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DRAGONS LOOK TO MAKE THEIR MOVE IN 2026

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

Round Rock enters the heart of the 2026 season at 3–1 with experience at quarterback, size in the trenches and a roster built to compete as district play begins.

Momentum Building as District Play Arrives
The Round Rock Dragons aren’t simply showing promise anymore.
Four games into the 2026 season, head coach Cody Moore’s team has begun turning that promise into victories.

Round Rock enters district play with a 3–1 record and three consecutive wins, the latest coming in dramatic fashion Friday night against Vandegrift. The Dragons rallied late to defeat the Vipers 41–38 at Monroe Stadium, adding another significant victory to what has quickly become an impressive September.
After opening the season with a 42–28 loss to Weiss, Round Rock responded by beating Temple 49–37 and Dripping Springs 35–25 before taking down Vandegrift.

Now the Dragons turn their attention toward District 25-6A.
A Statement at Vandegrift

Friday night’s victory may have been Round Rock’s biggest statement yet.

Trailing Vandegrift 38–34 with less than two minutes remaining, the Dragons faced a daunting situation.

Their defense had just stopped Vandegrift on fourth down at the Round Rock 5-yard line, leaving the offense 95 yards from the end zone.

Senior quarterback Dov Stickler wasn’t finished.

Round Rock drove down the field, and Stickler connected with receiver Simon Sylvain for a 47-yard touchdown that put the Dragons ahead 41–38 with less than a minute remaining.

It capped a huge night for Stickler, who threw for 325 yards and five touchdowns, tying the school record for touchdown passes in a game.
The Dragons also rushed for 206 yards, giving Moore’s offense more than 500 yards of total production against the Vipers.

Sylvain emerged as one of the night’s biggest playmakers, catching both a 75-yard touchdown and the decisive 47-yard score.

But the game’s defining sequence started with the defense.

With Vandegrift facing fourth-and-three from the Round Rock 5, defensive linemen Ford Lucas and Ellis King stopped Vandegrift running back Evan Williamson short of the first down. That stand gave Stickler and the offense one final opportunity.

They made it count.
The 41–38 victory was Round Rock’s first against Vandegrift since 2021 and improved the Dragons to 3–1.

Stickler Driving the Offense
The Vandegrift performance continued an outstanding start to the season for Stickler.Through four games, the Round Rock quarterback has thrown for 1,132 yards and 15 touchdowns.
More importantly, the Dragons are putting points on the scoreboard.
Round Rock has scored 153 points through its first four games, an average of 38.25 points per contest.
That offensive production has allowed the Dragons to rebound quickly from their opening-night loss.

Round Rock scored 49 against Temple, 35 against Dripping Springs and 41 against Vandegrift — three consecutive victories against quality Central Texas programs.

The Dragons have also demonstrated that they don’t have to win games in only one way. Their passing game can create explosive plays downfield, while the running attack gives Moore’s offense another dimension defenses must account for.

Moore’s Dragons Finding Their Identity

For Cody Moore and his staff, the first month of the season has provided evidence that Round Rock can compete with some of the area’s strongest programs.
The Dragons could have allowed the season-opening loss to Weiss to define their start.
Instead, they’ve responded with three straight victories.

Winning at Temple demonstrated Round Rock could go on the road and produce offensively. Beating Dripping Springs gave the Dragons another quality win at home.

Then came Vandegrift.

 

This time Round Rock had to respond under pressure, make a critical defensive stop and execute a 95-yard drive with the game on the line.

Those are the kinds of moments that can become important when district games begin.
And the stakes are about to get considerably higher.

District 25-6A Begins

Round Rock opens District 25-6A play Friday night against Stony Point at Dragon Stadium.
From there, the schedule becomes one of the most interesting stretches of the season.
The Dragons travel to Westlake before returning home to face Westwood. Road games against
McNeil and Cedar Ridge remain on the schedule, along with a home matchup against Lake Travis.

That means the three-game winning streak is important, but the Dragons understand the games that determine their postseason future are still ahead.
Round Rock enters that stretch with something every football team wants in September:
Momentum.

