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Author: Tucker Stephenson

Texas make 36th appearance in Omaha

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in College Baseball.

When the Longhorns rode into Greenville, North Carolina for their 2022 Super Regional matchup against East Carolina, head coach David Pierce’s club faced a hostile environment — as well as one of the hottest teams in all of NCAA Division I.

The Pirates, who came into the Super Regional at their home ballpark having won 21 of their last 22 contests, claimed the opener 13-7 in impressive fashion to push Texas to the brink of elimination. However, the Longhorns (47-20) showed unwavering willpower while evening the series with a thrilling 9-8 comeback win in Game 2 that featured a four-run rally in the bottom of the eight inning.

Sunday’s winner-take-all Game 3 was anticlimactic thanks to Golden Spikes Award frontrunner Ivan Melendez, who launched a three-run home run to give the visitors a quick 3-0 lead and suck the air out of Clark-LeClair Stadium. The Longhorns stretched that advantage to 4-0, and not even an extremely lengthy weather delay could derail Texas’ gravy train, which is now once again bound for Omaha.

Texas is set to make its 38th all-time appearance at the College World Series — the most in NCAA history — when the event begins on Friday, June 17. The Longhorns drew Notre Dame in their opener, which is set for 6 p.m. at Charles Schwab Field.

Pierce’s squad features a loaded lineup that is highlighted by Melendez, who leads the nation in home runs (32), RBIs (94) and slugging percentage (.887). The redshirt junior from El Paso has been crushing the ball all season long, and he anchors Texas’ lineup from the No. 3 spot in the order while batting a team-best .396.

Cleanup hitter Murphy Stehly is batting .375 behind Melendez with 61 RBIs, 23 doubles and 19 home runs. Third baseman Skyler Messinger (.372, 59 RBIs) and center fielder Douglas Hodo III (.319, 45 RBIs) also have batting averages north of .300.

As a team, the Longhorns have seven players on their roster who have hit 10 or more homers this season — Melendez, Stehley, Messinger, Hodo III, Trey Faltine, Silas Ardoin and Dylan Campbell.

Texas’ pitching staff is anchored by sophomore southpaw Pete Hansen, who is 11-2 with a 3.40 ERA and 115 strikeouts. Sophomore left-hander Lucas Gordon has also been sensational, as he sports a record of 7-1 with a minuscule 2.68 ERA and 76 punchouts. Gordon’s stellar season has helped the Horns overcome the loss of hurler Tanner Witt to a season-ending injury in March. 

Senior right-hander Tristan Stevens has had a bit of a topsy-turvy year, but he was lights-out during the CWS-clinching win over East Carolina in Game 3, going six innings while limiting a powerful Pirates lineup to a single run on five hits.

In the bullpen, sophomore right-hander Aaron Nixon leads the team in saves with five.

Texas’ quest for its seventh baseball national championship — and first in 17 years — was dealt an emotional setback when the Longhorns suffered an 8-1 loss to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Tournament title game, but Texas swept the Austin regional with a collective score of 26-6 during two wins over Air Force and one victory against Louisiana Tech.

After withstanding the hottest team in the nation on the East Coast, Pierce and his team are now aiming to put the Forty Acres back at the forefront of college baseball.

Our Top 10 Texas HSFB Teams 2022

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

Chaps completed their 3-pete, but will start off the year without Todd Dodge in 2022. Photo Stan Martin

1. Austin Westlake (6A)

2. Galena Park North Shore (6A)

3. Duncanville (6A)

4. Southlake Carroll (6A)

5. Katy (6A)

6. Allen (6A)

7. Denton Guyer (6A)

8. Lake Travis (6A) 

9. South Oak Cliff (5A)

10. College Station (5A)

By Tucker Stephenson


The summer has only just begun, but the eyes of Texas high school football fans are already glancing ahead to the dog days — and more importantly, two-a-days — of August. In a state packed with heavyweight programs that are loaded with NCAA Division I talent and top-tier coaching alike, it’s always tough to try and predict what will happen, but here’s a look at Texas Sports Monthly’s preseason top 10 list for the upcoming 2022 high school football season.


— The three-time defending state champion Westlake Chaparrals come in at No. 1 despite losing QB Cade Klubnik and legendary coach Todd Dodge. Even with those holes to fill, the Chaps look like a full-fledged football factory at this point. Junior Paxton Land will look to fill in at signal caller, and he’ll have reliable targets in senior WRs Jaden Greathouse and Keaton Kubecka. On defense, 6-foot-6 DE Colton Vasek is a nightmare for opposing offensive linemen.

