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Northshore Mustangs victorious over Duncanville.

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

A rematch. A battle. A fight. This is the 2019 Texas UIL Football State Championships at AT&T stadium in Arlington. Two teams would face off in front of 47,818 fans, winner take all including the title best 6A DI football team in Texas, the pressure was on. The North Shore Mustangs took on the Duncanville Panthers in a match up to remember. This time just a year ago these teams went head-to-head in the state championship with North Shore throwing a Hail Mary in the final seconds to win the game. If there were any doubts of who the dominant team is, North Shore erased them when they won 31-17 over the Panthers.

Up to this point, both teams had taken on tough advisories with Duncanville stampeding through Southlake Carrol and Rock Wall while North Shore sailed past Lake Travis and Katy. Combined the teams had a point differential of 1054 points.

Duncanville received to start the game, as a redshirt freshman quarterback Chris Parson would lead the Panthers out in his first-ever start, filling in for the injured Ja’quinden Jackson who was out with a torn ACL. The Panthers immediately asserted the running game as junior running back Rodrick Daniels cut up the defense for a 16-yard gain. The freshman quarterback would not keep up as Parson’s next two passes were incomplete forcing a Panthers punt.


The Panthers made a field goal in the dying seconds of the first half tying the game up 17-17. Both teams needed to step it up in the passing game. To this point North Shore only had 27 passing yards and if you took the giant 62-yard pass away from Duncaville they had 29 passing yards. Yes running wins games but you need to be able to pick up the 3rd and longs.

Coming out of halftime it was anybody’s game, both teams still fighting for the crown of best team in Texas and both doing it without their biggest offensive play makers. The Panthers would fold under the pressure straight out of the gate as their punter fumbled the snap, than recovered it and fumbled again. North Shore recovered at Duncanville’s 20-yard line.

After Mustang reciter Syncere Green made 14-yard on a catch Rodger Hagan would capitalize with a 1-yard running touchdown. Roger Hagan took it upon himself to pick up the slack with Zachary Evans out, through the first three quarters Hagan had 87-yards rushing and two touchdowns.

Duncanville followed with yet another slip up as freshman quarterback Chris Parson tried to fight for more yardage but ended up putting the ball on the turf. Luckily for them North Shore was unable to do anything with the ball just giving it right back. The Panthers would come so close once again but every time they would fall just short. A pivotal moment on 4th&1 the Panthers were stuffed on the goaline turning the ball over to the Mustangs.

North Shore knowing it would be a slug-out did the same thing asserting their ground game with four straight runs amassing a total of 27-yards. Dual threat quarterback Demetrius Davis would than scramble out of the backfield following his blockers and using pure athleticism to earn him a 30-yard touchdown run.



“We’ve been running the ball the last couple weeks really well, so that was the game plan – to make sure we came out and got the run game going”, said North Shore offensive coordinator Willie Gaston.

Duncanville would not change its ways, they were committed to the ground game and it would stay that way. The Panthers would run the ball six times for 28-yards relaxing any nerves the young quarterback had. Parson would than find Rodrick Daniels on a flat route, after an electric juke he burst up field for 11-yards setting up Daniels for his own 25-yard TD run to tie the game up.

If you did not get the sense already you will get it now, this was a ground and pound game. By halftime both teams were over 100-yards rushing while both attempted under 10 passes. North Shore would march down field aided by an offsides penalty on 4th down, they gradually moved downfield thanks to their running game, North Shore would than settle for a field goal.

Duncanville would get the ball and as they had all season they would be electric. Starting with a 23-yard run by Roderick Daniels who was leapfrogging over defenders. Than a spectacular catch by Marquelan Crowell who mossed the defender on a 34-yard gain. The drive would be capped off by a 6-yard quarterback keeper.

North Shore running back Roger Hagan scored on a 2-yard touchdown run. All the while fans were noticing the absence of 5-star running back Zachary Evans who was nowhere to be seen. North Shore head coach Jon Kay would not go in to detail on reports that Evans had been held out due to disciplinary reasons and would not play in the game.



“We talked about in our staff meeting about just kind of some third quarter woes that we’ve had here recently and I think a lot of the fingers get pointed to the defensive side but the reality is we’ve had huge special teams errors that have put us in bad positions we’ve had turnovers on offense that have put us in bad positions so it was a collective discussion about what we can be doing better coming out of the third quarter and you know we met long and hard on that as a staff to try and make some adjustments which you know I give credit to our coaches the fact that, you know, here we are heading into our second state championship game and, they’re still searching for ways to improve and take the next step,” said North Shore head coach John Kay when asked about his goal line stop.

