just trying to hold it in the road until he gets back.”

So far, so good.

Leroy, the top-ranked team in Class 1A and the defending state champion, is 8-0 since Massey’s departure and now 12-0 overall. The Bears host Elba in the state semifinals tonight with a chance to return to the championship game.

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Lowe was elevated from his defensive coordinator position to be the interim coach when Massey left. That also meant he needed to replace Massey as the offensive coordinator on a small staff. Assistant coach Jamar James took over calling the defense.

Lowe knew Massey was a member of the National Guard and that there was always a chance he would get his name called for service again. Still, he admitted that was a hard reality to face when it actually happened.

“I knew the possibility was there,” he said. “He had given me a heads up this could happen or there were talks, but nothing was 100 percent until he got those orders. Mentally, I tried to prepare myself and he tried to prepare me, but I guess it didn’t set in until he told me that Saturday.”

Massey found out Labor Day weekend he would be deployed in early October. He coached the team through wins over Clarke County, McIntosh and Choctaw County and, knowing he was leaving soon and wouldn’t be around for the rest of the season, Massey led the Bears to a 42-10 win over St. Luke’s on Sept. 29.

“The first game I coached (J.F. Shields on Oct. 6) he got deployed that morning,” Lowe said. “So, he was there all week. He had turned everything over and was coaching us up and coaching the assistants up, but he wasn’t there for the game. I don’t think it really hit me until the white hat (head official) came up to me and addressed me before the game as the head coach.”

Leroy won 46-8 that night and has won every game since with relative ease. The closest call was a 27-13 victory over Georgiana in the second round. Lowe said Massey has cell phone access and internet service at his unknown location and the two talk at least three times a week.

“He gives me insight and tips and pointers as far as the game plan,” Lowe said. “It’s been a blessing in that way.”

Lowe said most of the credit for keeping the team focused belongs to the players themselves, including a core senior group that returned from last year’s state title run. That includes WR/DB Taylor Crumedy, QB/DB Brayden Huebner and RB/DB Malik Howell.

Lowe and company face a tough task tonight against an undefeated Elba team that features one of the state’s top running backs in Alvin Henderson. The 4-star junior Henderson has run for 3,203 yards – 16.5 yards per carry and 246.4 yards per game. He has a stunning 58 touchdowns this season.

“He’s phenomenal,” Lowe said. “He’s fun to watch, one of the best I’ve seen. Coach (Marc) Sieving does a fantastic job. Henderson has some good pieces around him that make the offense go. The offensive line is really good. They have a quarterback and a wingback who are good, and they are good on defense. They get after you on that side and bring a lot of pressure.”

Tonight’s winner will face either Pickens County or Coosa Christian in the state championship game next week at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Lowe said there is not a chance Massey could come back should Leroy make it back to the game.

Regardless of what happens tonight, there is plenty of credit and praise to go around in Leroy. The first belongs obviously to Massey himself, who continues to proudly serve his country. You also have to credit Lowe and the rest of the staff and especially the players, who haven’t missed a beat despite their head coach leaving in the middle of the season.

We’ll see what happens tonight, but already Leroy has made a statement about life’s priorities and how to successfully cope with adversity.

Thought for the Week

“One of the best ways to share your legacy is simply to tell your story one on one, face to face. Sure, you can reach many people by doing so on social media, but don’t forget about the value of sharing your story in person. You may find it encourages not just the person you are sharing with but also yourself.” – Tim Tebow, Mission Possible, one-year devotional.

Ben Thomas is the high school sportswriter at AL.com. He has been named one of the 50 legends of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Follow him on twitter at @BenThomasPreps or email him at [email protected]. He can be heard weekly on “Inside High School Sports” on SportsTalk 99.5 FM in Mobile or on the free IHeart Radio App at 2 p.m. Wednesdays.