Northshore will look to make it back to Jerry-world in 2022 and I’m sure Nemesis Duncanville will be waiting. Photo: Stan Martin


— At No. 2 is reigning UIL Class 6A Division I state champion Galena Park North Shore, which is bringing back a ton of talent. Sophomore QB Kaleb Bailey returns after an outstanding freshman season, and top wide receiver David Amador is also due back. The Mustangs will look to revamp the defensive side of the ball, but North Shore has plenty of athleticism.


— Duncanville is at No. 3 after losing a tight 17-10 battle to North Shore in last season’s 6A-DI title game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The Panthers need to replace RB Malachi Medlock, who graduated, but Duncanville’s defense will likely be stout again thanks to players like LB Vernon Grant.


— Southlake Carroll clocks in at No. 4 after suffering a 26-point loss to Duncanville in last year’s playoffs. The Dragons welcome back senior QB Kaden Anderson after he threw for 3,036 yards and 34 TDs a year ago. Running back Owen Allen is also set to return after he ran for 2,145 yards and 32 scores in 2021.


— No. 5 Katy will bring back senior Caleb Koger at QB, as well as the rushing tandem of senior RBs Seth Davis and Dallas Glass, who combined for over 3,600 yards and 48 TDs on the ground last year. 


— At No. 6 is the school that boasts the largest enrollment in the Lone Star State, the Allen Eagles. Quarterback Mike Hawkins, who racked up nearly 3,500 yards of offense and 29 total TDs, is set to come back for his junior year. 

Allen did not survive South Lake in 2021 but will definitely be back in full force as the states largest school. Photo: Pat Carrigan


— No. 7 Denton Guyer fell to Westlake 40-21 in the 2021 6A-DII state championship game and is reloading in 2022 behind senior QB Jackson Arnold and a solid defense.


— Austin’s other hometown powerhouse, Lake Travis, begins at No. 8 and is hoping that senior QB Bo Edmundson makes the leap to ignite the Cavaliers’ offense. Lake Travis will look to rebuild its receiving corps, although there are plenty of options.

Lake Travis were the 2021 Quarter finals Champs & QB Bo Edmundson (Michigan State commit) will look to finish his Cavs career strong
his Senior. Year. Photo Credit Jenna Friedrich


— No. 9 South Oak Cliff, the defending Class 5A Division II state champion, is absolutely loaded coming into 2022 and has the potential to pass several 6A schools in the rankings once games begin. The Bears come into the preseason with 20 players on their roster that have received at least one NCAA Division I scholarship offer. 


— College Station comes in at No. 10 despite falling 27-24 to Katy Paetow in overtime of last season’s Class 5A Division I state title contest. The reason for the Cougars’ elevated ranking is simple — senior RB Marquise Collins, who rushed for 2,826 yards and 39 TDs as a junior.

Longhorn Football Preview: 2022

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 2022 season opener on Sept. 3. 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 2021 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.

2022 Legitimate for Austin FC

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in SOCCER.

It didn’t take long for Austin FC to establish itself as a legitimate threat within Major League Soccer. Founded in October of 2018, Austin FC’s inaugural 2021 season finished with an overall record of 9-21-4, but the team has surged to fourth place in the Western Conference this year with a mark of 7-4-3 as of Monday, June 6. Thanks to the progress made by Austin FC, head coach Josh Wolff has already had his contract extended through the end of the 2025 campaign. “I’m very grateful to Anthony (Precourt), the Austin FC ownership group and Claudio for their continued faith and confidence,” Wolff said in mid-May. “This is still a young, growing Club but seeing our vision for Austin FC come to life on and off the field has been one of the great honors of my career.

My staff and I will keep working every day to represent the city, and to develop our team both competitively and as human beings. The best is yet to come.”North Austin’s Q2 Stadium has become a rowdy home for the club, which has been embraced by Texas’ Capital City. The venue has also hosted FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, international friendlies and even CONCACAF Gold Cup contests.The leading goal scorer for Austin FC thus far during 2022 is forward Sebastian Driussi. The striker from Buenos Aires, Argentina has put in eight tallies in 14 games played.

