The Canadian Wildcat Band left Canadian well before the sun rose Saturday morning en route to Lubbock’s Lowrey Field and the 3A, Area A Marching Band Competition. They knew they might have a long day ahead. Little did they know just how long.

After the nearly four-hour drive to Lubbock, the band members and their directors—as well as the parents who were there to cheer them on—would have to be in t…