Campaign Blog: News & Updates

UPDATE: State champs of interest ...

» 5A-D1: Euless Trinity - 41, Austin Westlake - 38 (OT)
Weird that this is the first 5A championship decided in OT. Chap fans are going to bristle over the game-winning TD catch, despite the ball only bobbling around after WR Brandon Carter had fallen to the ground in the end zone.

Regional controversy aside, this championship feels particularly sweet given the lack of big names at skill positions going into this season (well, the one we had was injured for the playoffs). As it stands, some of the outgoing seniors from this team are QB Willie Hubbard, RB Damien Hart. Tevin Williams and Terence Tusan return for another year in the backfield and Brandon Carter should get some serious NCAA scouting at WR for one more year, while we hope and pray for another quality QB to step in like Hubbard did for this season. If I remember correctly, there was only one senior on the starting O-line this season. All that to say that as fun as this season has been, next season should be another pressure-filled season with a bigger bullseye on our backs. I can only hope that Coach Lineweaver scheduled another good non-district test for the kids like he did this season.

I will say that the D1 lineup was a bit weaker overall, but by the time it gets closer to the championship, you still have to beat quality teams to get to the finish line. A lot of preseason picks had Skyline winning D1 this year and there was ample logic for doing so. But they lost their game to Cy Woods, who lost to Stony Point, who lost to Trinity. Cedar Hill should have been an easy contender for the right to face off against Katy. But there's no disputing that Abilene is a worthy champ in D2. So there's no point in weighing the competitive strengths of each year's championships. This year ... Trinity was the best.

Here's hoping that the even-year jinx doesn't affect what should be one of the best returning teams we've had in the past decade.

UPDATE (to the update): Two good reads after the win, with the DMN version offering the suggestion that Brandon Carter may be the leading candidate for starting QB next season. Both articles reference the strength of the returnees for next season. I'll be very surprised if we're not ranked in the top three in preseason ... if not #1.

» 5A-D2: Katy - 17. Abilene - 28
I can't say I'm sorry to see Katy lose, but I was sorta hoping that there'd be some trophy hardware visiting the greater Houston area. I think Abilene was undervalued by the AP voters most of the season since they don't have a big sample of voters from a major metro to evaluate them. Looks like there might be something to that argument. They definitely sound as if they matched up incredibly strong against the team everyone else considered the better of the two.

» 4A-D1: Longview - 17, Lake Travis - 24
This one, I'm sorry to see. I'd considered Longview the best 4A team since they defeated Allen early in the season. Apparently, the greater Austin area will get some trophy hardware to show off around town.

» 4A-D2: Brenham - 21, Aledo - 35
Another school from a broader circle around Houston goes down. I'd seen Aledo's success in my peripheral reading of DFW sports news, but hadn't really wanted to get too deep into the 4A schools. I knew they were good, but being a Houstonian makes it easy to be a fan of anything from Brenham.

» 3A-D2: Carthage - 13, Graham - 12
This one, I'm pleased as punch to see. Carthage now has a great run of athletic success, with back-to-back football championships and a 2009 baseball championship. There's another baseball championship in the mix to make it four championships in 4.5 years. I do hope the scouts know how to get to Carthage.

Even sweeter about this win is that it came against the little brother of Colt McCoy, playing QB for Graham. Carthage's QB is a junior who had put up incredible numbers this season, so I'd expect them to be back at this level next season looking for a three-peat.

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Another year, and I'm obviously pleased as heck to see my old school returning to the championship game. Trinity High has won state before, in 2005 and 2007. Here's hoping that odd-numbered years are very kind to tradition. Reviews will be forthcoming on Sunday morning ... previews posted for now. Kickoff for the Trinity-Westlake game is 2pm at the Alamodome. It'll be on Fox's SW sports network live and webcast on radio here.