Fellow Argentinian forward Maximiliano Urruti has added four goals for Austin FC, while midfielder Diego Fagundez of Uruguay leads the club in assists with seven. Goalkeeper Brad Stuver has started 12 matches for Austin FC and holds a goals against average of 1.35 while sporting a 7-2-3 record. Defenders Julio Cascante, Ruben Gabrielsen, Alexander Ring and Daniel Pereira have helped their keeper with solid work along the back line. Austin FC has an international friendly scheduled for June 11 against Mexican professional squad C.F. Pachuca and will look to bounce back from a 4-1 setback to the LA Galaxy when it resumes its MLS schedule on June 18 in Montreal.

From there, a busy summer continues with MLS matches against Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, New York, San Jose, Kansas City, Colorado, Charlotte and LA. If Austin FC can navigate that tough slate — as well as a brutal Texas summer — then it can perhaps make a push for the MLS Cup Playoffs, which are set to begin in October of 2022.There’s no doubt that it’s an exciting time to be a soccer fan in Austin, where the financial and emotional investments appear to already be paying dividends.

Former Austin Spur playing NBA Finals

Written by Tucker Stephenson on . Posted in NBA.

The Spurs’ season may have been over for quite a while, but former San Antonio point guard Derrick White is preparing for the biggest series of his basketball life.

The current Boston Celtics reserve guard was traded from San Antonio in February for a package of players and picks. While White’s offensive stats have been nothing special during his time with the Celtics, his perimeter defense has strengthened Boston — and will no doubt be of the utmost importance as his team tries to contend with guards Stephen Curry and Jordan Poole and small forward Klay Thompson in the NBA Finals.

White’s journey to the biggest stage in the NBA was an improbable one. Born in Parker, Colorado — a suburb of Denver — White signed with the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (UCCS) out of high school as a 6-foot combo guard. Everything changed when he shot up five inches by the time he reached the NCAA Division II school, and he set new program records for most points and assists in a career during his three seasons with UCCS.

White then transferred to the main campus in Boulder and enjoyed a stellar 2016-17 campaign with the Pac 12’s Buffaloes that included first team all-conference honors.

The Spurs, as they’ve done numerous times over the years, identified White’s potential and targeted him with the 29th overall selection of the 2017 NBA Draft. He immediately went to the G League, where he played for the Austin Spurs and quickly earned a reputation as a cool customer and a lethal 3-point shooter.

White saw some time with San Antonio during his rookie year, but was used sparingly as he made the transition to the NBA game. He was expected to be utilized in a reserve role in his second season, but once again an unforeseen circumstance thrust him into the spotlight from relative obscurity.

This time, White’s big break came in the form of a season-ending injury to another fledgling star — Dejounte Murray. When the point guard tore his ACL in the preseason leading up to the 2018-19 season, many Spurs fans wondered aloud who would be able to replace his defensive prowess in addition to running the offense smoothly from the point guard spot.

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

White was tabbed as the replacement, but his own foot injury sidelined him until November of 2018 against the Miami Heat. Once he entered the lineup, San Antonio’s perimeter defense was noticeably better, while its offense ran more efficiently than before.

White suffered an injury to his other foot in February of 2019, and some pundits wondered if it would derail the Spurs’ playoff hopes. White answered by leading the Spurs into a matchup with his hometown Denver Nuggets, although San Antonio fell in seven games.

White never again found that same rhythm with the Spurs, and general manager Brian Wright swapped him for Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford and a first-round pick in this year’s draft in mid-February. 

The move paid instant dividends for Boston, as White’s defense and ability to draw offensive fouls made the Celtics an even more difficult team to score against. Now, the kid from Colorado will look to help one of the NBA’s most storied dynasties capture title No. 18 against a revamped Golden State squad led by former Spur Steve Kerr. 

Dave Campbell “the bible of Texas football”

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

Within the borders of the Lone Star State, the amount of reverence for the name Dave Campbell long ago reached mythical proportions.

How else did his annual summer publication get dubbed “the bible of Texas football” without a trace of sarcasm or hyperbole?

The legendary sportswriter and editor died at age 96 on Friday, Dec. 11 in his Waco home and left behind a legacy as rich and detailed as the magazines he was famous for producing. Campbell, who began piecing together his Texas Football publication from his kitchen table in Waco in 1960, saw it become the go-to guide for all things gridiron-related with regard to his home state.

Greg Tepper, who took over as the managing editor of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football in 2011, said the founder left an indelible mark not only on the sport of football, but the state itself.

