With their victory over the Barbers Hill Eagles the Sugar Land Gators were crowned champions of Region 5 in the UIL Class B playoffs. It was Sugar Land High's 4th regional championship since 1951. The strength of the '56 team is evident in their victories over Hempstead & Barbers Hill, two perennial football powers in the 1950s.
The victory over Hempstead brought an end to the Bobcats' 19-game winning streak that extended over a 2-year period. That streak included a victory over Barbers Hill in their '55 regional championship match. (The game ended with a 32-32 score, but Hempstead was declared the winner on tie breakers. Tied games didn't go into overtime in those days.)
That regional championship loss was the only blot on Barbers Hill's record over their last 34 games. Excluding the Hempstead loss, they hadn't been defeated since 1953. Sugar Land inflicted a decisive defeat on a potent Barbers Hill team.
Sugar Land & Barbers Hill collided once again in a regional championship game in the '57 season. Sugar Land defeated the Eagles 14 - 0 on a bitterly cold Friday night in Baytown to claim their 5th & final Class B regional championship.
The golden age of Sugar Land High football, which began with a sudden turn-around in 1950, had reached its end.
