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2019 CFB BOWL PREVIEWS

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in NCAA FOOTBALL.

The college football season has once again delivered some top-tier match-ups for the bowl season.

In addition to the four College Football Playoff qualifiers, another eight teams will get the opportunity to shine in front of a national audience with all eyes on them. Here’s a look at each matchup leading up to the national championship game on Jan. 13, 2020.

Dec. 28 — Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: Penn State (10-2) vs. Memphis (12-1) 

The Big Ten’s Nittany Lions will matchup with the American Athletic Conference’s Tigers in the bowl season’s annual David vs. Goliath matchup. Penn State recently signed head coach James Franklin to a new six-year deal, while Memphis’ Mike Norvell just agreed to take over a struggling Florida State program.

It will be interesting to see if the coaching change has any affect on the Tigers’ upset hopes.

Dec. 28 — Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (CFP semifinal): No. 1 LSU (13-0) vs. No. 4 Oklahoma (12-1) 

LSU’s offense has been the talk of the nation thanks to quarterback Joe Burrow and passing game coordinator Joe Brady, who was hired away from the New Orleans Saints to revamp LSU’s aerial attack. The result has been nothing short of incredible, as the once-plodding Tigers rank second in the country in passing yardage.

Jalen Hurts will get another chance to lead his team to a title this postseason after transferring from Alabama to OU. However, the Sooners seemed more lucky than deserving of the opportunity, as they had to survive a close battle with Baylor in the Big 12 championship despite the Bears losing their top two QBs to injury.

Dec. 28 — Playstation Fiesta Bowl (CFP semifinal): No. 2 Ohio State (13-0) vs. No. 3 Clemson (13-0) 

The resurgent Buckeyes are back in the CFP thanks to two of the biggest breakout stars of the season — QB Justin Fields and DE Chase Young. Fields has accounted for an incredible 50 touchdowns by himself, while Young has registered 16.5 sacks heading into the postseason. 

The Tigers are the defending national champs and may feel a bit underappreciated given their No. 3 overall seed. Head coach Dabo Swinney’s squad is still loaded with NFL-caliber talent and is led by QB Trevor Lawrence, RB Travis Etienne, WRs Justyn Ross and Tee Higgins, LB Isaiah Simmons and S K’Von Wallace.

Dec. 30 — Capital One Orange Bowl: Florida (10-2) vs. Virginia (9-4) 

The Gators are back in the public eye following an uphill climb out of mediocrity. Head coach Dan Mullen helped Florida finish second in the SEC West this season. Standout cornerback CJ Henderson has announced he’ll sit out in order to prepare for the NFL Draft, but no other Gators are expected to sit.

The Cavaliers get a nice consolation prize after being bludgeoned 62-17 by Clemson in the ACC championship. Virginia, which is led by dual threat QB Bryce Perkins, will look to gain back some more respect on a national level in this one.

Jan. 1, 2020 — Rose Bowl: Oregon (11-2) vs. Wisconsin (10-3) 

The Ducks blitzed Utah in the Pac-12 championship, which sent the Utes into the Alamo Bowl, where they’ll meet Texas. QB Justin Herbert still leads an exciting air raid style offense for Oregon, and the Ducks will once again try to prove they’re more than just a finesse team from the West Coast.

The Badgers looked as though they’d caught Ohio State by surprise in the Big 10 title game, but the Buckeyes stormed back to topple Wisconsin. Still, a berth in the Rose Bowl is always something to be proud of, and RB Jonathan Taylor has his sights set on bringing a trophy back to chilly Madison following the program’s 10th appearance all-time in Pasadena.

Jan. 1, 2020 — Allstate Sugar Bowl: Georgia (11-2) vs. Baylor (11-2) 

The Bulldogs get a shot to atone for last season’s dud against the Longhorns, while Matt Rhule and the Bears will try to give their fanbase a huge victory following a remarkable comeback season.

