In 2006, the Pittsburgh Steelers posted a 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.

In Major League Baseball, the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Detroit Tigers in five games in the World Series. And the Sacramento Kings experienced their last winning season, which ended the 2005-06 season with losing to the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

That year was also marked the last time that the Cordova High School football program had a player sign National Letter of Intent to play at a four-year college. But Kenny Haney snapped the Lancers’ drought last week.

The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Haney, who was a key contributor at middle linebacker on last fall’s Cordova football squad that won a share of the Sierra Valley Conference title, has signed to continue his education and play football at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Ore. The last Lancer gridder to sign was former running back James Montgomery, when he signed with Cal, then finished his career at Washington State.

In front of his parents Donald and Sheila Haney, Cordova football head coach Darren Nill, Cordova athletic director Tom Pena, plus the school’s administration and friends, Haney signed his letter of intent inside one of the campus’ classroom during lunch on February 1st. Haney, who also saw playing time at running back for the Lancers, is one of 25 players who inked with the Raiders, and one of 14 from California.

One of the perks of Southern Oregon, Haney states, is the environment around the area.

“It’s a college town,” Haney said. “I could focus on myself; focus on my school work and football. No distractions.”

Nill spoke highly of Haney’s character. Most notable his preparations off the football field.

“The time he put in the weight room, and what I’m most impressed with is the time he put into the classroom,” Nill said.”

On the Raiders’ football Website, defensive coordinator James Gravelle stated on Haney, “He has explosion and a knack for the football. We’re excited for the potential for Kenny and his ability to make plays from sideline to sideline.”

Haney said that about 90 percent of the freshmen usually red-shirt their first year. But he’s been told that the Raiders need linebackers for the upcoming season.

“They haven’t let me know exactly,” Haney said. “They said they need a lot of middle linebackers.”

Haney, who has an undeclared major at this time, said he’ll continue to be in contact with the Raider coaches in upcoming weeks and months before he relocates to Oregon this summer.

Last season, Haney led the Lancers in tackles with 91, with 65 solo and 26 assisted tackles. He also had two interceptions and two quarterback sacks. On offense, Haney had 26 carries for 163 yards and two touchdowns.

As Haney prepares to start a new chapter in his educational and football lives, he’ll remember his days as a Lancer. In 2013, the Lancers went 2-8. Then last fall, Cordova posted a 7-4 record that included a share of the SVC title with Liberty Ranch and El Dorado, plus a Division III playoff game against Christian Brothers at Sacramento City College.

“It’s been amazing,” Haney said. “We were definitely trying to turn it around my freshman year, when we were barely winning games to (last) year winning the championship.”