Staring at a 49-point halftime deficit, the Warrenton football team’s first state appearance Saturday didn’t exactly get off on the right foot. That stark reality however, didn’t silence fan support. Despite an eventual 56-7 loss to Webb City, the community support never wavered for their hometown team in the Class 4 title game held at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. The journey to the Dome and the backing the team received was an experience the players said they will never forget. “It was amazing to be a part of something that drew the community together like this,” senior lineman Justin Greene said. “That was one of the things that probably made this experience so special — was seeing everybody come together.” Saturday’s appearance in the state title game was the first for any athletic team in school history. Prior to this year’s success, the football program’s longest postseason run was a semifinal appearance in 1995. Several banners reading “Go Warriors” and “Go Big Red” were displayed throughout the city and businesses offered support by painting their windows and wishing the team luck leading up to Saturday’s big game. By the thousands, former players, other alumni, family members and community members flocked the Dome to cheer on the team. As he left the Dome Saturday, longtime supporter Eddie Meyer, who arranged charter buses to transport fans to and from Sikeston and St. Louis, offered praise to the team despite the lopsided defeat. “We have nothing to hang our heads about,” he said. While Saturday’s outcome wasn’t what the squad envisioned, the chance to participate in the season’s final game was rewarding for a group that was unheralded for most of the season and doubted by many across the state as it cleared each playoff hurdle. The underdog role suited Warrenton just fine, as it found ways to overcome deficits in playoff victories over Duchesne, Jennings, Ladue and Sikeston. For many, it was hard to imagine that just three years ago the program was mired in a 27-game losing skid that spanned four seasons. But there the Warriors stood on the sideline opposing tradition-rich Webb City, who came in with eight state titles on its resume. The energy displayed by program supporters was noticed by the players throughout the playoff run as excitement built in each playoff game. “Our fans have been outstanding,” senior quarterback Scott Lathrop said. “The support they’ve shown us throughout this playoff run is something we’ll never forget ... The fans have given us that extra drive to keep believing even when we’ve been down.” Jeremy Way, high school principal, said it’s been hard not to get sidetracked by excited fans pumping him for more information on the football team’s next opponent during stops at Subway or Kroger during the playoff run. “It’s been truly unbelievable,” he said about the support. “You look up (in the stands) it’s like everybody is here from the town. “We are always blown away by the support. The (school) has been incredible the last few weeks. The teachers, the community, have really gotten behind these kids.” Rich Barton, who has taught and coached in the district for 22 years and serves as the announcer at home football and basketball games, agreed. “We have always had the support, but this is unbelievable how the community has pulled together,” he stated. “There has been a phenomenal atmosphere around the community.” Even in a game where the scoreboard read in defeat, the team, school and community felt they left as winners. “It’s truly a great day to be part of Warrior Nation,” Barton said. Record Sports Editor Derrick Forsythe contributed to this story.