Starting the season with just eight total starters and 24 lettermen back from last year’s 3-7 team, Mike Fullen knew his second year as Abilene High’s head football coach would be a growing process.

And that was before even factoring in a pandemic that would cost his team its spring, a personal cancer battle that would sideline him for much of he summer and the first three games of the season, and a front-loaded schedule that would push the youthful Eagles — and their confidence — to the limit.

But after watching his squad rebound from a rocky 1-4 start to win four straight games, including AHS’ first playoff victory since 2016 last week against El Paso Eastwood, Fullen couldn’t be happier with how that process has played out.