MikeEast

I always enjoyed our team being in that position.. Its a great tactical advantage.

I would not like it either, but you have to see it from LaMarques point of view. What I say is a fact, not my opinion. Its certainly not what "I" think of Lumberton, I think Lumberton is totally legit and capable of going all the way IF they win the next 2 games.... I am saying that is what LaMarque thought of Lumberton.. I know those guys at LaMarque, I have seen the attitude for years, and I know their program a little,,,, go back and read their predictions and you will clearly see that LaMarque posters here,,, and I can assure you most everyone in LaMarque and all over Texas, saw Lumberton as nothing more than an easy win on the way to another title if they could get past Dayton. Lumberton is still NOBODY on the state wide scene,,,, these guys are not looking at Lumberton seriously,,,,, yet. But they will. 8) Dont get me wrong, beating LaMarque got everyones attention but the state is fully expecting a collapse as the pressure mounts. It takes an act of congress to get respect... Being from Nederland I know. We did what you are doing year after year and still got little respect. That is why LaMarque was so shocked. To them this was like losing to a freshman team.... Absolutely unthinkable. I have seen quality football all over Texas, state championship football for years and I know what I see. We know something that they DONT. Lumberton is the real deal and fully capable of going all the way. If it were not for Dayton I would already be predicting that they have a VERY strong chance of going all the way.. I think Lumberton will thump Waller and that the winner of the Dayton/Lumberton game will go on to the championship game barring any injuries, losing focus or getting over confident.

No question about the discipline thing... But kids having tantrums after a big loss is VERY common. I have seen teams do it a million times.. And like they say the bigger they are the harder they fall..... Teams, especially those undisciplined teams, that are not used to losing often do not go down gracefully especially when some little nobody team like Lumberton slaps a pop knot on their head.

The field is PLENTY big enough. I have made several games there,,, I went to the LaMarque side to get my hot chocolate and looking back at L Town there were a couple thousand seats left at Baytown. Dont get me wrong, the crowd was impressive but there was a lot more room than you think. DP will be packed, but it will fit you and its a nice stadium.

LOL : ,,,, yeah you will definitely fit L-Town, not to worry.. I have been there several times and it will hold you. Its a nice stadium too. Sheesh..... I like playing in a big roomy venue too but you have to take what you can get and there are MUCH worse options guys. The only thing I can say is there will NEVER be a concession stand that will be enough for you cornbread eating succers. I have never seen ANYONE ravage a concession stand like Lumberton... I went to the LaMArque side to get my hot chocolate Friday night, took about 2 minutes the Lumberton line would have taken 2 hours!! There were more people in the food line than in the dang stands the whole game!! ;D

Just remember that the next time Lumberton is sitting home for the playoffs. It would be great to see L-Town fans doing the same thing the rest of us are, when the L-Train is back home sitting in the station. Im just sayin'.....

LOL, wounded animal syndrome... not at all.. This aint my first rodeo. I have watched hundreds of teams win and lose high school football playoff games over the years, and I have seen it all up to and including police on the field. I have seen fans, coaches and players go absolutely berserk after a losing effort. Yeah LaMarque behaved very poorly and many of the students behaviour was totally unacceptable before, during and after the game. They were arrogant, boisterous, cocky, obnoxious and crude... But that sounds like a typical jock to me, they just did not do a very good job of restraining what the rest really wish they could do to the opposing teams players and fans as well.. I have seen all sorts of reactions after a team loses. Many kids lash out in frustration, throw helmets, play dirty at the end of a game, many cry, many just sit there in shock, many just do nothing. But they are all just kids and in this case LaMarque REALLY wanted to win just like Lumberton did.. They are human, they were frustrated and their hearts were broken. They reacted poorly and should be held accountable for their actions appropriately.... But that is for their coaches and parents to handle. I am not saying that it was ok,,, but take the expectation and hope that Lumberton had to win that game and multiply x10... Lumberton does not know what it feels like to fall off the throne, LaMarque does. Its one thing to lose when you have nothing to lose.... Being sacked in the biblical sense and falling off the top of the world can take losing to another level. Yes I do know what it feels like, just not as a football player. I am not saying it was ok,,, I am just saying that you might as well get used to it... you will see it a lot more if you continue to make the playoffs year after year.