The Dragons have won on the road. They’ve won high-scoring games. They’ve made late defensive stops.
And against Vandegrift, they proved they could drive nearly the length of the field with the game hanging in the balance.

At 3–1, Round Rock has put itself in position to make the 2026 season an interesting one.

Now comes district football.
And after three straight victories, Cody Moore’s Dragons enter it believing they can play with anybody on their schedule.

 

Cowboys Revamp Seek Playoff Run

Written by Associated Press on . Posted in NFL.

By SCHUYLER DIXON AP Pro Football Writer

It has been 13 years since the Cowboys missed the playoffs at least three consecutive seasons and more than 20 years since they had three losing records in a row. The expectation is that Dallas has done enough to end its recent slide by improving one of the NFL’s worst defenses enough to complement Dak Prescott’s potent offense. Brian Schottenheimer enters his second season as coach and offensive play caller with the same tools he had a year ago. Prescott had one of his best seasons with star receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, a productive running back in Javonte Williams and a tight end the Cowboys believe is still waiting on a breakout season in Jake Ferguson. Dallas brought in 34-year-old Christian Parker to replace Matt Eberflus, who lasted just one ugly season as defensive coordinator. The personnel at Parker’s disposal is significantly better, and he doesn’t have to worry about the Cowboys trading one of the league’s best defensive players. They did that a week before the season last year when they shipped disgruntled edge rusher Micah Parsons to Green Bay, essentially setting up the epic failure that the defense became.

New faces

Edge Von Miller, S Caleb Downs, edge Malachi Lawrence, edge Rashan Gary, LB Jaishawn Barham, QB Sam Howell, S P.J. Locke, CB Cobie Durant, S Jalen Thompson, LB Dee Winters.

Key losses

CB Trevon Diggs, DT Osa Odighizuwa, S Donovan Wilson, special teamer C.J. Goodwin, LB Kenneth Murray, edge Jadeveon Clowney, edge Dante Fowler, CB Kaiir Elam.

Strengths

Prescott was a top-five quarterback by just about any measure last season, which helped Pickens have a breakout year coming off a trade triggered by a tumultuous start to his career in Pittsburgh. Pickens and Lamb are among the best duos in the game, which makes life easier for the third, fourth and fifth guys in the room. There could be an undrafted rookie among them in Camden Brown, who had a standout preseason. Williams’ arrival helped the Cowboys go from last in the NFL in rushing TDs in 2024 to the middle of the pack. Williams had 11 touchdowns, matching the total from his first four seasons combined in Denver. The interior of the defensive line, led by Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, could help Dallas be much better against the run. The Cowboys have struggled to stop the run for years, and they point to that as a reason they haven’t even reached an NFC championship game in 31 years.

Weaknesses

Until it proves otherwise, Dallas’ defense is known for having trouble getting off the field on third down or creating turnovers. The Cowboys were last in the NFL in third-down defense a year ago. Dallas gave up the most points (511) with the fewest interceptions (six) in franchise history. Logic says many of those numbers will improve with two first-round draft picks in Downs and Lawrence and the additions through trades or free agency of safeties Locke and Thompson and edge rushers Gary and Miller, a two-time Super Bowl champ who is joining his hometown team at 37. Durant was the NFL postseason leader with three interceptions last season for the Rams. The offensive line could end up being leaky if right tackle Terence Steele can’t find the form of his first few seasons or left tackle Tyler Guyton doesn’t progress as expected in his third season.

Camp development

Barham, a third-round pick, was among a handful of preseason standouts and could force his way into the lineup as a rookie even after Dallas traded for Winters believing a veteran was the anchor needed for a young group of linebackers. Barham, who went to Michigan, has shown great instincts at a position that has been a weakness for the Cowboys in recent years.

Fantasy player to watch

Pickens is coming off career highs in catches (93), yards (1,429) and touchdowns (nine). At his playmaking best, Pickens is unmatched on the Dallas roster, and now he’s playing for a big second contract. The former Georgia standout decided to accept the $27.3 million franchise tag without making a fuss, and the Cowboys won’t have a choice but to give him a long-term contract if he equals or surpasses his 2025 production.