“Again I think that leadership spills over into our kids. Our defense has been much maligned lately, all of a sudden people feel like North Shore forgot how to play defense because we’ve been playing some explosive offenses. In situational football sometimes you step back and allow some things to happen, knowing that you know, what difference does it make if you win by seven or if you win by 57 when you’re talking about the postseason, that’s just the nature of the beast.

“To see those kids come out in the second half, and shut out an offense, like Duncanville. The kid [Ja’quinden Jackson] is phenomenal, they’re dripping with talent and they’re extremely well coached. For these kids to come together and make those adjustments and execute on the largest stage, I think, all the credit goes to them and coaches,” said John Kay.


At this point in the second half both teams were having trouble holding onto the ball as North Shore was once again forced to fumble giving the Panthers yet another chance to intrude on their one score lead. Duncanville had seemingly no offense whatsoever as they were forced to punt again.

This time the Panthers would not be let off the hook as Davis found receiver Charles King wide open in the end zone for a 44-yard touchdown to give the Mustangs a two score lead. The Panthers would try to comeback but all attempts were futile as North Shore’s defense was just too dominant.   

The Mustangs claimed a clear victory with a win of 31-17 in a game decided by turnovers. A win that also marked the start of a dynasty. North Shore has won two state championships in a row and will bring star quarterback Demtrius Davis back for his senior year as the Mustangs look to make it a three-peat.

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.

Lampasas Badgers Head Coach Troy Rogers

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

Texas Sports Monthly got the opportunity to catch up with Lampasas head coach Troy Rogers during the Badgers’ outstanding 2019 campaign. Rogers discussed his team’s high-octane offense, underrated defense and the excitement that has swept through the entire Lampasas community this season.

Q: Coach, you arrived at Lampasas prior to the 2016 season from Galena Park North Shore to take over your alma mater’s football program. Did you see this type of success coming with the group of young talent that was thrown into the mix as freshmen and sophomores?

A: Well, we knew if we just kept getting better that we had some talent coming through. We don’t ever talk about expectations like that, but we knew we had a talented group and these kids have been playing well. 

Q: What has the excitement level been like within the community of Lampasas this year, especially in recent weeks during the playoff run?

A: It’s been great. Lampasas always support their high school. They love the Badgers, and win or lose, they’re going to support them. It’s just been a long time since they had winning football to get excited about, and getting to play into December is really exciting for our community and they’ve really come out to support us. It’s a good thing.

Q: Junior quarterback Ace Whitehead and wide receivers Jaylon Porter and Cameron Everts have had outstanding seasons. How has your team’s passing attack been able to grow into such a potent part of Badger football?

A: I think it starts with the quarterback. He does such a great job of making decisions and delivering the ball to the guys who need it. Our O-line is probably the unsung heroes because they’ve been giving him time, and our run game has been really effective as well. We try to be as balanced as possible to keep people off guard, but I think what’s kind of set us apart is Ace and our receivers — Cameron Everts, Jaylon Porter, Mike Murray, Brenton Webb. (Ace) spreads the ball around really well and we’ve been able to throw it down the field, and that’s something that’s not real easy to do. Dinking and dunking is also a part of our game, but when you have the ability to throw the vertical or the post effectively, it really changes things.

Q: Who are some of the other players who have helped build this team into a district championship ball club and a state semifinalist?

A: I think one of the things that gets overshadowed sometimes is our defense, which has been playing really well. They’ve helped us out plenty of times, and I think one of the things we do well is play complimentary football. I know last week against Liberty Hill we had two takeaways and then offensively we were able to turn those into points. That’s what you’re trying to do. If you’re going to get a takeaway, which our defense prides itself on, then the offense has got to compliment that and turn it into points. We’ve done that fairly well all year.

Q: It’s always tough to play an opponent twice, especially when you won the first matchup by a wide margin. Did you expect Liberty Hill to be more competitive after you guys defeated them 52-10 during district play? (The Badgers won the rematch 49-34.

A: Even the first time we played them, we told the guys, ‘Hey, this is going to be the best team we’ve seen.’ Regardless of what their record was at that time, that’s still a team that’s coming off of a state final appearance. The thing about being a state finalist is you get to practice football for a lot longer than anyone else. They had a lot of guys on their roster who have played a lot of football and I knew it would click. They were still finding their rhythm with some new pieces of the puzzle and hit their stride. We knew that it was going to be a battle in the playoffs.

