CWTS

Reliant did this because the Texans are home the first 3 weeks of the high school playoffs.  The only time Reliant will be available for playoff games will be the 4th and 5th rounds this upcoming year. With the new turf for HS games they wanted to get some use out of it so they opened up 4 regular season weekends. La Marque moved their Sept. 20th game with Lamar Consolidated to Reliant.  It's my understanding they were asked because the La Marque-Coldspring game drew so well last November. 

Courtesy of Matt Stepp of TOC... For the vast majority of programs in the state an 11-2 season would be looked at as an unmitigated success, but for Mike Jackson and the La Marque Cougars, 11-2 is a season full of what if's. "To be honest, we felt like we were among the top 3 or 4 teams in the entire state last year. We knew how good Navasota was and we felt like the winner of that game had a great shot to win it all, Navasota was an outstanding ball club that beat us and then went on to the title, hats off to those guys for sure," said Coach Jackson. The Cougars haven't forgotten about the loss and Coach Jackson hopes it can be a little bit of extra fuel to a fire that leads to another state title in Galveston County, "This off-season has been tough, the kids have worked hard and they remember that feeling after losing, hopefully we won't feel like that again. We want to finish the job in 2013." Heading into 2012, La Marque had a ton of experience on the defensive side of the ball, but offensively the Cougars were fairly young. The script is flipped for 2013 as La Marque brings back eight starters on offense including four of five offensive lineman. "We've got great experience back on offense, we need to get the QB situation locked down but I think we've got a candidate who will do a good job. We are going to rely on our big offensive line a lot, hopefully we'll be able to lean on people and wear them down late in games," said the third year HC at La Marque Mike Jackson. 2013 will be a bit of a retooling year for the Coogs on the defensive side of the ball as just four starters return. "I feel good about the experience we have back at linebacker, those guys will be the leaders on defense. We'll be young up front and in the secondary, but I think some of our more inexperienced guys have what it takes to fill those gaps," said Jackson. La Marque's JV squad finished 8-2 a year ago and with that influx of talent combined with the experience on offense the sky is the limit for the Coogs, "There's no question in my mind we have the potential to be a better football team in 2013, we've got a good junior class so if those guys mature I think we can do some great things," said the La Marque HC. With no spring football at the 3A level, expect La Marque to once again be a force on the 7 on 7 scene in the Greater Houston area and in the Division II SQTs in May and June.

[quote name="AggiesAreWe" post="1382171" timestamp="1362332905"] Where I sat at the press table last night on the floor was in front of the Yates section of fans. Many were commenting about how the regional finals should have been the Silsbee game. I spoke to several Yates fans last night during halftime and after game and all agreed it was a shame the Silsbee/Yates game was not the final game and some even mentioned it was worthy of the two being at the state tourney. Just an unlucky draw of the districts as the brackets go. [/quote] Now you know how La Marque felt in football. Not only did we know the winner of our game would kick WOS the next week but it was pretty obvious the winner of the LM-Navasota game was going to win state.  So yes Silsbee, we feel your pain. On another note if yates does win state that means both our football and basketball teams got taken out by the state champs.

Padilla's projection has La Marque in D1 based on enrollment on last enrollment figures.  They have 648 in the high school, so they will almost certainly be D2.

[quote name="AggiesAreWe" post="1376389" timestamp="1361336504"] 3A Area Round West Orange-Stark vs. LaMarque Friday, Feb. 22  6pm East Chambers HS [/quote] Game is at 7 pm at East Chambers HS, not 6 pm.

Coach Launius will do a great job there.  Coog Nation was sad to see him go.

Navasota has a great team. I think it's going to be pretty apparent that the best two teams in the state played last week when they beat my Coogs. I don't see anyone touching them the rest of the playoffs.