Arch Manning leads No. 5 Texas

Written by Associated Press on . Posted in UT FOOTBALL. 

By JIM VERTUNO AP Sports Writer

No. 5 Texas

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — 2025 record: 10-3

Expectations

Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns fell flat least season. Early national title talk ended with two early losses and Texas missed the College Football Playoff.

To get back to the CFP, coach Steve Sarkisian has loaded up the offense around his star quarterback. Transfer wide receiver Cam Coleman was arguably the catch of the offseason and the offensive line is more experienced and should be improved. Manning overcame last season’s slow start with a strong finish and could reignite a Heisman Trophy campaign if Texas can notch big wins early.

Beware more early losses that could derail Texas again. Top-ranked Ohio State comes to Austin in Week 2, and the Longhorns open SEC play at Tennessee on Sept. 26.

Strengths include wide receiver and pass rush

Manning passed for 26 touchdowns last season and has a wealth of targets in 2026. None is bigger than Coleman, who was one of the most coveted players in the portal and gives Texas a new elite deep threat to pair with Ryan Wingo. Wingo led Texas last season with 834 yards, and seven touchdowns and the kind of burst that threatens TD every time he touches the ball. Texas hopes those two can replicate what Xavier Worthy and A.D. Mitchell did in 2023 when Texas made it to the CFP semifinals.

Texas also upgraded at running back with transfers Raleek Brown from Arizona State and Hollywood Smothers from North Carolina State.

Edge rusher Colin Simmons is an elite game wrecker. He has 21 career sacks and may be the best defensive player in the SEC. An interior defensive line anchored by Hero Kanu can be disruptive. Transfer linebacker Rasheem Biles from Pitt had 100 total tackles and 4.5 sacks last year.

Weaknesses include secondary inexperience

The Texas secondary needs a rebuild after losing cover corner Malik Muhammad and All-American safety Michael Taaffe to the NFL draft. Texas also would like to develop a pass rush threat on the opposite side of Simmons. Scheming this up is new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, who came back to Texas from Kirby Smart’s staff at Georgia. Muschamp was the Texas defensive coordinator from 2008-2010, a stint that included playing in the 2009 national title game.

New faces

WR Cam Coleman (transfer from Auburn), LB Rasheem Biles (transfer from Pitt), RB Hollywood Smothers (transfer from North Carolina State), RB Raleek Brown (transfer from Arizona State).

Key losses

WR Parker Livingstone (transferred to Oklahoma), LB Anthony Hill (NFL draft), DB Malik Muhammed (NFL draft), DB Michael Taaffe (NFL draft), RB Quintrevion Wisner (transferred to Florida State).

Biggest games for the Longhorns

Ohio State (Sept. 12), at Tennessee (Sept. 26), vs. Oklahoma (Oct. 10), at LSU (Nov. 14), at Texas A&M (Nov. 27).

TEXAS LONGHORNS 2026 PREVIEW: NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP EXPECTATIONS RETURN TO AUSTIN

Written by Charles Branch on . Posted in Football, TEXAS SPORTS.

 

The expectations surrounding Texas football are rarely modest, but heading into the 2026 season, the Longhorns have assembled the kind of roster that makes championship talk difficult to avoid.

 

After entering 2025 with the program’s first-ever preseason No. 1 ranking, Texas finished 10-3 and outside the College Football Playoff. It was hardly a disastrous season — the Longhorns still reached double-digit victories for the third consecutive year — but after back-to-back CFP semifinal appearances in 2023 and 2024, last season felt like unfinished business.

 

Now Steve Sarkisian enters 2026 with perhaps his deepest roster yet.

ARCH MANNING GETS ANOTHER SHOT

Everything begins with Arch Manning.

 

The enormous expectations surrounding Manning followed him into his first full season as Texas’ starting quarterback. His early performances were uneven, but by the second half of 2025 he looked considerably more comfortable running Sarkisian’s offense.

 

Manning finished the year with 3,163 passing yards and added another 399 yards on the ground, accounting for 36 total touchdowns. Most importantly, his best football came late in the season. Over Texas’ final five games, Manning accounted for 15 touchdowns against just one interception.

