Five Big Things in Texas High School Football

10/2/12

What are the Five Big Things this week? As usual, it is some pretty interesting stuff.

1. Lufkin & A&M Consolidated need 4 OTs to figure it out  – Lufkin comes off a heartbreaking loss to Longview and fans around the state start questioning whether the Pack is as good as advertised.  A&M Consolidated comes off a big upset win over Austin Lake Travis and fans are wondering if they are maybe a good team after all.   Well, I think the answer to both is YES!  Lufkin is a really good team and so is A&M Consolidated.  These two turned in what will surely be one of the top games for 2012 as Lufkin takes the win in four overtimes 71-68.  Their 139 points was the 7th highest total for both teams in a regular season game.

2. Class 3A Champions are struggling – Typically, you can count on a state championship team to do well the following season - even if they graduate a lot of starters.  Class 5A defending champions, Southlake Carroll and Spring Dekaney are both 3-1.  Class 4A defending champions, Austin Lake Travis and Aledo are also sitting at 3-1 each.  So what is up with Class 3A?

Wimberley and Tyler Chapel Hill have a combined record of 3-7.  Sure, Class 3A has added a lot of talent during the realignment, but new classmates like La Marque & Stephenville aren't the ones defeating these teams.  They are losing to teams they've handled easily in the past.

Does this mean that their chances to repeat their title success is over?  Not over - there is time for them to get the ship righted - but, they are way off course and better start changing things soon.

3. Stephenville is the real deal – Sure, they dropped the opener to Monterrey Tech, but anyone can lose an opener (did someone say Southlake Carroll?)  The Stephenville Yellow Jackets have played lights out since that game and done so against some quality teams.  The win last week over Amarillo was the latest notch in a belt that includes victories over Waco La Vega and Aledo as well.

The 'Ville  had their wakeup call early and have responded in grand fashion.  The only possible stumbling block left in the regular season is a tough Alvarado team, but they way the Yellow Jackets are playing now they should run the table.

4. Rogers is putting up Refugio-like numbers – The Rogers Eagles are sitting at a perfect 5-0 but they are doing more than just winning.  They are scoring like mad!  If you take away the game against Troy (they scored 14) Rogers is averaging 57 points a game.  They put up 84 against a very tough Mart squad and followed that up with 60 in their win over Universal City Randolph.  Rogers is a tough team with a solid ground game, but can put it in the air when needed.  I think I will go see their game this week in Blanco to see for myself.

5. Class 4A District 30 collision lining up – Both Port Lavaca Calhoun and Gregory-Portland as sitting pretty at 4-0.  Both are expect to win this week.  If that happens, when the two teams clash in two weeks, we are looking what is sure to be a Game of the Week.  None of the "so called experts" are paying attention to either of these teams.  Mike and I were high on both of these squads in the preseason, but you can't find anybody else talking about them.

I expect them to both move to 5-0 and expect a lot of folks around the state to wake up and take notice.

Chris Doelle