Georgia has enjoyed yet another solid year under head coach Kirby Smart. Junior QB Jake Fromm may have fallen off the radar in terms of the most talked-about signal callers in college football, but a big game in New Orleans could change all that. Just ask Sam Ehlinger.

Meanwhile, Baylor will hope to welcome back QB Charlie Brewer following an unfortunate injury in the Big 12 championship. Brewer, a Lake Travis alum, has been sensational for the Bears in 2019. The junior comes into the Sugar Bowl having thrown for 2,950 yards and 20 TDs and rushed for another 545 yards and 10 scores.

Jan. 13, 2020 — CFP National Championship: TBD vs. TBD

No one is yet 100% certain who will end up playing for all the marbles at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, but Longhorn fans will have a clear favorite: anybody but OU.

Wimberley QB Cooper McCollum

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

Not many folks outside the halls of Wimberley High School thought the Texans would end up playing for a Class 4A Division II championship this season.

But senior quarterback Cooper McCollum has been confident in his team’s ability all season. In fact, the signal caller has been planning on a special 2019 campaign since before Wimberley sewed up a spot in the playoffs.

“We actually had to turn in goals for our team — we had to turn in three goals — and one of mine was to be the leader of a team that’s remembered,” McCollum said in mid-October. “We don’t want to be a team people forget. We want to get our name written in stone up on the state champs wall so when they walk in, they see our name first and they know we mean business.”

McCollum has since raised his game to a new level while helping the Texans’ offense become even more unstoppable. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound senior came into the state title game having already accounted for over 4,000 yards of total offense and 61 touchdowns.

They key for McCollum and the Texans has been balance. Not only can McCollum torch an opposing defense with his arm, but he’s shown the ability to keep plays alive with his feet until his wide receivers gain separation down the field.

McCollum has plenty of weaponry at his disposal, as Wimberley’s receiving corps is made up of seven players who have collected 10 or more receptions. The leader of the pack is junior Christian Marshall, who has used his 6-foot-3 frame to haul in 61 passes for 1,282 yards and 18 TDs prior to the state championship matchup against Pleasant Grove.

Juniors Josh Limely (628 yards, 11 TDs) and Jaxon Watts (692 yards, seven TDs) are also prime targets, as is senior Kolby Goforth (287 yards, TD).

Wimberley also has a solid running back in Moses Wray, who excels at getting the tough yards that help set up the Texans’ play-action passing game. Wray’s 1,223 yards and 15 scores force defenses to stay honest when attempting to game plan for Wimberley.

Of course, it hasn’t been smooth sailing the whole way for McCollum and the Texans. The quarterback was forced to leave Wimberley’s 42-14 loss to Navarro with an injury that he sustained with his team holding a two-touchdown lead.

However, that type of adversity has only led to bigger and better performances down the line. Since the postseason began, McCollum has thrown for 1,320 yards and 19 TDs, including five each in back-to-back weeks against Navarro and Silsbee.

The Texans punished Navarro 42-12 in their playoff rematch, and it looked as though McCollum was going to lead another rout in the state semifinals against Silsbee. As it turned out, Wimberley needed all five of his scores versus the Tigers, as Silsbee made a late comeback to pull within six in the fourth quarter.

The Texans once held a 49-16 lead in that game, but McCollum never showed any panic. Instead, he did what he does best — get the ball in the hands of his playmakers on the outside as Wimberley prevailed 56-43 to punch its ticket back to state for the first time since 2011.

“I wasn’t scared,” McCollum said. “I know who we are, and I knew we’d execute when it mattered the most.”

Westlake Advances to State Championship.

Written by River Tompkins on . Posted in HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

At McLane Stadium in Waco, a Texas high school football 6A Division II semifinal took place between the Westlake Chaparrals and the Katy Taylor Mustangs, both teams fighting to advance to the state championship at AT&T Stadium. The Chaps had made it to the semifinals the previous two years but were unable to tell the tale of anything further. The Mustangs, however, were in their first-ever semifinal game. Westlake swiftly eliminated Katy in a massacre ending with the Chaps winning 63-3.