 

That late-season surge is a major reason Texas enters 2026 believing Manning can become more than simply a highly regarded quarterback with a famous last name. He is now an experienced starter with legitimate Heisman Trophy potential and NFL scouts watching closely.

 

PFF graded Manning at 89.5 from Week 9 through the end of last season, sixth-best nationally during that stretch.

 

The question is no longer whether Manning can handle the job.

It’s how far he can take Texas.

CAM COLEMAN GIVES TEXAS A NEW NO. 1 WEAPON

Texas also went shopping aggressively in the transfer portal.

The biggest offensive addition may be former Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman, one of the most physically gifted receivers in college football.

 

At 6-foot-3 and roughly 200 pounds, Coleman provides Manning with a legitimate outside target capable of changing games vertically. Despite Auburn’s inconsistent quarterback play, Coleman produced 13 receiving touchdowns during his first two college seasons.

 

Put that kind of receiver into Sarkisian’s offense with Manning delivering the football and the possibilities become obvious.

Texas didn’t bring Coleman to Austin simply to improve the receiving room.

The Longhorns brought him in to help win a championship.

 

FIXING THE RUNNING GAME

If there was one glaring weakness in the Texas offense last season, it was the running game.

 

The Longhorns averaged only 4.3 yards per designed rushing attempt, ranking near the bottom of the FBS. Manning himself scored 10 rushing touchdowns while the rest of the roster combined for only seven.

That isn’t the balance Sarkisian wants.

Texas responded by rebuilding the backfield through the portal, adding Raleek Brown from Arizona State and Hollywood Smothers from NC State.

Brown arrives after earning an 88.0 PFF rushing grade last season, while Smothers established himself as one of the ACC’s more dangerous big-play runners with 24 explosive runs.

 

Texas also strengthened the offensive line with additions including Wake Forest transfer Melvin Siani.

If the Longhorns can consistently run the football without relying on Manning’s legs, an already dangerous offense becomes considerably harder to defend.

COLIN SIMMONS LEADS A LOADED DEFENSE

The championship expectations aren’t based solely on offense.

 

Texas has one of the country’s most talented defensive rosters, and Colin Simmons may be the biggest problem opposing quarterbacks face all season.

 

Simmons generated 59 quarterback pressures in 2025 and led the SEC with 12 sacks. Through his first two college seasons, he has established himself as one of the nation’s premier edge defenders.

 

And he isn’t alone.

 

Texas added former Pittsburgh linebacker Rasheem Biles, giving defensive coordinator Will Muschamp another experienced playmaker to plug into a defense filled with elite recruits and future NFL talent.

 

The national recognition is already substantial. Texas placed a nation-leading five players on the Walter Camp preseason All-America teams: Manning, Simmons, Biles and offensive lineman Trevor Goosby on the first team, with Coleman earning second-team honors.

 

THE PRESSURE IS ON SARKISIAN

 

Steve Sarkisian has unquestionably restored Texas to national relevance.

The Longhorns reached the CFP semifinals in consecutive seasons before last year’s 10-3 campaign, and Sarkisian enters 2026 with a 48-20 record at Texas.

But the standard has changed. Simply winning 10 games isn’t the objective anymore.

Texas expects to compete for the SEC Championship and return to the College Football Playoff. With Manning at quarterback, Coleman outside, a reconstructed running game and Simmons leading the defense, anything significantly short of that would qualify as a disappointment.

The roster is talented enough.The quarterback is experienced enough.The program has recruited and spent aggressively enough. Now Texas has to finish the job.

 

RED ZONE OUTLOOK

Strength: Potentially one of the nation’s most explosive offenses. Biggest Question: Can Texas finally establish a dependable running game?

Offensive Player to Watch: WR Cam Colemane Defensive Player to Watch: EDGE Colin Simmons

X-Factor: RBs Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers

Championship Outlook: College Football Playoff contender with legitimate national-title talent.

Texas doesn’t enter 2026 trying to prove it belongs among college football’s elite programs.

The Longhorns already belong there.. The question facing Sarkisian, Manning and the rest of this roster is considerably bigger:

Can Texas finally bring another national championship back to Austin?

