WOS92
09-09-2005, 08:55 AM
By: F.A. KRIFT, The Enterprise 09/08/2005
So how's La Marque sound as a non-district opponent?
The traditional power and the No. 1 team in Class 4A - that's Port Neches-Groves' challenge Friday, just seven days after losing to Jasper, No. 8 in Class 3A.
Or how about Bay City?
The Blackcats haven't missed the playoffs since 1995. West Orange-Stark plays the Class 4A team Saturday, eight days after beating Nederland. Even at 0-2 this season, Bay City is no patsy.
Lufkin?
The 2004 Class 5A Division II state semifinalist, the No. 5 team in the state, seven straight trips to the playoffs, the accolades go on and on ... Luck be with Memorial, the winner of a date with the Panthers six days after losing to Tyler John Tyler.
"Here's the deal. When you make your schedule a couple of tough games is OK," West Orange-Stark coach Dan Hooks said.
However, three or four non-district heavyweights in a row, and eventually a team might have to cry uncle. The weekly onrush hasn't stopped for WO-S. Nor has it for Memorial and PN-G, and the benefits hide under the adversity.
"We're like an Old West gun fighter," Hooks said. "We killed a guy 10 years ago, and they think we're still fast on the draw. ... Our (schedule) is so tough, it's a little ridiculous."
Ranked No 3 in Class 3A, the Mustangs (2-0) can still pull their gun quicker than other teams. But the Mustangs might have their tail between their legs, beaten up by the endless string of non-district challenges.
Every now and again a one-week reprieve would benefit the roster-thin Mustangs, who dress fewer than 25 for Friday nights. WO-S can't afford to lose another player to injury or academic issues.
"It will all even up," said Hooks, whose team beat Jasper to open the season. "If we can make it to that open date and survive then we'll gain some guys."
But the tests just keep showing up by the talent-filled busload. The teams get better. So does the coaching. And winning proves more difficult.
This is non-district play, so doesn't a choice exist for whom a team plays?
Apparently not.
Top programs are a victim of their success. Not many teams line up and beg to play WO-S and Hooks with his 226 wins in 25 years.
So headaches come when scheduling arrives with the biennial realignment.
"I went a week after realignment with no games," PN-G coach Matt Burnett said. "It's like I had a plague. Everybody ran from me."
In non-district play, traditional power plays traditional power. Bunched into the mix are upstarts like Memorial, a four-year old program that consolidated three football teams. It also made a 2003 run to the Class 5A Division II quarterfinals that coincided with the last scheduling cycle.
"The non-district (schedule) is not by choice," Memorial coach Dean Colbert said. "Schools in this area didn't want to play us for some reason, and we're having to suffer for it."
The Lufkin game comes eight days before a road trip to Midland Lee, one of the longest bus rides Texas high school football can offer at 11 hours.
"I don't worry too much about strength of opponent involved," Colbert said. "We'll play any school in this area and the Houston area. I just don't like traveling that far."
Burnett can understand Colbert's conundrum.
"What happens is we play everybody else that they (teams) don't want to play either," Burnett said.
Hence Memorial travels to Midland to play the Rebels (0-2), a victim of non-district scheduling problems also due to past success. They played Class 5A No. 1 Southlake Carroll to open the season and No. 8 Euless Trinity last week.
Yet out of pothole-filled schedules, a jewel surfaces.
By the time district play arrives, West Orange-Stark, PN-G and Memorial will be hardened with experience against the state's powers and perennial contenders. Colbert and the rest of the Titans' coaching staff will know their players' strengths under the most hard-hitting conditions.
"Once you get into district there are no surprises," Colbert said.
The Titans tripped on the early season humps last year with a 0-3 record. But with the return of a healthy Jamaal Charles - now a running back at the University of Texas - Memorial won District 22-5A and made the playoffs.
"I think it will work this year, provided we stay healthy," Colbert said.
The thorny scheduling worked for PN-G, too. The Indians (1-1) tied for the District 20-4A title at 5-1. WO-S was a perfect 5-0 in District 24-3A.