[quote name="texaggies07" post="1268090" timestamp="1347417795"] I have seen La Marque on video and yes they are very quick and athletic up front and very quick in the secondard.  I dont think they are any better than Carthage in 2010 and I would rank them right there with Navasota this year. I think if we fix some of our problems from the Navasota game we can beat them.  I dont think La Marque is really that good offensively.  They have athletes outside and a good little back, but there offensive line is very suspect.  The QB is gonna be under pressure all night long and the running game will probably get shut down just like Navasota.  Their QB does not throw as well as the Navasota QB.  This is all coming from what I saw on film of them. [/quote] Before I respond I want to say I have a lot of respect for Coldspring and their program...you don't go 28-3 the last 2 years without having it together. Now...my thoughts on your post...I will agree with some of your points on the offense.  They are VERY young.  Our coaches have said all year that it would take 4-5 games for them to mesh...they only returned 2 starters on that side of the ball.  Having said that...I would bet in the 2nd half of the season and in the playoffs that your opinion of how good they are might change a little. That are averaging 34.5 points a game being "not very good" and if LM sees CS in the area round all those sophomores and juniors might just have it together and be truly scary. The other thing to keep in mind...how is Coldspring going to stand up to the pace of the LM offense.  If you haven't seen them in person and what film would not show you is that they are the most up-tempo team you will see at the high school level.  If any of your kids go 2-ways and are suspect to cramping...well I'll let you see for yourself Friday night. Finally, there is one big difference in Navasota and LM.  Navasota (who is a GREAT program as well) is a throw first team.  LM prides themselves on being a physical, tough team that can also throw.  Big difference.  They try to physically and mentally wear the other team down with their defense and their fast pace on offense. I am curious how the Coldspring front 7 handles the pace and LM coming right at them as the game wears on. In my opinion, for what it's worth...I want to see how if the Coldpsring kids will wear down from having to play so many snaps while LM has zero 2 way starters, and I want to see if Coldspring can throw the ball against LM.  If they can't throw and LM knows it...it will be very difficult to move the football consistently. But that's why the play the games on the field.  Everyone from CS have a safe trip down to Etheredge Friday night.

FNF Top 25..... 1. Carthage 2. Stephenville 3. Navasota 4. La Marque 5. La Vega 6. Wimberley 7. Celina 8. Columbia 9. Gilmer 10. Alvarado 11. Henderson 12. Argyle 13. West Orange-Stark 14. Kilgore 15. El Campo 16. Paris 17. Kennedale 18. Chapel Hill 19. Lubbock Cooper 20. Bellville 21. Coldspring 22. Abilene Wylie 23. Liberty Hill 24. Monahans 25. Atlanta

I was just informed about this and thought this was a really neat deal.  This upcoming season a gentleman from out of state is visiting 11 schools during the season and has been given all access to team meetings, practices, coaches meetings, etc. from the Saturday before the game up until the game ends on that week.  He will be writing a book when the season is over summarizing the Texas High School football experience. The two 3A schools chosen were La Marque & Carthage.  He will be in La Marque August 25-30 for the Week 0 game against Galveston Ball and in Carthage September 1-7 for the Week 1 game against Lindale. Below is a link to his website with his complete schedule and info on the book. [Hidden Content]

You guys are getting me more excited hearing all this. Sounds like we got a good one. I take it if we play WOS in the playoffs there will be some personal feelings involved. Lol

Thanks for the info. I'm glad to hear the good reports. I didn't realize he was a former coordinator. Jackson has 5 former head coaches and I think 3 former coordinators on his staff counting Foreman so he should fit in well. I heard he is working with Track as well so good stuff.

Looking forward to this season getting kicked off... LM can't afford to look past more than 1 game at a time....starting off with their 2 biggest rivals...G-Ball and Texas City...then playing Coldspring, Lamar Consolidated and St. Pius X...if we make it through those 5 games healthy we feel we'll be ready for when it starts counting.

La Marque supporter here.... Can someone tell me about Coach Foreman?  We just added him to our staff and I know he was at WOS.