“He was a visionary and a pioneer,” Tepper said on Friday. “He was a wizard with a typewriter — an unbelievable writer and editor and a true icon of Texas journalism. All of that is true, but the reason why there’s a hole in our heart today is not because we lost a great editor or a great writer. It’s because we lost Dave.”

A Waco native, Campbell graduated from La Vega High School before enrolling at Baylor University. After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1950, Campbell served as the sports editor of the Waco Tribune from 1953 to 1993.

Prior to that, Campbell served the United States Army in the 14th Armored Division that fought in France and Germany during World War II.

Campbell’s first issue of Texas Football was published in 1960 and featured the Longhorns’ Jack Collins on the cover. Over time, the magazine grew from its humble beginnings to include every college and high school team in Texas — and offered an unprecedented deep dive into the roster of each squad.

Current Westlake head coach Todd Dodge remembered being in the 1980 summer edition of Texas Football as a senior quarterback for Jefferson High School in Port Arthur. Dodge said he got to meet Campbell when he began coaching in the 1990s at Cameron Yoe.

“I think back to the first time I got to meet him and he was such a genuine kind man,” Dodge said. “It was a real thrill for me. As the years progressed, I always made sure to come see him at coaching school and shake his hand and see how he was doing.”

Although Campbell sold the rights to Texas Football in 1985, his name continues to grace the cover of every publication and he still served as the editor-in-chief until his recent passing. Campbell was also an instrumental part of moving the Texas Sports Hall of Fame from Grand Prairie to Waco in order to revive it as well as give it a stronger foothold. 

Campbell’s fame grew to a national level as his work earned him respect from coast to coast. He also spent time as the president of the Football Writers Association of America and even took on a role that oversaw the process of Heisman Trophy voting.

But Campbell was a true Texan, in every sense of the word. His gentle smile and willingness to chat about all things football — including his beloved Southwest Conference — will endure as long as student-athletes flock to grocery stores and corner shops to grab a magazine bearing his name.

Westlake win 3rd Straight Title

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

ARLINGTON — The Westlake Chaparrals have finished yet another season of Texas high school football unbeaten, unchallenged and unequaled.

Westlake (16-0) capped a rare three-peat after defeating Denton Guyer 40-21 Saturday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington during the Class 6A Division II state championship game. The win gives legendary head coach Todd Dodge his second career three-peat, as he won in 2004, 2005 and 2006 with Southlake Carroll before claiming titles in 2019, 2020 and 2021 with the Chaps.

It was also the final game for Dodge, who steps away with Westlake riding an incredible 40-game winning streak.

“They’re going down in very rarified air,” Dodge said of his 2021 team. “To win back-to-back-to-back state championships, there’s only about five or six in the history of the state of Texas that have done it, and now we’re going to be a part of that.” 

Guyer (14-2) made things interesting with a quick flurry in the first half that led to a surprising 14-13 halftime lead. However, Westlake turned on the afterburners in the last 24 minutes to accelerate past Guyer for good. 

The Chaps outscored the Wildcats 27-7 after intermission to hoist yet another championship trophy. 

“That was gritty,” Doddge said of his team’s effort in the second half. “I knew these kids had it in them. I knew they were not going to leave this three-year window and be remembered as a team that folded after one bit of adversity. They believed and they fought their tails off against a great Guyer team.”

Wildcats quarterback Jackson Arnold twice answered Westlake scores in the first half, as he ran in a 15-yard touchdown before finding Jace Wilson on a 9-yard score that put Guyer up by a single point at intermission.

The Chaps regrouped out of the locker room and saw Cade Klubnik hit Bryce Chambers for a 15-yard TD pass to give Westlake a 20-14 lead. Guyer rebounded and vaulted ahead once again following a 6-yard scoring run by Arnold, but the Wildcats were held in check for the remainder of the contest.

Meanwhile, Klubnik began to cook.

Arlington, TX; Westlake Chaparrals quarterback Cade Klubnik (6) throws a pass against the Guyer Wildcats during the first quarter at the Class 6A Division 2 state championship playoff on Saturday, Dec 18, 2021, at AT&T Stadium.

After Charlie Barnett set a new state championship game record with a 53-yard field goal to give the Chaparrals a 23-21 edge, the senior signal caller ended the third period with a 69-yard TD strike to Jaden Greathouse.

Klubnik then opened the fourth with a back-breaking score in which he found Greathouse for a 71-yard TD. Mark Sayegh tacked on a late field goal as Westlake cruised to a 19-point win in front of more than 32,000 fans in Arlington.