After running through their hand painted banner with the modo ‘Hustle and Heart set us apart’, Katy received to start the game and were immediately welcomed to the semifinal round by Westlake who forced them to punt early. Katy’s defense followed in the same manner forcing Westlake to punt. On Westlake’s next drive they needed to make a play. They started with a 17-yard pass from quarterback Kirkland Michaux to Ryan Lindley. Next Michaux rolled out to his left firing a missile downfield to receiver Mason Mangum for a 33-yard touchdown.

After once again punting Katy’s defense would put up a fight. Mustang linebacker Martian Nowlin was able to sack Kirkland Michaux for a 15-yard loss. Starting in amazing field position on Westlake’s side of the field Katy put a nine play drive together highlighted by Keaton Kubeckas 15-yard catch to set them up for a field goal they would make.

The field goal was a bright spot for Katy and would remain so as their nightmarish first half would drag on and on. Westlake had the ball and were looking to end the game early. Jackson Coker, a jack of all trades, was lined up at running back, Kirkland Michaux found him on a middle seam route for a 60-yard catch and run straight into the endzone.

Westlake’s dominance would continue as defensive end Austin McClendon sacked quarterback J Jensen III. Capitalizing on the short field Kirkland Michaux would find Jake Misch in the back of the end zone for yet another Westlake score. Michaux also found freshman receiver Jaden Greathouse on the quick slant for a 6-yard touchdown.

With 45 seconds remaining in the half, Katy was just trying to make it to halftime alive but Westlake would not let that happen as they hunted the Mustang’s returner down forcing and recovering a fumble. As the Chaps had all game they threw the ball deep and on this play all-time leading Westlake receiver Mason Mangum was the recipient of a 38-yard touchdown.

Mason Mangum catches a 38-yard touchdown pass from Kirkland Micheaux.

Heading into halftime Westlake was up 35-3 and showed no signs of slowing down. On offense, the Chaps were finding holes and exploiting them as Kirkland Michaux had five first half passing touchdowns. The defense was doing their part and I would attribute that to the defensive ends. They collapsed the pocket on passing plays and more importantly played the inside zone and option hand-off incredibly well.

Westlake received to start the second half and the game was all but over as they quickly reasserted their dominance. It started out with a 41-yard touchdown pass to Jackson Coker who was left wide open in the end zone without a defender in sight.

Westlake defensive back Lucas Mireau then intercepted J Jensen III’s pass setting up yet another deep Westlake throw. Mason Mangum would run a great corner-post pattern to find himself once again open in the end zone for his third touchdown and Kirkland’s seventh. Kirkland Michaux wanting to add a little extra scrambled for a 29-yard touchdown to put yet another nail in the coffin.

Kirkland Michaux totaled 215-yards on scoring plays alone, and 302-yards on the day. Mason Mangum lead in the receiving game with 143-yards, all three of his touchdowns were in the 30-40 yard range. Jackson Coker who had 100-yards on the night averaged 33.3-yards per touch as well as a 66% touchdown rate for every touch.

Coach Todd Dodge talks with his Quarterback after a touchdown drive in the 2nd quarter of the 6A Division II semifinal at McLane Stadium in Waco TX Saturday December 14th 2019.

Westlake’s backups came in to the game for the remainder of the fourth quarter. Head coach Todd Dodge and his 2019 Westlake Chaparrals are heading to AT&T Stadium next Saturday to attempt what has not been done in the last 23 years…Bring a championship title home to Westlake. The Chaps will face the number four ranked Texas team Denton Guyer, who is fresh off a 35-17 win over Westfield.

North Shore too much for Cavs 2nd year in a row.

Written by Steven Ryan on . Posted in HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

The final score didn’t come close to telling the whole story of Galena Park North Shore’s 49-38 win against Lake Travis Saturday at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex in the Class 6A Div. I State Semifinal in Round Rock, TX. A year after getting run off the field by the same team in the same round of the playoffs, Lake Travis scored 35 second-half points to give North Shore a legit scare before falling valiantly in the end.