I actually think that an automatic first down at the spot of the foul, or at the 1 if it's an end zone infraction is the more fair way to handle it because of the afformentioned reason. The way it is a penalty AGAINST ones self can be used as an advantage,,, that should never happen. I totally agree that a smart coach would gladly teach his kids to maul the receiver and take a first down 15 yards from the original line of scrimmage over giving a huge gain or a possible TD. Why in the world would you not do it if you know that you are about to give up something more significant? Taking advantage of the rules like that is smart, but it reveals a loophole that can actually work to make an advantage out of something that is supposed to be punishment. Thats why the NFL does it... its to keep the defense honest. Facemasks are pretty easy to see.. If the ref is paying attention its pretty easy to differentiate between something that is either dangerous or intentional versus an incidental contact with the face mask.

Interesting math but it does not account for WHO those numbers were put up against. Interestingly enough though I would guess that the strength of schedule has been pretty comparable for the two teams. Should be a good match up.

Yep, I concur. Except I think the win will be a little more convincing maybe 31-10 or something like that. I just dont think teams are prepared for how hungry Lumberton is. Plus Coach C or whoever is calling plays is calling incredibly smart games.

Hey man, whatever butters your bread 8) After hearing LaMarques battle cry, some lady behind me kept screaming after each Lumberton TD.... "WHO ARE WE???" "WE-ARE LUMBER-TON,, BOOOOYAH! WE ARE LUMBER-TON,, BOOOOYAH! WE ARE LUMBER-TON,, BOOOOYAH!" It was cracking me up!! ;D

Eh, they look "ok" on paper. Luckett had 90 carries 828 yards, about 9 yards per carry in the regular season. They probably average about 6-7 yards per carry collectively. They have 2 primary ball carriers, RB Luckett and the QB Jeremy Phillips,,, with a committee of other backs that have good a good number of carries. Collectively they have over 2000 yards on the ground and about 1300 yards (61% completion rate) in the air. What I remember they ran hard, hit hard and play to win. It looks like there run defense is extremely tough and they did not allow many yards on the ground to anyone but Lamar Consolidated, they gave a lot of points up to Bay City, Lamar Consolidated, and Brenham which are pretty potent and balanced offenses, two of those games were losing efforts. Most of the rest of their games they only allowed 7 poiints and just totally shutdown the running game.... except Nederland who won that game 21-14,,, which was before our defense imploded on us. Looks like an interesting matchup.. The teams dont look all that different on paper.

What happens when they score is a guy sitting on the 50 turns around with a big sign that says "ARE YOU READY" and he also screams "ARE YOU READY?".... the fans cheer in response,,,, then again he screams "ARE YOU READY?????" Then the fans respond........ "WE-ARE, LA-MARQUE COOO-GAHS WOOSH! WE ARE, LA-MARQUE COOO_GAHS WOOSH! WE ARE, LA-MARQUE COOO-GAHS WOOSH!" Its pretty cool and there is a ton of tradition behind it. I have sat on the LaMarque side and watched many a butt whippin clinic put on by the Cougars... I know that what you saw the other night from their players was not pretty but that is what happens when you have been winning since time began and dont ever want it to end especially coming off a state chanmpionship year.. At least the Cougars know how to stay hungry.

Yep, thats what I have seen each of the 3 times I have seen these guys play. Bottom line, they are the real deal and they are real hungry and are a real serious threat. I hope they win this week just so I can be there to watch them play Dayton again. I have been married for 18 years so I WILL be there again next week.. Cant wait to see another great game but I dont know if you guys can top the atmosphere Friday night, that was really something. 8)

Actually Waller did play some good teams this year. They are a more than formidable team. I would not underestimate ANY team in the playoffs. You better treat every team in the playoffs like they are South Lake Carroll if you know whats good for you.... Everyone is good by the 3rd round and anyone can win on any given night... Waller is going to bring a big bruising running back that is fast and a great running game with a passing game that works when they need it.. They are like PNG on steriods (figuratively speaking of course) and they bring the wood on defense. PNG took L Train down,,,, Waller can do it too,,, IF you get over confident. Just keep doing EXACTLY what you have been doing and playing with the exact same attitude and you guys will be extremely tough to beat... Get cocky and a lesser team is going to take you down..... You are heros already,,, its all lagniappe from here on out...

I just calls em like I sees em... I wanted PNG to win,,, but it was about what I expected... I will say that PNG shot themselves in the foot a bit on my opinion... LC could not stop PNGs running game and when it was clicking on 2 occasions they abandoned the running game and just killed 2 critical drives. I thought that PNGs defense is a really good job of handling Rogers and actually gave the offense chance after chance... But they just could not put a complete drive after the first score. Oh well,,, way to go PNG you guys had an awesome season and you have a lot to be proud of.... Cant wait to see you guys back at it again next season!!

