But even as they secured their athletic and educational futures at NCAA Division III schools, the seniors hadn't forgotten the journey that made Wednesday's commitment ceremony possible.

"Starting from freshman year and having that tradition of being a state champion and having that low of our sophomore year," Machart said. "It was really humbling. Letting us know that we weren't going to have anything handed to us. We were going to have to work really hard for it and that just set up where we are now."

Machart is headed to Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton. Geiger and Bell will attend Texas Lutheran University in Seguin in the upcoming school year.

"I think sometimes being a smaller school we don't get looked at," said St. Paul head football coach Jake Wachsmuth. "It is special. We are blessed. We had a great team and when you have a great team, obviously you have great players."

Bell, who played running back and linebacker, Machart, who played tight end and defensive end, and Geiger, who played defensive back and receiver, had key roles for the Cardinals, who went 14-0 and wrapped up the championship with a 43-40 win over Cedar Hill Trinity Christian in the state final.

The three also played as freshmen on the 2012 state championship team, although Bell tore his anterior cruciate ligament during the season.

"It was just the drive to continue to get better," said Geiger, who is expected to play safety at TLU. "My freshman year, we won state and all of us really wanted to get back to that point. It was motivation to get back to that point."

The motivation became more intense after St. Paul went 2-6 in 2013 and missed the playoffs.

"It taught us how to come together as a team and to never give up in tough times," said Bell, who will continue at running back at TLU. "We finished the season with two big wins and it just carried over and we got better."

The Cardinals won a district championship in 2014, but fell in the regional round of the playoffs.

"They've worked really hard," Wachsmuth said. "As sophomores they struggled. I think that season kind of made them commit to the weight room, to running track; they play multiple sports. Obviously they have some God-given ability, but I think they've developed it really well."

Winning a state championship not only allowed the players to reach their goal, it also brought them notice they might not have received.

"As a small school we don't get a lot of recognition, so we knew we would have to work hard to get our name out there and to get recognized," said Bell, who carried 25 times for 214 yards and three touchdowns in the state final. "In the state game, coach kept giving me the ball and I tried to do what I could with it. A lot of us, we were just not going down without a fight. We did what we had to do to win."

Playing for a winning program is what helped attract Machart to Mary Hardin-Baylor, where he could play either tight end or defensive end.

"I want to get my degree and go off and be successful and I think Mary Hardin-Baylor is the place to do that at," Machart said. "They set you up for success on and off the field. Ultimately, I'd like to win a national championship."

Regardless of where their college careers take them, Machart, Bell and Geiger won't forget where they started.

"We learned to work hard," Bell said. "Don't let anything slow you down. Never give up. Just try your best even when things get tough. You got to keep going and hold your head high and focus on the finish."

Mike Forman is a sports writer for the Victoria Advocate. Contact him at 361-580-6588 or [email protected].