The Cavs return to the field in the second half and despite being down 28-3 made a valiant effort to come back but, Galena Park North Shore’s 49-38 win against Lake Travis was too much for the Cavs Saturday at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex in the Class 6A Div. I State Semifinal in Round Rock, TX

“What a great response by our kids,” said Lake Travis coach Hank Carter. “Football coaches get up there and they talk about being resilient and mentally tough, and I think a lot of people that don’t get it would say that’s just a bunch of coach speak. But this is what it’s about. The way our kids came together and our coaching staff got together with the kids at halftime, made some adjustments, and we fought and clawed. We at least made them nervous and that’s more than we did a year ago. They’re a great team. They’re very well-coached. They’re extremely talented, and they’re very deserving of the victory. But I’m very proud with how our kids responded.”

The big mystery at the start of the game concerned North Shore senior running back Zach Evans, who was nowhere to be seen at kickoff. The 5-star prospect who is almost universally considered the No. 1 tailback in the country was taking the SAT and didn’t check in until the final minute of the first half. Once he finally got on the field, he showed exactly why he’s sought after by almost every major college football program in the country by rushing for 169 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries

His absence, however, wasn’t much of an issue for North Shore’s offense in the first half. Instead of giving it to Davis, the Mustangs handed the ball off to senior Roger Hagan, who rumbled for 117 yards on 22 totes. Junior quarterback Demetrius Davis was also dialed in. He finished with 234 total yards (125 passing, 109 rushing) and four total touchdowns (3 passing, 1 rushing) as North Shore built a 28-3 halftime lead.

“They went to the bullpen and brought out a guy (Hagan) throwing 105 miles an hour,” Carter said. “The Evans kid is tremendous and everyone obviously knows about him. I think, to me, though, the guy that makes them unique and special is their quarterback. He runs the ball as good as any running back that I’ve seen and he’s making great decisions with the football and he’s throwing it on the money. Coach Kay does an excellent job with his team and they played like champions tonight.”

Lake Travis never found a way to truly stop North Shore’s ground game as the Mustangs rushed for just a shade under 400 yards, but the Cavs’ offense got into a groove in the second half and almost sparked an incredible comeback. After throwing for just 26 yards on the first half, senior quarterback Hudson Card left it all out on the field after the break and finished with 357 total yards (290 passing, 67 rushing) and three total touchdowns (2 passing, 1 rushing). 

His determination shined on Lake Travis’s final two drives. With the Cavs trailing by 25 in the fourth quarter, Card broke off an electric 28-yard scoring run where he fought through arm tackles, reversed the field against one of the fastest defenses in the state, and successfully dove for the pylon as a Mustang play tried dragging him down. On the next possession, he made eyes almost pop out of their sockets as he seemed wrapped up by the North Shore pass rush, only to break free, tip-toe the sideline, and complete a 26-yard pass that set up a three-yard touchdown run by Weston Stephens.

“Early on I think they were getting a little bit of pressure on us so we’re probably holding on to the ball for just a little bit longer than we needed to,” Carter said. “They were covering us well. Again, credit to North Shore. But he settled in, made some great plays. I told him on the one that he scored there, ‘oh man, I guess you still can run.’ And he’s doing all that on probably about 50 percent of how his foot oughta work.”

Lake Travis also recovered an onside kick and forced two second-half turnovers to keep hope alive. The first turnover was a leaping interception by sophomore defensive back DJ Johnson, who went up and snagged a hard pass in zone coverage that Davis thought he could get over him. There was also a fumble out of the end zone. And, of course, senior wide receiver Kyle Eaves, who did as much as anybody to keep the Cavs alive with eight catches for 155 yards and a touchdown.

High School Football: A Texas Tradition

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

A former South Texas sports editor who had recently moved to the Lone Star State from Arizona stepped into the press box on an idyllic Friday night and sat awestruck as the scene overwhelmed him.

