The year was 1995. The stage was set for the Strasburg Rams to make their fourth bid for a state championship, a journey that would take them to the remote town of Low Moor, nestled in the Virginia Highlands.

A Bitter Cold Memory

Alleghany High School is tucked against the backdrop of mountains and the Jackson River. On a warm fall day, it could make for a picturesque setting, but on December 10, 1995, it was anything but.

Winter had arrived with a vengeance. A snowstorm the Friday before the game had delayed it to Sunday. It was bitterly cold, with wind chill temperatures plunging into the negatives.

Despite the frigid weather, the Strasburg faithful were warmed with the hope that this would finally be their year. How could they believe otherwise? At the helm was Glenn Proctor, a coach with decades of experience who consistently brought out the best in his players. The team was senior-laden, boasting multiple returning starters and a roster brimming with experienced lettermen.

The crown jewel of the team was senior running back Frankie Shoemaker.

Shoemaker was Strasburg’s leading rusher, leading scorer, and a standout defensive back. He amassed an astonishing 30 touchdowns and nine interceptions during his final season. Bath County’s head coach, Steve Isaacs, and his coaching staff considered Shoemaker to be one of the most accomplished running backs in the state, second only to future NFL star Thomas Jones, who was playing for Powell Valley High School at that time.

Shoemaker aimed to solidify his legendary status in this game. Despite facing a defense focused on stopping him, he remained a dominant force on the field. By the end of the game, he had amassed 243 rushing yards and scored all three of the Rams’ touchdowns. According to Washington Post reporter Ray Cox, Shoemaker never left the field, playing every single snap on offense, defense, and special teams.

However, even his Herculean effort was not enough. A series of critical mistakes—a short punt, a botched snap, and a game-ending fumble—proved to be Strasburg’s undoing. Bath County capitalized on these errors, rallying from being behind three times, and ultimately securing the victory with 14 unanswered points to win 30-20.

Strasburg had appeared in four state championship games within a decade, but each time, they had come up short. The 1995 championship appearance would prove to be their last for nearly three decades.

A Familiar Face at the Helm

First-year coaches typically require time to establish their coaching philosophy and evaluate their team’s strengths and weaknesses. Achieving immediate success in their inaugural season is uncommon. How can one account for the remarkable achievement of a rookie head coach leading their team to the state championship game?

Tripp Lamb, however, was not your typical rookie coach. Since 2008, he has been an integral part of the Strasburg football program. He began his coaching career with the junior varsity team and quickly ascended the ranks. Within two years, he was serving as defensive coordinator under head coach Mark Roller.

When Roller retired at the beginning of 2024, Lamb seamlessly transitioned into the head role. His extensive knowledge of the program, players, community, and administration provided him with a significant advantage.

Bridging Eras

The year 1995 feels like a distant memory. The DVD, now largely obsolete, was a revolutionary new invention. The internet was still in its infancy, a nascent technology slowly gaining traction. A saxophone-playing Southern politician named Bill Clinton occupied the White House. It’s a time so long ago that none of the current players on Strasburg’s roster were even born; they wouldn’t be for another decade.

Yet, even after all these years, a connection between the Rams of 1995 and 2024 remains. The current edition still resembles the team of the past. The offense employs the T formation, utilizing small, elusive running backs and deceptive misdirection plays. On defense, the team lines up in a familiar 4-4 scheme: four down linemen and four linebackers, a “hat-on-a-hat” approach emphasizing physicality and gap control.

Coach Lamb learned the ropes from Mark Roller, just as Roller had been a disciple of Glenn Proctor. Roller, the star quarterback on Proctor’s 1987 and 1988 state runner-up teams, instilled in Lamb a multitude of Strasburg football’s traditions. As Lamb told Northern Virginia Daily sports reporter Tommy Keeler Jr., “He’s been very instrumental in helping me develop as a coach, and I’m very grateful for that.”

A “lunch-pail mentality”—a focus on hard work, physicality, and execution—was a hallmark of the 1995 team and coach Lamb has continued this approach. In this era of spread offenses and aerial assaults, the 2024 team can be considered a throwback, but the results have proven that old-school principles can still be highly effective.

The team opened the season with a win and then another; week after week. By the end of the regular season, Strasburg boasted a 9-1 record and were averaging 33.7 points a game. Their only blemish was a single-point loss to then undefeated Clarke County. Lamb’s emphasis on discipline and defensive play paid dividends. Now it was time for the playoffs.

Lamb stressed the importance of appreciating the extended season. “It’s special to be playing on Thanksgiving week,” he told the Northern Virginia Daily before the Region B championship game. He viewed each postseason week as a new season, with the goal of going 1-0 each time.

Strasburg achieved that goal four times this year. Now, in December, with Christmas decorations already adorning homes, the Rams were still playing under Friday night lights.

A Familiar Heartbreak

In a pregame interview with Kirby on Sports, Lamb acknowledged the challenge ahead of the championship game versus Graham High School, stating, “What they have is a lot of speed and a lot of athletes all over the field. We know we’re going to have our work cut out for us.” His words proved prescient, as the The G-Men of Graham were a little bigger, a little stronger, and a little faster.

As in 1995, the 2024 state championship game unfolded in heartbreaking fashion for the players, coaches, and fans of Strasburg. Luck seemed to be against the team from the outset.

Already facing an early 7-0 deficit, the Rams suffered a crushing blow on the ensuing kickoff, a play that seemed to deflate their momentum. Before Strasburg’s offense could even touch the ball, the kick return was fumbled in their own territory.

Graham capitalized on this error with a swift touchdown, extending their lead to 14-0. By halftime, Graham had established a commanding 24-0 advantage.

A flicker of hope emerged early in the third quarter. The Rams, fueled by a desperate urgency, marched 58 yards down the field in nine plays. Running back Takhi Coates capped the second half opening drive with a 7-yard touchdown run.

Coates, like Shoemaker in 1995, was a dual-threat star. During his senior year, he amassed 1,388 rushing yards and scored 18 touchdowns. Defensively, he contributed eight interceptions from the safety position.

Sophomore Quincy Williams added the two-point conversion, bringing Strasburg within two scores. The quick touchdown briefly ignited the Rams’ sideline and their loyal fans.

It was as close as the Rams would get. Miscues, reminiscent of those in 1995, plagued the team throughout the game. Graham would find the endzone once more in the second half to end the game 31-8.

A Season to Build On

Despite the loss, the 2024 Rams achieved something remarkable. They overcame years of near-misses and broke through to the state championship game for the first time in nearly 30 years. This accomplishment, under a first-year head coach, is a testament to the team’s dedication and the program’s strong foundation.

Where does a team that came this close to winning it all go next season? The players, coaches, and the entire purple-clad community are already looking ahead for that answer. Unlike the senior-laden 1995 team, the 2024 edition featured a relatively young roster, with only a handful of starting seniors. While their accomplishments will be missed, the core of the team is already ready to go.

The returning players, led by junior quarterback Brayden Hough, have their sights set on the future. Hough told Keeler after the state championship, “After this week, we’ve got to look forward and look to next year.”

The Rams may have fallen short under Salem Stadium’s lights, but the echoes of their journey and the promise of tomorrow ensure that their legacy is far from finished. Perhaps 2025 will finally be Strasburg’s year.