Longhorn Football Preview: 2025

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in UT FOOTBALL.

As the Texas baseball team tries to fight its way back to Omaha, Longhorn football fans might feel a little like Yogi Berra as they count down the days until the 2025 season opener on Sept. 5. With another quarterback battle underway and a litany of questions still lingering following Steve Sarksian’s first year at the helm, it certainly feels like deja vu all over again on the 40 Acres.

Texas got off to a solid start in 2024 with a 38-18 thrashing of Louisiana-Lafayette, but a 40-21 drubbing at the hands of Arkansas quickly brought the Longhorns back to Earth. Following wins against in-state opponents Rice, Texas Tech and TCU, though, Sarkisian’s team gave away an early 21-point lead during a crushing 55-48 loss to Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl.Texas never recovered and lost five more games in a row, including an embarrassing 57-56 overtime setback at home to Kansas, before grinding out a 22-17 win against Kansas State in its season finale to finish with an uninspiring overall record of 5-7.

The Longhorns will have to show much more mental toughness versus a demanding Big 12 schedule in 2022, as well as strengthen both sides of the line of scrimmage. Texas had just one All-Big 12 selection along the offensive or defensive line in 2021, and that was OT Derek Kerstetter, who is now with the Buffalo Bills.At least while QBs Hudson Card — the hometown kid — and Quinn Ewers — the prodigal son — battle it out for starting reps, the Horns can rest easy knowing that all-conference running back Bijan Robinson is due back for his junior year after breaking out for 1,127 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in addition to 26 catches out of the backfield for 295 yards and another four scores.

Texas is also set to bring back sophomore wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who hauled in 62 passes for 981 yards and 12 TDs last season to lead the team in all three of those categories. In doing so, Worthy became the first Longhorn since Colt McCoy in 2006 to be named the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year.Senior running back Roschon Johnson is also set to return and can help take some of the carries off Robinson’s crowded plate, especially in short-yardage situations.

On defense, senior DT Keondre Coburn is expected to anchor the D-line, and versatile senior LB DeMarvion Overshown will be back on the weak side.In the secondary, the program once known as “DBU” will look to rebuild with CBs D’Shawn Jamison, Terrance Brooks and Ohio State transfer Ryan Watts. The safety roles will have to be occupied by newcomers, as Texas graduated three experienced performers last season.

The Longhorns are hoping the addition of former TCU defensive guru Gary Patterson will help their defense return to the form it showed when Texas was chasing national championships instead of Alamo Bowl berths.On special teams, the Longhorns will also need to find a new placekicker, although hopes of immediately finding the next Cameron Dicker or Justin Tucker are probably too optimistic. The clock is officially ticking down until kickoff on Saturday, Sept. 3 when the Longhorns welcome Louisiana-Monroe to Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium for their 2022 season debut.

NFL Alumnus Jon Kitna Back Having Impact on High School Student-Athletes

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in NFL FOOTBALL.

When Cowboys owner Jerry Jones brought in a new coaching staff last January, the team’s outgoing quarterbacks coach Jon Kitna did not have to travel far for his next job.

Kitna, 47, was named Athletic Coordinator & Head Coach at Burleson High School located outside Ft. Worth. It’s not as unusual a  career change as it might appear.

Kitna played quarterback for four teams during a 16-year NFL career (1997-2011, 2013).  After his playing career, he began coaching at his alma mater Lincoln High School in his hometown of Tacoma, Washington.

He moved his young family to Texas in 2015 and continued coaching on the high school level in Waxahachie. In 2018, he took another high school coaching position in Phoenix before then-head coach Jason Garrett recruited him to the Cowboys to work with Zak Prescott last season. Garrett now is the Giants offensive coordinator and Kitna has resumed his high school head coaching career.

“I can’t think of a better environment for a young man than to play high school ball in a program run by Jon”, says Garrett. “He has brought out the best in those around him at every level he has coached. The significant impact he will have on his student-athletes at Burleson will be felt for the rest of their lives.” 