Q: Any time a team makes it into mid-December in the playoffs, it’s not by accident. What are the challenges awaiting against Carthage in the state semifinals?

A: It’s just a storied program. Anybody that follows Texas high school football knows about the Carthage Bulldogs. They’re a year removed from winning back-to-back state championships. Liberty Hill beat them last year in the semifinals and I think in three years, that’s the only loss that they’ve had. They’re a team that knows how to win, and it’s exciting for us to get an opportunity to go play those guys. When I got hired here back four years ago, I said, ‘If you want to be the best, you’re going to have to beat the best.’ Carthage is one of the best in the state, so we’ll have our hands full, but our guys will be ready to get after it.

Lampasas Liberty Hill Game "You Got Mossed" on MNF

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

Lampasas senior wide receiver Jaylon Porter has had a remarkable year, as he goes into this Friday with 61 catches for a team-high 1,246 yards and 18 touchdowns.

One of those receptions has even earned him a prime time shout-out from a Hall of Famer.

Porter was the No. 1 highlight on this week’s “You Got Mossed” segment that aired before the Monday Night Football matchup between the Eagles and Giants on ESPN. Named after all-time great wide receiver Randy Moss, it features some of the best individual grabs made by wide receivers in all levels of football across the country.

Porter’s catch came in the back of the end zone on a fade pattern in which he leaped over the shoulders of Liberty Hill defender Matt Montes, secured the ball and turned away to avoid having the pigskin pried from his grasp — all in mid-air.

Porter’s TD reception was one of three he secured in the game, which his Badgers won 49-34. Lampasas now advances to face Carthage in the Class 4A Division I state semifinals.Moss, who was enshrined in Canton in 2018, gave an emphatic play-by-play of the acrobatic TD alongside Monday Night Countdown colleagues Suzy Kolber, Steve Young, Louis Riddick and Adam Schefter. The video has since gone viral around the Lone Star State.

The clip is the last of the featured and is the only Texas High School Clip. Dec 9th Broadcast

Dell Diamond Named Back-to-Back Baseball Field of the Year

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in BASEBALL.

Texas Turfgrass Association Honors Home of the Round Rock Express for Second Straight Season

ROUND ROCK, Texas – For the second year in a row, the Round Rock Express are proud to announce that Dell Diamond has been named the Baseball Field of the Year by the Texas Turfgrass Association. Under the guidance of Head Groundskeeper Nick Rozdilski, the playing surface at Dell Diamond hosted a variety of unique events ranging from international rugby and soccer to the Camp Gladiator Games Finals, all in addition to over 90 baseball games in the calendar year.

“Nick and the entire crew at RS3 Turf continue to go above and beyond and we could not be prouder of the work they have all put in this season,” Express General Manager Tim Jackson said. “Dell Diamond has become a premier destination for sports and entertainment events of all kind, largely thanks to the elite-level playing surface that RS3 Turf provides and maintains year after year.”

Each year, the Texas Turfgrass Association honors outstanding sports fields across the state. Their mission is to recognize those who go above and beyond to make sure their complex is one of the best in Texas.

Dell Diamond began 2019 as the new home of Austin Elite Rugby, hosting six of the club’s Major League Rugby matches against a variety of international foes. The field conversion to accommodate rugby season included removal of the pitching mound and replacement of the infield dirt with grass as well as the installation of goal posts. In addition to Austin Elite Rugby, Dell Diamond was selected as one of just two venues in the United States to host the Americas Rugby Championship, marking the third time in the last four years that USA Rugby and the ARC have hosted a match at Dell Diamond.

After the final rugby match on March 16, Rozdilski and his crew transformed the playing surface back to baseball just in time for a March 31 meeting between the Round Rock Express and Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks as part of Houston Astros Futures Weekend, an event that welcomed the Express back into the Astros family as their Triple-A affiliate. From there, the Express hosted 70 home games, in addition to the makeup of a rained-out road game in New Orleans, as well as three additional contests in the Pacific Coast League playoffs.

In the midst of Round Rock’s regular season, Dell Diamond played host to the 2019 Texas UIL State Baseball Tournament for the 20th consecutive season, an event that included 15 high school playoff games in the span of four days. The venue also welcomed in three high school all-star games following the state tournament.

Not long after the State Baseball Tournament, RS3 Turf was at it again, converting the baseball diamond into a soccer pitch for a July 7 international friendly between Liga MX foes Toluca and Santos. The conversion again included removing the pitching mound and installing sod over the infield dirt. Following the game, the field was reverted back to baseball for the return of the Express on July 11.

