High school football: Cary Whittingham leads Timpview back to 4A title game, as T-Birds beat East

Lloyd creditted Whittingham and the team's assistant coaches with rallying the team through the offseason and off-field troubles, including Wong's firing, the financial investigation and punishments for allowing an ineligible player to compete in four games this fall.

"He's a new head coach," said Lloyd, "but he's not a new coach. Whitt has been absolutely amazing, the way he's rallied us together, and he's told us that we are a brotherhood, and that we love each other. We play for each other. And he tells us constantly how much he loves us, and I think that makes us fight for him more than we've ever fought."

As for his coach's decision to freeze rather than change up his coaching attire, Lloyd said that particular fact did not surprise him.

"He's a warrior, " said Lloyd as the pace of the snowstorm picked up again. "He could live outdoors and he'd be completely fine with it."

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