Both sides of the bleachers were packed to the gills, and marching bands in full regalia took their designated place in the stands as cheerleaders, twirlers and dance team members spilled onto the field in single file.

Members of the student spirit crew exchanged gifts at midfield prior to the coin toss, but even before the kickoff, it was clear the young man was busy taking in every aspect of the scene unfolding below. 

“I guess Texas high school football is everything they say it is,” he remarked.

More reports came in from him over the coming months as he got a true taste of the state’s passion for all things gridiron-related. It was enough to realize that something most writers and fans take for granted is truly extraordinary.

And it wasn’t even the playoffs yet.

Yes, it’s that magical time of year when the match-ups become even more meaningful. Legends are born in the postseason, and if your team is lucky enough to capture a state championship, a small piece of immortality comes along with it.

Perhaps Liberty Hill head coach Jeff Walker said it best when he remarked, “Teams to remember play in December.”

Besides doing his best Dr. Seuss impersonation, Walker knows what it takes to run the gauntlet known as the playoffs. So does Lake Travis’ Hank Carter, for that matter.

Those coaches know that the postseason has its own mystique, and that no opponent is to be taken lightly. Since the format expanded to take four teams per district, there have been some memorable upsets every season. It’s unavoidable given the fact that 692 do-or-die games are played during the span of one postseason.

Just last season, Richardson Pearce, a 36-point underdog, took down Cedar Hill in the first round.

Forget March Madness. These are the real bracket busters.

As the final few Austin-area teams continue their march toward glory, the weather will turn colder and the smack talk on message boards throughout the state with undoubtedly heat up. It’s like Christmas come early, except without the cheap gift from your least favorite aunt.

So no matter how your favorite college or pro team is faring at the moment, keep an eye on the biggest ongoing tournament in the state. Who knows? The next Vince Young, Baker Mayfield or Drew Brees could very well be on their way to AT&T Stadium to compete for one of the state’s biggest prizes.

LT Cavs won the State Title in December of 2016 at AT&T Stadium. Photo Texas Sports Monthly

When the smoke has finally cleared, a dozen teams will remain standing. When the postseason began, that number was 704.

So good luck to those still attempting to hoist a state championship trophy in Arlington. And to those who have already moved on to the next sport?It’s only eight more months until two-a-days arrive.

Texas Basketball 2019

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in NCAA BASKETBALL.

Every school has expectations, but the ones in Austin remain as high as the Texas sky.

Just ask Rick Barnes.

Longhorns men’s basketball coach Shaka Smart will find out exactly how tough it is to coach on the hot seat this season after Texas won the NIT a year ago to salvage a topsy-turvy 2018-19 campaign. There’s only one acceptable tournament to be invited to this time around — the Big Dance in March.

Smart himself acknowledged that fact last March, and UT athletic director Chris Del Conte echoed the sentiment even after the Longhorns won the NIT, saying “we’re not where we want to be, but we’re making progress.”

Texas pulled in another solid crop of recruits this year after snagging three of the top 75 prospects in the nation — shooting guard Donovan Williams, center Kai Jones and homegrown product Will Baker, who played center for Westlake while rising up the ranks to become the No. 35 overall recruit in the country.

Baker is expected to start at center this season, while Williams and Jones have opportunities to work their way into valuable roles.

The Longhorns’ starting lineup for 2019-20 is also projected to include guards Matt Coleman and Courtney Rainey, who averaged 9.8 and 8.1 points per game last year, respectively. Coleman, who was the only Texas player to start all 37 games a season ago, added 3.4 assists per outing and was the lone Longhorn to earn preseason acclaim from the Big 12 after taking home honorable mention.

Rainey returns after shooting a team-best 38.6% from beyond the 3-point arc and proving to be another capable scorer. The same can be said for wing player Jase Febres, who knocked down 37.2% of his 3s while putting in 8.9 points per contest.