After the conclusion of the Pacific Coast League playoffs, Dell Diamond hosted the Camp Gladiator Games Finals for the second year in a row, an undertaking that required the removal of the pitching mound and infield dirt for the third time this season. An event that utilized every square foot of the field’s playing surface, the CG Games Finals saw over 1,000 athletes participate in the group’s biggest event of the year.

In addition to Dell Diamond, RS3 Turf provides the daily groundskeeping services for Memorial Stadium, home of the Boise Hawks, Class A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, as well as Hodgetown Ballpark, home of the Amarillo Sod Poodles, Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres and Baseball America’s 2019Organization of the Year. RS3 Turf is also providing consulting services for the Rocket City Trash Pandas, Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, and their new ballpark in Madison, Alabama.

With over 25 years of combined experience in the sports turf industry, RS3 Turf offers a full line of professional agronomic services including construction, renovations, and consulting for any athletic surface. Over the last decade, RS3 Turf has been sought out by professional, collegiate, high school and youth sports organizations for expertise in the realm of athletic surface management and construction.

RS3 Turf recently teamed up with Texas-based Act Global to unveil a new line of baseball-specific synthetic turf known as NR34 Turf, forwarding the future of baseball turf technology and player safety. The organization has also partnered with Whittlesey Landscape Supplies to provide a custom line of Nolan Ryan-branded sports field materials. The NR34 brand includes products ranging from calcined clay conditioner, mound clays, infield mixes, drying agent, chalk and warning track material.

With additional clients across the National Football League, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, Little League Baseball, Major League Soccer and the National Collegiate Athletic Association, RS3 Turf has provided a variety of services for organizations of all sizes.

For more information on the Express, visit RRExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and join the conversation during our historic 20th season using #20STROng.

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Westlake Advances to Semi-Final Round defeats Brandeis 42-14

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

Eight teams entered the Texas high school 6A Division II Regional playoffs, only four teams emerged with a shot at the state championship. The Alamodome was where the Westlake Chaparrals took on the Brandeis Broncos in what turned out to be a one-sided affair as the Chaps dominated in a 42-14 win over the Broncos and took their next step towards a ring.

Westlake received the ball to start the game, hoping to repeat last year’s victory in which they over powered Brandeis 26-0. It was a shaky start for Westlake after quarterback Kirkland Michaux’s first pass was nearly intercepted. On third down receiver Jackson Coker threw the ball on a reverse play to Mason Mangum who dropped it, luckily for them, Ryan Lindley was in the right place at the right time as he caught the tip for a 33-yard gain. Kirkland Michaux threw a fade to 6’4″ freshman Jaden Greathouse who elevated over the defender to make an epic 21-yard touchdown grab.

Unlike Westlake, Brandeis was looking to change the result of last year’s game, starting with an explosive kick return the Broncos would be positioned at Westlake’s 34-yard line. After six moderate gains and a holding penalty, the Broncos were on the 18-yard line. Star running back Corion Holmes was lined up at tight end and for good reason, as Holmes sneaked past the defense finding himself wide open in the end zone for the touchdown.

Westlake would get the ball back and look just as dominant. Brandeis may have them in a 3rd & long but Kirkland Michaux and company would always find a way to move the chains. A great example is 3rd & 14 in which Michaux found Jackson Coker for 16-yards to keep the drive moving. The Chaps would than find themselves on the 1-yard line and the call was obvious, quarterback keeper, Kirkland Michaux powered his way in for Westlake’s second touchdown.   

After an Austin Mcclendon sack Brandeis would be forced to punt the ball away to the dangerous Chaps offense. Kirkland Michaux was getting it done on the ground as he rushed for 49-yards at this point. He was basically a human bowling ball knocking over the Broncos like pins. The Chaps offense would not get a strike or a spare that drive in fact they had a gutter ball as they missed the field goal.

The next Westlake possession was similar to the second and dissimilar to the third. Jaden Greathouse would once again make his presence felt with an 18-yard catch, in the first two-quarters Greathouse had four catches for 55-yards and a touchdown. This helped set up Kirkland Michaux for yet another 1-yard touchdown run moving the lead to 21-7.

Heading into halftime Westlake’s offense was looking good and in my opinion had one standout, Jackson Coker. Coker is essentially playing the Taysom Hill (Saints quarterback) role on this team. Coker totaled 109-yards throwing, running and receiving the ball. One player the Chaps needed to get involved was junior running back Zane Minors who had four carries up until this point for 18-yards.

