Five Big Things: 12/9/12 by Chris Doelle

By Chris Doelle
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Updated: December 9, 2012

Five Big Things in Texas High School Football

12/09/12

What are the Five Big Things this week? Well, they keep getting bigger as we inch closer to the state championships!

So what of the top teams in the state? Well, a lot of them are still playing, so let's get to the Five Big Things!

1. Refugio not only loses, but gives up 54 points! – It was billed as the contest of Offense vs Defense as Refugio's top-ranked offense went up against East Bernard's top ranked defense. The old saying is "defense wins championships," and it sure seemed to true Friday.

When they lined up, I made a comment to Mike Forman of the Victoria Advocate that, "East Bernard looks a lot bigger than Refugio. They should be able to wear them down." And wear them down they did. Refugio came out strong and looked to be enroute to another trip to Title Town, but the wheels fell off in the second half.

Not only did East Bernard find bigger and bigger holes when running, but Refugio's passing attack started to misfire with overthrows, dropped balls and a series of missteps. East Bernard outscored Refugio 41-0 in the second half, coming away with a 54-23 victory. Ty Slanina was the real deal as he coupled great speed and field vision with sharp decisions that led to scoring on the ground and as a receiver. East Bernard moves on to face Elysian Fields in the semifinals 7:30 pm Friday at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco.

2. DeSoto downs Southlake Carroll in "instant classic" game – A lot of people were already looking forward to the Southlake Carroll vs Allen rematch for next week, and while that would have been a great one, I can't imagine it any better than the SLC/DeSoto game this week.

As I mentioned in last week's Five Big Things, the DFW area is loaded and the clash of titans began right here. DeSoto looked down early, but that is exactly their style - amazing comeback victories.

For the game to come down to a true goal line stand was icing on the cake. DeSoto's Taylor Young meeting helmet to helmet with Southlake Carroll's Kenny Hill, and stopping him inches from the touchdown, is what a defensive player dreams about. This is one game sure to be in our list of Top Games of 2012 and there's a good chance that DeSoto's matchup with Allen next week will be another great one as well.

There is definitely a changing of the guard in Texas high school football with so many defending champions buying tickets to watch from the stands from here on out.

3. Stage is set for Cameron Yoe vs Newton - We had Cameron Yoe picked as the odds on favorite to take it all in Class 2A DI before the start of the season. They have done their part by winning in the regular season and keeping it going in the playoffs. The Yoemen sit at a perfect 13-0 heading into the semifinal game against Newton.

Newton is also 13-0 and while we knew they would field an excellent team this year, their playoff run has been nothing short of dominating. Newton has rolled through playoff teams with an average score off 66-21!!

This is sure to be a great game and the winner will have earned it.

4. The Class 4A world still goes through Austin - It has been five years in a row that a Class 4A title has gone through Austin... Austin Lake Travis, that is. When the Cavaliers moved up to Class 5A, it appeared that would end. Well, of the 8 semifinalists still in the hunt for a Class 4A title, HALF of them are from the Austin area! The downside is that all four of them play each other next week. The bright side of that however, is that both the Division I and Division II championship games will feature a team from the Austin area.

In Division II, Cedar Park is my favorite to make it to the game as they lost in the Quarterfinals in each of the last 2 season by a total of 6 points both times to Austin Lake Travis.

In Division I, Georgetown certainly looks stronger, but Leander Rouse's Cinderella season just keeps going.

5. "Johnny Football" wins Heisman - Johnny Manziel winning the Heisman Trophy was a Big Thing period, but it meant something to Texas high school football in particular. The former Kerrville Tivy QB was the second consecutive Texas high school football quarterback (RGIII last year) to win the marquee award in college football.

I get a charge out of any success that comes to athletes that I got to watch at the high school level. There is something cool about having witnessed a player like Johnny Manziel when no colleges were giving him the time of day. There is something cool about having video of his heroics as a sophomore and post-game interviews when he engineered once of his first ever dramatic comeback wins.

I couldn't be happier for Johnny and the whole Manziel family... it seems like a long time since he was taking snaps at Tivy. He has accomplished so much, but its just the beginning. I absolutely love the tweet he sent out shortly after the ceremony ended:

@JManziel2: "Never forgetting from where I came and NO MATTER where I'm headed I promise to stay the same"

Wow... another week where Five Big Things just wasn't enough. It was another week that I got to sit down with someone and make the case for high school sports being a better game than pro or even college. It was another week of amazing plays, amazing stories and amazing people working hard all in honor of "the greatest sport in the greatest state!" And the best part? It happens again next week!

Chris Doelle