Jericho Sims is expected to lock down the starting power forward spot and has shown plenty of athleticism during his time on the 40 Acres. Sims has even drawn comparisons to current NBA players Mo Bamba and Jaxson Hayes, but he still has to show that he can turn potential into reality.

The biggest fan favorite on the team will undoubtedly be guard Andrew Jones, who touched the hearts of many Longhorn fans as he took time off to battle Leukemia last season. Jones was cleared to return to basketball activities in early August, and his comeback story will be one of the best in all of college hoops.

Meanwhile, wing player Gerald Liddell and big man Kamaka Hepa will likely fight for minutes as reserves.

Texas was picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 during the preseason coaches’ poll behind Kansas — no surprise there — Baylor and Texas Tech. Bringing up the rear were West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Kansas State and TCU.

But before the Longhorns begin conference play on Jan. 4. 2020, Texas will look to navigate an early portion of the schedule that includes games against Purdue, Georgetown and Providence. The Longhorns and Aggies will even reprise their old rivalry on the hardwood during a Dec. 8 meeting in Fort Worth for the Lone Star Showdown.

Smart should be able to get away with a loss to a rival here or there, though. After all, this isn’t football. But it’s still Texas, and another season without March Madness will be viewed as a colossal failure.

TEXAS-OU Preview

Written by Cody Daniels on . Posted in UT FOOTBALL.

Once again, the Red River Showdown is set to make for some can’t-miss football.  

This largely remains true each season, even as Texas wandered through the college football wilderness throughout much of the last decade. But what was once last has since been found — that much was beginning to become apparent last season, and the result was Texas taking home the Golden Hat following a 48-45 instant classic win over Oklahoma. 

Now that Texas has returned to the national stage, which the Sooners have never left,  it would be safe to expect much of the same this time around. 

On pace to meet with each program ranked among the top-15 for the first time since 2012, Texas and Oklahoma each boast high-octane offenses orchestrated by Heisman-caliber quarterbacks in Sam Ehlinger and Jalen Hurts. While the matter is purely one of opinion, one could argue that, for the first time since the Colt McCoy era, it’s the Longhorns who feature the more elite field general, though Ehlinger and Hurts each fit the description. 

To that end, going hand-in-hand with their elite talent behind center is a bevy of tremendous options at wideout. 

Oklahoma’s pass-catching corps is arguably the better of the two units, featuring a future NFL talent in CeeDee Lamb, sophomore Charleston Rambo, and Jadon Haselwood, the top-ranked wide receiver prospect in the 2019 class. But Texas, too, features much of the same in terms of skill and upside. Senior Collin Johnson, also a first-round NFL-caliber talent, leads the Longhorns in that regard, while speedy senior Devin Duvernay is enjoying a breakout season in the slot where Lil’Jordan Humphrey was last season. The notable addition to that bunch is sophomore Brennan Eagles, who’s emerged as a big-play threat on the outside. 

Beyond that, the offenses are rather different in regards to the offensive line and running back positions. After replacing four of five starters, the Sooners front five has looked the part early, but it is still early. Texas’ starting line, on the other hand, is expected to prove to be the most formidable the program has enjoyed in some time, led by left tackle Samuel Cosmi and center Zach Shackelford. Meanwhile, Oklahoma boasts a three-headed monster at running back in Trey Sermon, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Kennedy Brooks, while Texas is simply searching for health and quality depth after injuries forced the Horns to move two true freshmen — quarterback Roschon Johnson and linebacker David Gbenda — to the position at the front end of the season. 

This collection of talent considered — some proven and some still proving itself — much like last season’s showdown, which produced 93 total points between the two teams, it’s safe to expect some offensive fireworks at the Texas State Fair. 

That’s, of course, less than ideal news for the two defenses.

Unlike the offenses they’ll be tasked with at least attempted to limit — Oklahoma nor Texas will be stopped entirely — the defenses aren’t exactly among the nation’s upper echelon. 

Last season, the Sooners were among the worst in the entire country defensively, and actually ranked dead last (130th) in passing defense, but first-year coordinator Alex Grinch returns all five starters in the secondary and eight overall, including linebacker and Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, Kenneth Murray. 