Brandeis would get the ball to start the second half and they were looking for any glimmer of offense they could find. Junior quarterback Jordan Battles sparked that with a 36-yard run that would be put to waste as Brandeis missed the field goal. Westlake now in possession took my advice and feed the beast in Zane Minors.

Minors would get the first four touches on the drive and earn 17-yards. Much like Brandeis, Westlake would not be able to put up any points after turning the ball over. With reinvigorated energy Brandeis was fired up, so was Westlake’s Bobby Duncan as he would strip Battles of the ball and Taevin Brown would recover for Westlake.

Westlake would later go onto run the score as well as stat lines. With a 20-yard pass to Ryan Lindley, an 11-yard touchdown run by Zane Minors, a 22-yard touchdown throw from Michaux to Greathouse, a 6-yard touchdown run by Zane Minors and just for fun an interception by Westlake safety Sage Luther.

Kirkland Michaux (who would be taken out later in the game) threw for 153-yards and a touchdown while completing 17/24 passes, Michaux also added 50-yards on the ground and two touchdowns. Zane Minors would rush for 66-yards on 13 carries. Ryan Lindley had 93-receiving yards, Jaden Greathouse totaled 93-yards.

In the end, Westlake played very well on both sides of the ball. They will face a formidable opponent in the State Semi-finals round that has been somewhat challenging in recent years. Westlake will look to change that narrative as they face the winner of the upcoming Katy Taylor/Cy Creek game next Saturday in Waco.

Wimberley advance to State Quarter- Finals

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

During the Texans’ 42-14 loss to district rival Navarro in late October, quarterback Cooper McCollum was relegated to the sideline with an injury that took all of the air out of Wimberley’s proverbial balloon.

In the rematch, McCollum showcased what he was capable of doing in four full quarters of action.

The Texans (11-3) flipped the script on Navarro at the Alamodome in San Antonio, as McCollum was nearly perfect while directing a 42-12 rout in the Class 4A Division II state quarterfinals. The senior signal caller tossed five touchdown passes to lead an early onslaught that buried previously-unbeaten Panthers (13-1) from the outset.

“We jumped out on them early and then just kind of kept them at arm’s length and made them chase us all night, which is something that they don’t like to do,” Wimberley head coach Doug Warren said.

McCollum exited the first meeting against Navarro with the Texans holding a 14-0 lead, but the Panthers used a string of 42 unanswered points to run away with the victory. Navarro later sewed up the District 13-4A-II championship.

However, Wimberley looked nothing like an underdog in the Region IV-4A-II title game and was able to light up the scoreboard early and often. 

McCollum took to the air and found Christian Marshall for touchdown strikes of 21 and 31 yards in the opening stanza, but the senior quarterback wasn’t done there. He added a 6-yard TD toss to Josh Limely to close out a dominant 21-0 first quarter for the Texans.

“It was just us taking advantage of opportunities,” Warren said. “We’ve thrown the ball fairly well all season and the first time against those guys we lost (McCollum) to injury, so that kind of changed the complexion of the game a little bit. It was just a matter of us executing our offense to its potential.”

Wimberley quarterback Cooper McCollum looks for a receiver as teammate Moses Wray (5) blocks Navarro’s Brian Holmes (82). 

Navarro stopped the bleeding when Johnny Alegria tallied an 11-yard rushing score prior to halftime, but the Texans’ defense held strong throughout the third period to protect a 21-7 lead.

Marshall then threw a TD pass of his own late in the quarter, as he found Jaxon Watts on a 13-yard pass play that helped put Wimberley up by 21 once again. The Panthers answered with a short TD run by Alegria, but McCollum put the finishing touches on the triumph in the final seven minutes of the game.

McCollum capped a scoring drive with a 1-yard TD plunge and then hit Limely on a 56-yard scoring toss that put the exclamation point on the Texans’ blowout win. 

McCollum finished the contest 18 of 22 passing for 221 yards and five scores in addition to 26 yards and a TD on the ground. Running back Moses Wray added 93 yards on 15 carries, while Marshall and Limely each hauled in a pair of scores.

“We knew if we played a complete game we’d have a great chance to advance on, and so that confidence level was there,” Warren said. “They just kept feeding off of it.”

Wimberley has now advanced to the state semifinals and will meet Silsbee for the right to play for a state championship at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. 

Warren said the Tigers (9-3) will be yet another tough opponent for his battled-tested Texans.

“They’re going to be the best football team we’ve played up to this point and we wouldn’t expect anything less in a state semifinal,” Warren said. “Very athletic, and so they do provide challenges for you just because of team speed and their size up front. It’ll be a tough matchup for us, there’s no doubt.”