Preview:
5A-D1: Euless Trinity vs Austin Westlake
» DMN: Trust in team steers Euless Trinity coach to take chances
» DMN: Small players vital to Euless Trinity's big title hopes
» FWST: Euless Trinity front four ready for state-title crunch time
» FWST: Trinity turns to cobras when quick strike needed
» Statesman: Westlake's quarterback history bodes well for Price
» Statesman: Will Chaps and Cavs become kings today?
» Statesman: Hager follows father's footsteps as defensive star
» Odessa American: Allman guides Austin Westlake to Class 5A Division I title game

5A-D2: Katy vs Abilene
» Chron: Depth remains vital part of Katy's success (Jenny Dial)
» Chron: Katy High could get more than a state crown tonight (Sam Khan, Jr.)
» Chron: Football dynasties come full circle (David Barron)
» Abilene R-N: Abilene High Eagles eye Katy Tigers for 5A state championship

4A-D1: Longview vs Lake Travis
» Longview N-J: Lobos hoping history's made in Waco today

4A-D2: Brenham vs Aledo
» Chron: Brenham QB is as tough as they get (Sam Khan, Jr)

3A-D2: Carthage vs Graham
» Longview N-J: Carthage matching its '08 success with different cast of skill players

All the games are on Saturday night, but here's the preview. I'll update as soon as we know who meets who for the 5A State Finals. It will be a rare final night of active blogging after church, as I catch up on both football and politics.

D1 Schedule:
» Euless Trinity - 35; RR Stony Point - 28
» Katy Cinco Ranch - 27; Aus. Westlake - 42

D2 Schedule:
» Abilene- 29; Klein - 21
» Katy - 14; New Braunfels - 6

Analysis:
Trinity vs Westlake is essentially the updated version of Trinity vs Bell from the 80s. Working class school versus the rich kid school. Sad to say, but the D2 game seems like a stronger matchup. I can't say I'd mind the chance of having the D1 and D2 winners face off for a more definitive 5A championship.

The Trinity/Stony Point game saw a bit of trickery. Us, with a fake punt deep in our own yard late in the game ... and we still managed to give them the ball back with enough time to tie it up at the end. Fortunately for us, the D clicked. Them, with a fourth and goal in the final minutes, with short yardage needed for a tie. Fortunately for us, the D clicked again. The trick plays obviously make headlines, but this was a very good team we beat and it sounds like the D did a terrific job of bending without breaking. Of course, a sidenote to that is that QB Willie Hubbard discovered his inner air game, completing some long passes for 3 TDs via the pass. Who does he think he is? ... Trevor Vittatoe?

Westlake sounds like they'll bring their own stifling D to San Antonio for the title match. They bottled up a pretty good Cinco Ranch offense, rattling off 28 unanswered points in a 12 minute span to ice the game early. Both of those give reason for concern against a Trinity team that gave up some quick points to SP and an O-line that you have to hope measures up next week after kickoff.

On the D2 side of things, all local eyes are on Katy going for the three-peat. If they get it, it'll be against a great team. Katy's had some low-scoring games lately, so it's been impressive to see them win while the nerves are thin late in a game.

News:
» DMN: Fourth-down gamble helps put Trinity in state final
» FWST: Euless Trinity advances to 5A Division I state final with 35-28 win
» AAS: Euless Trinity shelves Stony Point in state semis
» AAS: Chaps hold on to reach title game
» Chron: Slow start dooms Cougars
» Chron: Tigers leave Unicorns in a fog, return to title game
» Abilene RN: One yard enough to send Eagles to championship
» Chron: Eagles end Bearkats' season

The Preview:
» DMN: Work ethic has propelled young Euless Trinity team to state semifinals (Brandon George)

Lineweaver took over at Trinity in 2000, and for the fifth time he has led them to the semifinals. Trinity (12-2) will play Stony Point (13-1) at 2 p.m. Saturday at Waco ISD Stadium.

Though this is familiar territory for Trinity, these aren't your typical Trojans. Usually it's hard to find a Trinity starter who isn't a senior, but this year's team has only about four each on offense and defense. Another oddity is that none of Trinity's seniors has a scholarship offer.

Trinity has made its deep playoff run despite returning only three starters from a senior-laden 2008 team.

» DMN: Euless Trinity faces another powerhouse: Stony Point (Matt Wixon)
Wixon has a way of unnerving Trinity fans, despite his prediction that they'll win. This does not help.

» FWST: Pizzeria makes perfect for the Euless Trinity offensive line (Tobias Lopez)
Not one O-lineman clocks in at over 300 pounds? Given how dominating they played last week, that's impressive.

» DMN: Disabled Euless Trinity band member awestruck after meeting pop singer Fergie
I can't claim to care much for the musical stylings of Fergie, but Trae Caster's ride this season has been fun to read about.

» AAS: Mean-streak defense helps New Braunfels reach state semis (Rick Cantu)
I guess when your school nickname is the Unicorns, you better be real good on the playing field. Somehow, I doubt that the kids at Katy High will be unsparing.