Klubnik finished the game 14 of 21 passing for 280 yards and four TDs, while Greathouse hauled in seven passes for 236 yards and three scores while setting a new state championship record for receiving yards in a contest and earning Offensive Player of the Game honors.

Klubnik added 66 rushing yards on eight carries.

Westlake’s defense also made history by tying a single-game state championship record with nine total sacks. The Chaps saw defensive ends Colton Vasek and Ethan Burke tally three and two sacks, respectively. 

As for Dodge, he said after the game it’s time for him to finally enjoy some family time after helping Westlake build one of the most dominant dynasties in Texas history.

“I’ve got three beautiful grandchildren in the DFW area and I want to be a pawpaw and be around those guys,” Dodge said. “Elizabeth and I, at least here for a little while, are going to act like we’re retired.”

Arlington, TX; Westlake Chaparrals head coach Todd Dodge rallies his team before the game against the Guyer Wildcats at the Class 6A Division 2 state championship playoff on Saturday, Dec 18, 2021, at AT&T Stadium.

Desoto rolls past Harker heights

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

WACO — Killeen Harker Heights made a first-round exit on Thursday, Nov. 11 following a 65-28 loss to state power DeSoto in a Class 6A Division I playoff matchup at Waco ISD Stadium.

The Eagles (10-2) soared to a commanding lead in the first half, striking for 21 points in the opening quarter and another 24 in the second to head into halftime up 45-14 against the Knights (9-2). Harker Heights tacked on two more touchdowns in the final stanza, but DeSoto’s offense countered with 20 points to secure the rout.

The Eagles rolled up 603 yards in the game and were led by quarterback Matthew Allen, who was 19 of 27 passing for 209 yards and four TDs. Allen added 81 rushing yards, and teammate Christopher Henley Jr. led the ground game with 95 yards and a pair of scores on 23 carries. 

DeSoto’s aerial attack competed a pass to 10 different receivers against Harker Heights, with junior Johntay Cook Jr. hauling in three passes for 51 yards and two scores to lead the committee. Freshman Daylon Singleton caught a 50-yard TD during the lopsided win.

The Knights were led by junior running back Re’Shaun Sanford, who ran for 151 yards and a score on 21 carries. Sophomore QB Dylan Plake was 14 of 28 passing for 124 yards and three TDs, and his top target on the night was senior Marcus Maple, who made eight receptions for 63 yards and a score.

The Eagles advanced to the area round, where they defeated Rockwall 49-28. DeSoto moves on to face Houston Westfield in the regional round of the 6A DI postseason.

Thompson Trumps Card after Rice win

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

Is it Casey Thompson’s time, or will hometown product Hudson Card be the first signal caller to throw a pass during the Steve Sarkisian era?

That question has been on the forefront of Longhorns fans’ minds ever since Sark arrived on the 40 Acres to take over a program that has once again fallen stale — this time under the watch of purported savior Tom Herman. 

Thompson, a 6-1, 195-pound redshirt junior from Oklahoma City, appears to have the inside track due to his maturity level and eye-popping performance in the 2021 Alamo Bowl. After Sam Ehlinger was forced to leave the game with a shoulder injury, Thompson stole the spotlight and went 8 of 10 passing for 170 yards and four touchdowns as Texas romped to a 55-23 win over former Big 12 foe Colorado. 

A strong case for Card can be presented as well, though. The 6-2, 195-pound redshirt freshman from Lake Travis was a high school All-American that has the accuracy and timing necessary to bring the Longhorns’ passing game to life and convert key third downs.

During the annual Orange-White spring game, it was Thompson that got reps with Texas’ first-string skill players, but Card had arguably the better showing, which provided even more mystery to the position battle as the season draws closer.

Don’t expect Sark and his staff to rush to a decision. The competition will likely fuel both players and will also give the Longhorns a backup who’s instantly capable of stepping in should injury or ineffectiveness force a QB switch.

“I think we’ve got two frontline guys to start the process,” Sarkisian said of Thompson and Card. “I do like the maturity of [Thompson]. I like what he brought in the bowl game — you got a pretty good feel. We’ve obviously dug into a lot of practice tape. I like the skill set of Hudson Card. I think he’s a really talented player, and you see that when you dig into the tape.”