Kitna’s return to high school coaching  will be an opportunity to work on the field with his two teenage sons. QB Jalen will be a senior at Burleson this fall and already has been recruited by colleges from Oregon State to Yale. J.T. is a younger 14-year old son who also will  enroll and play at the school.

“One of the things I missed last year with the Cowboys was coaching Jalen,” says the elder Kitna, “but I am super excited about being able to finish coaching him this fall and then J.T. who’s coming up behind him.” 

We at NFL Alumni wish the entire Kitna family (including mom Jennifer) much success and good health in their exciting new environment.

Horns upset #22 Tech

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in NCAA BASKETBALL.

LUBBOCK, Texas — The Texas Longhorns have been on a tear giving a spark in recent weeks as the end of the regular season play nears. Shaka Smart’s young team is seeking a push for redemption and a NCAA Tournament bid. Tech has been a very stingy 13-2 at home coming into Saturday’s game against Texas. However, the Horns stayed the course out rebounding and out shooting the Red Raiders late in the 2nd half of Saturdays contest pulling away with a huge 68-58 win against No. 22 Texas Tech.

The Horns will have a chance at a third straight victory Tuesday night against Oklahoma. The Longhorns upset No. 20 West Virginia last Monday in Austin and have been playing injured and with sick players as of late, but have shown a lot of heart.

Texas is on the outside looking in as the season comes to a close in hopes for a bid in the NCAA Tournament in 2020. Missing out last year still bore the fruit of a NIT Title for the Shaka Smart lead team that has been largely viewed by most critics as mediocre at best.

Currently they are (18-11, 8-8 in Big 12). Texas will travel to Norman tomorrow night to face the Sooners and then will play their final game of the season at home against OSU. Game Airs on TV/ ESPN2 & Radio: Longhorn Radio Network, Sirius XM 385.

Chiefs Win Superbowl LIV

Written by River Tompkins on . Posted in NFL FOOTBALL.

With the world watching, the high flying Kansas City Chiefs took on the smash mouth San Francisco 49ers on the biggest stage, this was Super Bowl LIV. Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, two quarterbacks were fighting to cement themselves next to battle-proven players such as Tom Brady, Steve Young, Joe Namath, Bart Starr, Joe Montana, Dan Marino and many more, while two coaches were battling for their first ever Super Bowl win. The veteran Andy Reid with 221 career wins was seeking his first Super Bowl Championship against third year head coach Kyle Shanahan.

In a match that would come down to the wire with exciting plays, the Chiefs showed their toughness emerging victorious in a 31-20 win snapping their 50 year Super Bowl drought. Patrick Mahomes not only placed himself next to the greats, but also in the record book as he is the only player to win both regular-season MVP and Super Bowl MVP in his first three seasons. 
The Chiefs received to start the game, continuing their streak of slow starts they went three and out giving the ball straight to the 49ers. The 49ers had a different tone as rookie speedster Deebo Samuel took an end-around handoff 32-yards up the right sideline putting them in Chiefs’ territory. Deebo Samuel once again took a handoff for 7-yards setting up veteran kicker Robbie Gould for three points. 


The Chiefs responded in a professional manner putting together a strong drive highlighted by Damien Williams who totaled 25-yards and key first downs. Spotted in the red zone it was third-and-11, Patrick Mahomes picked it up using his legs but with a price as he took a shot from Jimmie Ward, consequently Mahomes fumbled the ball out of bounds making it a fourth-and-one situation. During a confusing play all of the Chiefs players started spinning around as running back Damien Williams took a direct snap to pick up the first down. Patrick Mahomes would then run it in for a 1-yard touchdown. 


The next drive 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was heavily pressured, making a rookie mistake, he flailed the ball into the air while being taken down, this of course resulted in an easy interception for the Chiefs. The Chiefs made short work of the great field position getting in field goal range and nailing it from 31-yards out.


Garoppolo shook the interception off and channeled his inner Tom Brady as he lead his team on a methodical drive downfield. Deebo Samuel once again shone with a 16-yard catch to get them out of a jam. Garoppolo would find none other than the best fullback in the NFL, Kyle Juszczyk for a 15-yard catch and run touchdown tying the game up. 