Goretex duck hunting rain gear. 8)

LOL, took you this long to figure it out eh? 8) I am a huge fan of HSFB, not just a Bulldog fan. I really, truly, love the heart that the high school kids play with... I love their do or die spirit... Does not matter which team. I just love the whole experience. Nederland and PNG are my favorites, but I could watch playoffs all day, I dont care who is playing... I will be there tonight with a couple of friends. Rain or shine, I will be warm and dry... I can't wait for tonites game.

Thank you 8)

The "I told you so" was mostly for my old friend C4L who I have been doing this for 10 years with,,,,, he and I have talked, watched and predicted a LOT of football together offline as well as online. Plus a couple of others who tell me that just because I did not play high school football that I am not qualified to judge what I see.... as if. : I saw your earlier predictions as well, I thought you made great calls on the score but I didnt want to make solid predicitons since I had not seen TC play at all this season. But reviewing their game stats online made it pretty clear that both LaMarque and TC were not as unbeatable as the hype. However, I did see how good Lumberton is and I have been taking heat for predicting Lumberton and Dayton to meet in the playoffs since before the Nederland Lumberton game, actually right after the end of the PNG Lumberton game..... They who gave me crap about it know who they are. Those guys never expected Lumberton to get anywhere near this far. Waller will be no easy team to beat, and Lumberton must realize they if they let up or start to swagger in the least bit they will lgo down hard. If they play with the same determinedness, resolve, will, focus and heart that they had last night,,,, they might even shock a few more teams before they are done, if you know what I mean. As far as PNG, I sure hope you are right big guy. I will be there among friends pulling for them tonight but I am not as confident about PNG as I was last nights games.

I told you guys that 22-4A was not over rated and that those 23-4A teams were. It would be great if PNG could make it a sweep but I dont think they will. Sooner or later you guys are going to start listening to me...... : ;D BIG congrats to Dayton and most especially Lumberton. You guys keep on rollin.. I tried to resist, but I must admit that I got caught up tonite in the excitement and passion that the L-Town team and fans have.... Its absolutely intoxicating to be around that kind of excitement again.... Its been years since I have felt that kind of genuine community excitement!! WOOOOOO WOOOOOO!!!

tooooooooold you........ Way to go Lumberton!!! I really enjoyed being there and getting to experience the excitement and newness of it all.... What a wonderful night for a football lover like me....

I know G. LaMarque should be the favorite and rightfully so by picking rights,,, but I dont think that this is going to be liken to a round 1 blowout game against some nobody team. You know I watch a lot of ball and I have a decent eye,, I am tellin ya' Lumberton is really good man, these guys can play football. Their defense is quick, hard hitting, smart, physical and disciplined but not overly conservative and they play really smart offense too. They are creative but not stupid like the Dogs have been before with playcalling and they dont make mistakes. I would give LaMarque much better odds against Waller than I would against Lumberton. Should be fun to watch. Gimme a call if you wanna hook up and watch the game. I will be heading over by myself to watch the game and then spending the night with a friend in Dickinson.

Not me. I basing it on the fact that LaMarque lost the important games and their defense is giving up points to teams that can run the football. Also there offense is run by committee and has been good but not unstoppable. Again, I dont predict a Lumberton win here,,,, but I definitely dont predict a sure win for LaMarque. This should turn out to be a really good game.

I know what makes comfortable and historical sense here and that is to pick LaMarque.. Thats the same logic of why many were picking Nederland over Lumberton. That is, that when it comes to crunch time, they typically win this game. But history does not win games, and things are different this year. LaMarque is not the unbeatable goliath that they have been in the past and Lumberton is a seriously good football team, not the Raiders of old. These guys from Lumberton know that LaMarque is not a super-team this year and they are coming to win this game, not just to enjoy the experience. Yeah its easy and safe to pick LaMarque but its not necessarily logical to heavily favor them in this game. I would say if anything its too close to call because LaMarque has proven themselves plently beatable and Lumberton has proven that play to win and leave it all on the field.. And let me tell you something else Lumberton is extremely hungry and they are extremely GOOD. They are for real. They might get beaten by LaMarque and its a 50/50 chance that whoever you pick you will be right. But tonight Lumbertons biggest foe will be the La-Marque Cooooo-gah hype,,, succumbing to it will most certainly ensure a convincing loss. If they go in there and do what they have been doing they have a very good opportunity to shock the arrogant and boisterous Cougar nation.