Photo UT Athletics

Thompson and Card each have solid mobility, but Thompson looks to be the more durable ballcarrier if he chooses to pull the pigskin down and take off downfield. That could provide an edge for Thompson as the Longhorns’ passing game rebuilds around wide receivers Josh Moore, Jordan Whittington and Troy Omiere and tight ends Cade Brewer and Jared Wiley.

A dual-threat player under center would also draw more eyes from opposing defenders and potentially make sophomore running back Bijan Robinson even more dangerous out of the backfield.

Both QBs will look to transition to Sarkisian’s run-pass option style attack that prioritizes quick hands and accuracy. The intangibles — like competitive drive and leadership — will also be tested as the Longhorns search for their new field general prior to Sept. 4’s season opener at DKR against Louisiana-Lafayette.

But even when a decision is made on who will be taking the first snaps of 2021, different questions will just replace the old ones — how much confidence does Sarkisian’s staff have in its starter, and if things go awry, how soon would a potential change be made?

In reality, the battle between Thompson and Card was decided after the Arkansas loss amd the winner of the job enjoying success is Casey Thompson. The eyes of Texas will be upon both players even though CT looks to remain a starter moving in this weeks home game versus Tech. Coach Sark hopes that the two QBs can prove both are the right one to help bring the Longhorns back to national prominence.

Vandegrift Football off to great Start

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

The Vandegrift Vipers have already served notice to the rest of Class 6A that their program is an up-and-coming powerhouse in Central Texas.

While most teams hang their hats on an explosive air-raid attack or a dominant running game, Vandegrift is taking the opposite approach. Head coach Drew Sanders’ Vipers have become known for their suffocating defense, which has led to three district championships in the past four seasons.

Defeating Cedar Park this season 42-7 in week 1, Killeen Ellison 31-14 in Week 2 and San Angelo Central 45-13 in week 3 the vipers kicked off district play with a defeat of Stony Point 56-21 off to a 4-0 start.

During the pandemic-riddled 2020 campaign, Vandegrift finished second in District 25-6A behind a resurgent Round Rock team that stunned the state by taking out Lake Travis in the first round of the 6A Division I postseason. This year, Sanders and his retooled defense will look to regain their form following a fourth-round playoff exit against Hays in early January.

The Vipers graduated each of their top five tacklers from last season, but there’s no shortage of depth for Vandegrift. Along the front line, senior defensive end Tucker Harrison returns after a stellar year in 2020 that saw him register 79 tackles, five sacks and four forced fumbles en route to earning all-state honorable mention. Harrison will likely be joined at the point of attack by junior Oliver Yndo, senior Sterling Emerson, senior Lucas Cummings and senior Cristion Davis.

The linebacking corps will search for replacements for the trio of Austin Skoglund, Logan Arnold and Michael Mastrodicasa, who combined to make 342 total stops in 2020 while finishing as the team’s top three tacklers. 

However, there’s plenty of experience back in the secondary, which is led by senior Jaxon Oliver, senior Griffin Shaffer, senior Clayton Moore and versatile senior Reece Beauchamp, who might see more time on offense in 2021. Oliver tied for the team lead in interceptions last year with three.

Vipers Defense in 2020 gang tackel a Round Rock Dragon runner in last years game.

Beauchamp could end up taking the reins for 2021 graduate Ryan Back at quarterback — or perhaps it will be junior Brayden Buchanan. Whichever player settles into the signal caller role will allow the other to become an instant play-maker in a different spot, whether it be at wide receiver or in another position. 

The starting running back job appears locked up, as senior Ryan Sheppard returns after leading the team with 922 yards and six touchdowns as a junior. Sheppard is also a reliable receiver out of the backfield, as he made 13 catches a year ago.

Along the O-line, the Vipers will reload with one of the top groups in District 25-6A despite seeing only one starter — Ethan Barnard — return. Barnard is set to move from guard to center as a senior, and help is expected to be provided up front by senior Juan Gutierrez, senior Luke Collins and junior Ian Reed, who is a budding collegiate prospect at tackle.

When league play rolls around, the Vipers will look to battle past Round Rock and reclaim their familiar perch as district champs. Challenges from Hutto, Stony Point and Cedar Ridge are also expected, but Sanders’ team looks to have the inside track in the race for 25-6A’s top spot.

Vandegrift’s first 11 seasons of varsity competition have yielded an overall record of 94-40, and the Vipers’ 4-6 campaign back in 2010 — the program’s inaugural year — remains the lone losing season in school history.