BurnetBulldog
12-10-2002, 11:07 PM
Burnet duo limps into state title game
Quarterback McGee, receiver Shipley fight through injuries
By Rick Cantu
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, December 10, 2002
Quarterback Stephen McGee has a sprained knee that will be re-examined after the season. Receiver Jordan Shipley has a sprained big toe that shoots pain throughout his leg whenever he makes a cut.
Burnet's dynamic duo is limping to the state championship game.
The Bulldogs (14-0) can wrap up a perfect season if they defeat defending state champion Everman (13-1) at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Don't feel too sorry for Burnet. McGee and Shipley carried those injuries into Saturday's Class 3A Division I semifinal game against Jasper, a 46-28 Bulldogs victory at Kyle Field in College Station. McGee passed for 341 yards and five touchdowns, and Shipley caught 13 passes for 220 yards and two of those touchdowns.
For Burnet to win its first state football title, both players need to have another good game.
Burnet Coach Bob Shipley -- Jordan's father -- predicted that neither player will miss a snap Saturday.
"The greatest thing about McGee is that he's a fearless competitor," Bob Shipley said Monday. "There are a lot of good quarterbacks who have all the tools but are missing something. He's got competitive spirit to go with his God-given ability."
Jordan Shipley has proven he can play with pain, too. He has lived with the sprained big toe for two weeks, and last week he had an ingrown toenail removed. Shipley reinjured the toe after being tackled following a 32-yard catch against Jasper in the second quarter and played sparingly in the second half.
"Jordan was begging me to put him back in," the coach said. "He knows he can't make the injury any worse than it already is. He's not going to let the pain stop him."
McGee said there is only one way to keep the junior wideout from playing -- "you'd have to rip his heart out."
For Burnet, a Hill Country town of about 4,700 people, this will be the biggest football game since the 1991 team lost the state championship game 7-0 to Groesbeck at the Astrodome.
Everman, just south of Fort Worth, advanced to the final by defeating Forney 21-14 Saturday night at Texas Stadium. Among the spectators were Bob Shipley and his coaching staff.
Everman has exceptional speed, Shipley said. He was particularly impressed by running back Theo Miller, who rushed for 170 yards in the semifinal.
Everman wanted to play at Texas Stadium, but Burnet won the coin toss for choice of stadium for the fifth straight week and chose to have the game in San Antonio.
After Saturday's victory over Jasper, the Bulldogs received a police escort from College Station back to Burnet, 60 miles northwest of Austin.
Quarterback McGee, receiver Shipley fight through injuries
By Rick Cantu
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, December 10, 2002
Quarterback Stephen McGee has a sprained knee that will be re-examined after the season. Receiver Jordan Shipley has a sprained big toe that shoots pain throughout his leg whenever he makes a cut.
Burnet's dynamic duo is limping to the state championship game.
The Bulldogs (14-0) can wrap up a perfect season if they defeat defending state champion Everman (13-1) at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Don't feel too sorry for Burnet. McGee and Shipley carried those injuries into Saturday's Class 3A Division I semifinal game against Jasper, a 46-28 Bulldogs victory at Kyle Field in College Station. McGee passed for 341 yards and five touchdowns, and Shipley caught 13 passes for 220 yards and two of those touchdowns.
For Burnet to win its first state football title, both players need to have another good game.
Burnet Coach Bob Shipley -- Jordan's father -- predicted that neither player will miss a snap Saturday.
"The greatest thing about McGee is that he's a fearless competitor," Bob Shipley said Monday. "There are a lot of good quarterbacks who have all the tools but are missing something. He's got competitive spirit to go with his God-given ability."
Jordan Shipley has proven he can play with pain, too. He has lived with the sprained big toe for two weeks, and last week he had an ingrown toenail removed. Shipley reinjured the toe after being tackled following a 32-yard catch against Jasper in the second quarter and played sparingly in the second half.
"Jordan was begging me to put him back in," the coach said. "He knows he can't make the injury any worse than it already is. He's not going to let the pain stop him."
McGee said there is only one way to keep the junior wideout from playing -- "you'd have to rip his heart out."
For Burnet, a Hill Country town of about 4,700 people, this will be the biggest football game since the 1991 team lost the state championship game 7-0 to Groesbeck at the Astrodome.
Everman, just south of Fort Worth, advanced to the final by defeating Forney 21-14 Saturday night at Texas Stadium. Among the spectators were Bob Shipley and his coaching staff.
Everman has exceptional speed, Shipley said. He was particularly impressed by running back Theo Miller, who rushed for 170 yards in the semifinal.
Everman wanted to play at Texas Stadium, but Burnet won the coin toss for choice of stadium for the fifth straight week and chose to have the game in San Antonio.
After Saturday's victory over Jasper, the Bulldogs received a police escort from College Station back to Burnet, 60 miles northwest of Austin.