Heading into halftime neither team was being true to themselves. Both teams had gone away from what got them to the Super Bowl and it showed on the scoreboard. The Chiefs, one of the best deep threat teams in the league had only attempted one pass over 20+ yards. Whether that was due to game plan, nerves or the 49ers defense locking down the secondary they needed some chunk plays. The 49ers were not running the ball, that is what they did all season and now all of a sudden they were trigger happy with Jimmy G, they would have to get back to the run if they wanted any chance to win the ball game. 


The 49ers exploded coming out of halftime on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Immediately piecing together a nine play drive for 60-yards that ended with a field goal giving them the lead. The 49ers defense started to get after the quarterback harassing him in the pocket. After a strip sack by Nick Bosa (Patrick Mahomes recovered). The Chiefs were in a bad position, Patrick Mahomes trying to make a play stepped up in the pocket while being tackled throwing it straight to middle linebacker Fred Warner who would intercept the pass. 


49ers head coach Kyle Shannahan has had too many memories of comebacks as a former Atlanta Falcons coach. The sequence of 28-3 had a strong impact on him, brushing this aside he told Garoppolo and the offense to end it right then and there. Garoppolo followed orders finding Super Bowl stud Deebo Samuel for 16-yards, he then threw a laser to Kendrick Bourne to move the sticks on a 26-yard pickup and of course a 10-yard pass to Kyle Juszczyk setting up Raheem Mostert for a 1-yard touchdown giving them a two-score advantage. 

MIAMI GARDENS, FL – FEBRUARY 02: Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid gets gatorade poured on him after winning Super Bowl LIV on February 2, 2020 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. (Photo by Rich Graessle/PPI/Icon Sportswire)


Patrick Mahomes would struggle on the next drive as speed demon Tyreek Hill would bobble and drop a pass landing in the hand’s of second-year safety Tarvarius Moore. The 49ers once again strayed from the run and were quickly forced to punt the ball back without having successfully taken time off the clock.  


Patrick Mahomes finally took his shot down the field, and this one hit as he found Tyreek Hill wide open for a gain of 44-yards putting them in prime scoring position. On third-and-10 from the 21, Patrick threw up a jump ball to Travis Kelce who drew a somewhat questionable pass interference call in his favor setting up a 1-yard touchdown catch by Travis Kelce. 
The 49ers once again struggled to take time off the clock allowing Patrick Mahomes (26-42,286,2,2) to do what he does best, make awesome comebacks. He found Sammy Watkins wide open for a 38-yard catch and run. On third down Patrick Mahomes rolled out to his left hitting Damien Williams in the backfield who elongated to reach the pylon. Did he break the plane? I do not know, but what matters is they gave him the touchdown giving the Chiefs the lead.  


It was do or die for the 49ers after getting to about mid-field Garoppolo (20-31,219,1,2) went for it all to Emmanual Sanders who had beat his man. With the entire crowd holding their breaths, the ball hit the ground just in front of Emmanuel Sanders, leaving people to wonder what would have happened if he had caught it. 


Ultimately the 49ers would not surmount the lead and the Chiefs were crowned Super Bowl LIV champions, a dramatic conclusion to the final game of the centennial season of the NFL. The start of a new dynasty, the end of old school football, the next G.O.A.T., all questions to be answered next season. You know both teams will be back next year. The 49ers have a group of young bucks determined to get back here and the Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes. 

Texas Out Hustle Utah in Alamobowl Win.

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

SAN ANTONIO — The Longhorns’ 38-10 demolition of 11th-ranked Utah in the Alamo Bowl provided yet another sugary sweet catapult into the off-season despite a topsy-turvy season overall.

Texas (8-5) was enigmatic at times during 2019, as the secondary and offensive line took turns regressing during Big 12 play. But on New Year’s Eve in the Alamo City, everything came together.

Sam Ehlinger was his old efficient self, as the junior quarterback completed 12 of 18 throws for 201 yards and three touchdowns. He also used his imposing size to add 73 yards and a score on the ground.

Meanwhile, junior linebacker Joseph Ossai spent all game looking like a heat-seeking missile. Ossai finished with eight total tackles — including six for loss and three sacks — as Texas held the Utes (11-3) to their lowest scoring output since the 2018 Pac-12 championship game against Washington.