Thus far, the early returns have been encouraging and indicate that Oklahoma’s defense will prove to be an improved bunch this season. 

Texas, on the other hand, lost eight of its starters after last season, and that inexperience has been evident throughout the early portion of the season, especially in the secondary, though the Horns do feature a tremendously talented tandem at safety in senior Brandon Jones and sophomore Caden Sterns. 

Both the Longhorns and Sooners do present a bit of experience at key positions and no shortage of sheer talent, whether raw or otherwise, but these two units are quite simply going to be overmatched on Oct. 12. 

If the season plays out as projected, what takes place in Dallas in mid-October may very well see the winner solidify itself as the team to beat in the Big 12. Of course, the Longhorns outlasted the Sooners last season before the two met again in Arlington, that time with a conference championship at stake, and Oklahoma got the upper hand the second time around. 

But that doesn’t mean that Texas and Oklahoma won’t each approach this year’s Red River Showdown as an absolute must-win. Along with bragging rights and the Golden Hat, pole position in the Big 12 will be at stake, and quite likely, only the winner’s College Football Playoff hopes will remain alive by that evening.  

Read September Edition

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in TEXAS SPORTS, UT FOOTBALL.

FOOTBALL IS BACK! After a great year for the Texas Longhorns and a deep run in the State High School Playoffs for several local teams in central Texas, we dig right in to the ACTION! Dallas Cowboys and Texans revamp for playoff runs this season. Listen to our new RADIO SHOW on 104.9 THE HORN FM as THE FRIDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWN RETURNS 6:30-7:15pm every Friday Night. Take a look at our preview edition and reserve your ad space this season!

Texas. LSU

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in TEXAS SPORTS, UT FOOTBALL.

For fans of college football, the spicy Sept. 7 matchup between Texas and LSU in Austin is a can’t-miss clash of two storied programs looking to challenge the status quo and end the conference championship reigns of both Oklahoma and Alabama.

But only one side will be able to seize the inside track to a possible berth in the College Football Playoff — assuming, of course, that both the Longhorns and Tigers take care of business during the opening week.

Texas is loaded with top-tier returnees like quarterback Sam Ehlinger, wide receiver Collin Johnson and safeties Caden Sterns and Brandon Jones. The offensive line looks as reliable as it has in years, as left tackle Sam Cosmi, center Zach Shackelford and guard Parker Braun, a Georgia Tech transfer, all have the potential to be All-Big 12 performers.

The Longhorns also have plenty of play-making ability in the backfield with running backs Keontay Ingram and fantastic freshman Jordan Whittington of Cuero, who has already been seeing reps at multiple positions. Wide receivers Devin Duvernay and John Burt have the afterburners to break free from most defensive backs — and Texas’ power running game will only create more space down the field.

Defensively, there are plenty of fresh faces along the front seven, including defensive tackle Keondre Coburn, defensive end Ta’Quon Graham and linebacker Ayodele Adeoye. Coburn and Adeoye are each redshirt freshmen. 

The Longhorns’ secondary still features hard-hitting sophomore safety/nickelback B.J. Foster, but corners Jalen Green and Anthony Cook will see a big jump in playing time as sophomores. 

Historically, breaking in a new set of defensive backs against LSU would mean preaching the importance of run support over covering receivers in open space, but the Tigers are determined to break free from their plodding style that has produced such notable rushers as Leonard Fournette, Derrius Guice, Jeremy Hill and Spencer Ware.

LSU hired former New Orleans Saints coach Joe Brady to revamp the passing game, and he’s brought a more wide open style that Big 12 fans are no doubt used to by now. The Tigers may use some run-pass options with quarterback Joe Burrow, who has been running the spread since middle school.

Burrow has a legitimate No. 1 target in receiver Justin Jefferson, and the tandem of running backs Clyde Edwards-Helaire and freshman John Emery Jr. — the nation’s No. 2-ranked RB prospect — will fight for carries until a clear pecking order is developed.