"It's tough on our kids week-in and week-out," Burnett said, "but it makes us better."
So how's La Marque sound as a non-district opponent?
The traditional power and the No. 1 team in Class 4A - that's Port Neches-Groves' challenge Friday, just seven days after losing to Jasper, No. 8 in Class 3A.
Or how about Bay City?
The Blackcats haven't missed the playoffs since 1995. West Orange-Stark plays the Class 4A team Saturday, eight days after beating Nederland. Even at 0-2 this season, Bay City is no patsy.
Lufkin?
The 2004 Class 5A Division II state semifinalist, the No. 5 team in the state, seven straight trips to the playoffs, the accolades go on and on ... Luck be with Memorial, the winner of a date with the Panthers six days after losing to Tyler John Tyler.
"Here's the deal. When you make your schedule a couple of tough games is OK," West Orange-Stark coach Dan Hooks said.
However, three or four non-district heavyweights in a row, and eventually a team might have to cry uncle. The weekly onrush hasn't stopped for WO-S. Nor has it for Memorial and PN-G, and the benefits hide under the adversity.
"We're like an Old West gun fighter," Hooks said. "We killed a guy 10 years ago, and they think we're still fast on the draw. ... Our (schedule) is so tough, it's a little ridiculous."
Ranked No 3 in Class 3A, the Mustangs (2-0) can still pull their gun quicker than other teams. But the Mustangs might have their tail between their legs, beaten up by the endless string of non-district challenges.
Every now and again a one-week reprieve would benefit the roster-thin Mustangs, who dress fewer than 25 for Friday nights. WO-S can't afford to lose another player to injury or academic issues.
"It will all even up," said Hooks, whose team beat Jasper to open the season. "If we can make it to that open date and survive then we'll gain some guys."
But the tests just keep showing up by the talent-filled busload. The teams get better. So does the coaching. And winning proves more difficult.
This is non-district play, so doesn't a choice exist for whom a team plays?
Apparently not.
Top programs are a victim of their success. Not many teams line up and beg to play WO-S and Hooks with his 226 wins in 25 years.
So headaches come when scheduling arrives with the biennial realignment.
"I went a week after realignment with no games," PN-G coach Matt Burnett said. "It's like I had a plague. Everybody ran from me."
In non-district play, traditional power plays traditional power. Bunched into the mix are upstarts like Memorial, a four-year old program that consolidated three football teams. It also made a 2003 run to the Class 5A Division II quarterfinals that coincided with the last scheduling cycle.
"The non-district (schedule) is not by choice," Memorial coach Dean Colbert said. "Schools in this area didn't want to play us for some reason, and we're having to suffer for it."
The Lufkin game comes eight days before a road trip to Midland Lee, one of the longest bus rides Texas high school football can offer at 11 hours.
"I don't worry too much about strength of opponent involved," Colbert said. "We'll play any school in this area and the Houston area. I just don't like traveling that far."
Burnett can understand Colbert's conundrum.
"What happens is we play everybody else that they (teams) don't want to play either," Burnett said.
Hence Memorial travels to Midland to play the Rebels (0-2), a victim of non-district scheduling problems also due to past success. They played Class 5A No. 1 Southlake Carroll to open the season and No. 8 Euless Trinity last week.
Yet out of pothole-filled schedules, a jewel surfaces.
By the time district play arrives, West Orange-Stark, PN-G and Memorial will be hardened with experience against the state's powers and perennial contenders. Colbert and the rest of the Titans' coaching staff will know their players' strengths under the most hard-hitting conditions.
"Once you get into district there are no surprises," Colbert said.
The Titans tripped on the early season humps last year with a 0-3 record. But with the return of a healthy Jamaal Charles - now a running back at the University of Texas - Memorial won District 22-5A and made the playoffs.
"I think it will work this year, provided we stay healthy," Colbert said.
The thorny scheduling worked for PN-G, too. The Indians (1-1) tied for the District 20-4A title at 5-1. WO-S was a perfect 5-0 in District 24-3A.
"It's tough on our kids week-in and week-out," Burnett said, "but it makes us better."