Over on the Smoaky website, most of the carthage faithful are already assuming a win and a date at Jerry World.
Liberty Hill
Carthage
Over on the Smoaky website, most of the carthage faithful are already assuming a win and a date at Jerry World.
You Talking to Me?
I can't help but think of Celina/LH in 2006. I remember after the Bobcats beat Vernon in the semifinals, going home and watching highlights of LH/Hondo and laughing. I thought there was no way in hell those purple Panthers even deserved to be on the field with Celina. I remember being on here and going on and on about how the Slot-T was just about the worst thing you could run against the vaunted 10-1 defense, and how it was literally designed to stop this kind of team (and, it really was). And then I remember being in Baylor's stadium, seeing Bode and Allman and how efficient LH ran that offense, and how insanely difficult it was to track the football, and I was blown away, and I knew we were going to be in a dogfight. It was, obviously, and the Panthers squeaked one out.
So, if Carthage is of a similar mindset as many of us Celina fans (mainly looking at myself here) were a decade ago, they're going to be in for a shock.
On the flip side, after we lost that game in 2006, I remember talking to one of the coaches, and he said, and I quote, "Butch (our head coach a d-coordinator) will never lose to that team again." Butch Ford got his chance two years later, and Celina mopped the floor with a still very good Panthers team. So, if you've got recent experience against THE slot-T (not the wing-t or any variation, but the true-blue slot-T), you've got a leg up. And if there's a coach out there who's got some magic in his pocket, it's Surratt.
All that said, this LH team reminds me of that 2006 squad, and they felt somewhat fated for the title. I think they shock the Dawgs and get it done and take on La Vega in Jerry's World next week.
Texas Forever.
And for the Carthage folks who think they'll have a huge speed advantage over LH, you may check that at the gate. Kelvontay will be the most athletic on the field and probably the fastest, no question. But the Panthers, from what I've seen, are quicker off the ball along both lines, and Kyle Harrison in the backfield has the burst and the vision to blow past Carthage's LBs and secondary. He'll break some long ones.
Texas Forever.
That was a slobber Knocker
I saw that too, Panfan. The Panthers are relaxed and as always will leave it all on the field. As for me, Y’all know I believe in this bunch of young men to a fault, I always have. I don’t believe any team in the State has out worked them. Looking forward to this game, there will also be a surprise tomorrow... hint: nostalgia from the Championship years.
Here is an interview with Carthage’s Coach Surratt , I agree with him when he said: no one has played Carthage as hard as Liberty Hill will, These LHHS Boys are relentless.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xMtXSh...ature=youtu.be
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3rdCROWN12/21/2018
Awesome post dOtcOm! Brings back lots of memories. I remember being on the other side of that banter leading up to the title game
I must bring it up though: the rematch between Celina and LH in 2008 had one thing missing...Walker wasn't the OC anymore. He had moved on to be HC at Rodgers.
While Celina DEFINITELY mopped the floor (I was at the game), it wasn't quite the same LH team (imo). Walker is back now, though, and it should be a great game tonight in Houston!
What is the weather supposed to be for the game tonight. I can tell you here in the Austin area it is just cold and very very windy .
That 2008 team didn't have Bode or Allman, either. They were still a pretty dang good team, though, but you're right, Walker would have made things closer. But, Celina's 2008 team was nothing like the 2006 and 2007 teams either.
Since we're talking about that era ... I think we all would've paid good money to see Celina and LH go at it in 2007. Of that three-year span (06-08), I think that was the best iteration of both those teams. I know the 2007 Celina team is one of our all-time greats. A top-three team all-time for us, in my opinion.
Texas Forever.
i couldnt believe they were going to kick it,i thought why are they letting the clock run down.Then Boom nailed it
Yeah, man 2007 was basically ... who's going to lose to LH and Celina in the Div. I/II title games.
And Lavey was a monster. Crazy thing is he was a monster in 2006 as a freshman, and as a sophomore in 2007. He was very good in 2008. And one of the difference makers in that state title game — apart from Dwight Smith being a friggin grown man with superhuman ability — was Carthage's ability to get o-lineman to Lavey, which no other team had done all year. It didn't help that our best defensive lineman, whose primary job was to keep Lavey free, broke his leg in pregame (freak deal). Things could've gone differently, but who knows. Smith was insanely good, and Carthage's offensive line was unbelievable. We certainly would've seen more Lavey/Smith collisions, and good gosh, those might've registered on seismographs.
Texas Forever.