LSU will definitely be a handful, even for a Longhorns team brimming with confidence and looking as though they have the key ingredients to turn another major corner in 2019. The Tigers welcome back 15 total starters this season, including eight on defense, where LSU is notoriously stingy.

Defensive lineman Rashard Lawrence is a major disruptor at the point of attack and was named last season’s Fiesta Bowl Defensive MVP. Thankfully, the Tigers lost a major impact player at linebacker in 2018 Butkus Award winner Devin White, but true to form, LSU has athletes all over the field.

The Tigers possess a standout safety of their own in Grant Delpit, who is an early favorite to earn All-American honors this year. 

Texas QB Sam Ehlinger is fired up after completing a rushing touchdown against the Sooners in the 2018 Big 12 Championship game last December.

LSU went 10-3 last season and defeated Central Florida 40-32 in the Fiesta Bowl. Texas was 10-4 in 2018 and upset Georgia 28-21 in the Sugar Bowl. Both teams will likely enter the 2019 campaign ranked in the top 10 in the nation.

Bottom line, it should be an interesting and competitive early-season matchup. The home field advantage will be with the Longhorns, who are scheduled to play their first two games within the friendly confines of DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.

Texas had better use that advantage while it still can. Next season, the home-and-home series shifts to one of the toughest places to play in all of sports — Death Valley in Baton Rouge. 

10 Yard Penalty: Improper Hydration

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

By Coach James Bills

As football season approaches many high school players are preparing themselves for the gridiron. Student athletes are getting ready to start two-a-days by running and lifting weights. Kids are getting in to see their doctors and getting physicals per the UIL and NCAA rules. However, many now days are just crawling out of the cave or what is actually their bedroom where they have spent most of their summer drinking sodas, eating junk and building up finger muscles from playing video games. And all this while wearing headphones cussing out guys as old as 30 yr olds that still live in their parents’ basement.  

The problem is we expect them to jump up and put on heavy gear and go running out on a football field in 105 degree weather and compete.  Compete with guys that eat and sleep the game.  Compete with multiple sport athletes that play baseball, run track and play pick up basketball or actually play with their high school. I am not saying they shouldn’t play.  Im saying they shouldn’t play like that.  

 It is up to us as parents to make better decisions on their extracurricular activities in summer.  It is up to the parent to not coddle these kids and not allow them to binge on junk food and sugar loaded drinks if they are planning to take that field in August.  Limit that time or risk that chance where your kid may not be acclimated in life threatening temperatures.  Everyone loves to point to the coaches failure of hydrating the kids during practice properly but many never talk about how the parents should have seen to it that their kids drank more than Coke or Pepsi and ate more than popcorn all week.  

Every year the volume of injuries on the football field goes up. The number of deaths that could have been avoided does too. The temperatures are the same as when we were kids.  Technology and rules are better.  More questions are raised with often more rules being established. The ignorance is mind boggling.  Just look at the kids with lack of time out in the summer weather.  

As a baseball coach and former multiple sport athlete, I remember being prepared come football season because I spent most of my summer out in the heat.  I had a job most of the time not indoors and spent most of the week playing homerun derby and tackle football at the park. When I strapped that football helmet on I actually felt like a sissy considering I had spent most of my summer with busted lips and bloody noses from getting closed line running a ball.  

Ultimately, it is up to you as a parent to see to it that your kid is prepared for that first day.  When you boil that new mouth piece for him for football season and its the first time he has tasted water for the whole summer, just know that all the equipment in the world can’t protect him from dehydration.  

Coach James Bills, President of Texas Pitching Coaches Association, is a former high school and college coach.  Coach Bills has been a professional scout for 8 years as well as has trained 100’s of college and professional athletes.  He is also the owner of The University of Baseball located in Leander Texas and a managing partner with Silverstone Sports Management out of LA.     Podcast: In Your Face Sports

Email: jbills3750@gmail.com