Andy Howard has seen Goldthwaite’s growth for some time.

But it wasn’t until the Eagles put together the program’s best season in a decade that Howard’s players could also realize the hard work had paid off.

Goldthwaite won seven games a year ago, including throttling then-No. 1 Mart 46-0 to end the regular season. The Eagles knocked off Maud in bi-district before falling to Grapeland in the area round.