Not surprisingly, Ehlinger and Ossai were rewarded by being named the Alamo Bowl’s Offensive and Defensive MVPs. 

“Our talent can take us pretty far,” Ehlinger said. “When you add mistake-free football, watch out.”

The Longhorns began the game with a 29-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker on the opening drive. Ehlinger avoided potential disaster when a Utah defensive back dropped a possible pick-6, and the former Lake Travis kicker converted the march into points.

From there, it was pretty much smooth sailing for the boys in burnt orange.

Texas’ defense smothered Utes quarterback Tyler Huntley early and often, as Utah managed just 60 total yards in the opening quarter. Even special teams made an impact, as D’Shawn Jamison broke loose for a 71-yard punt return in the second quarter to set up the game’s first TD — a 5-yard throw from Ehlinger to senior Collin Johnson.

The Longhorns emerged from the halftime locker room up 10-0 and tacked on another 6 points when Ehlinger hit Keontay Ingram on a wheel route that went for an 11-yard score.

Utah booted a short field goal to pull within 17-3, but Texas went back to work on offense and crossed the goal line again on a 6-yard run up the gut from Ehlinger.

” But again, just to also be in this game, to come back home and get back to my roots and play in a place I’m familiar with means a lot to me, as well.” – Caden Stearns

Despite a few questionable calls, the fourth quarter turned into a glorified curtain call for the Longhorns’ seniors as the lead ballooned to 28 points. Devin Duvernay snagged a 16-yard throw from Ehlinger, and Ingram later rumbled 49 yards to the end zone to cap the game’s scoring.

The Texas defense forced seven punts on the night and dominated even though it didn’t force a single turnover. 

It was a fond farewell for linebacker Malcolm Roach and fellow seniors Johnson, Duvernay and Zach Shackelford. All four have a legitimate shot to be playing on Sundays next season.

The Alamo Bowl rout also helped head coach Tom Herman improve to 4-0 in bowl games with the Longhorns.“We knew that we were going to have to play with a greater passion and physicality than they would,” Herman said. “It would have been easy for guys to splinter after the regular season was not what we had hoped. These guys are competitors. They want to win.”

Is Brees the GOAT?

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in NFL FOOTBALL.

At this point, betting against Drew Brees is just plain dumb.

And yet, somehow, it still continues to happen.

The legendary former Westlake quarterback added another page to his Hall of Fame resume on Monday night when he passed Peyton Manning to become the NFL’s all-time leader in passing touchdowns with his 540th. The record-breaking score came on a 5-yard play action toss to tight end Josh Hill during the Saints’ 34-7 destruction of the Indianapolis Colts — one of Manning’s old teams.

And what did Brees do for an encore? He tossed another TD on his next throw, which went for 28 yards to Taysom Hill. 

Brees finished the game with yet another league record in his back pocket, as he set a single-game mark for completion percentage after going 29 for 30 for 307 yards to connect on a ridiculous 96.7% of his pass attempts.

Brees, the one-time Chaparral standout and Purdue alum, now holds those two NFL records in addition to the league’s top mark for career completions (6,792) and all-time passing yardage (72,577).

However, it wasn’t a foregone conclusion that Brees would add another few records to his total after he sustained a torn ligament in his right thumb earlier this season. Given that Brees is already 40 years old, some wondered whether he’d be able to make it back to his old self.

But New Orleans kept churning out wins under Teddy Bridgewater, which allowed Brees to be patient with his injury and ensure that he took the proper time to heal from successful surgery. He made his return on Oct. 27 against Arizona and quickly reminded all the doubters why he’s one of the best to ever chuck a pigskin by throwing for 373 yards and three TDs during a 31-9 rout of the Cardinals.

Since then, he’s continued his assault on the record books alongside wide receiver Michael Thomas, who has become perhaps the best wideout in the NFL. As the playoffs approach, though, Brees likely has only one more goal in mind — bringing a second Lombardi trophy back to New Orleans. Now that he’s back to 100%, it would be a huge mistake to overlook the Saints in any round of the postseason.