dBerrySports

No lie, that story almost brought me to tears. He's a great man and with all he's been through, winning state on Thursday would just be even more amazing. Funny enough, I'm tagged in a picture on Facebook with coach Johnston and who I now realize is Darwin Barlow. Funny, had no idea that little kid would be such a major component of a state title run 4 years later.

Teams in Texas should be more prepared than any other state I know to travel. Once the playoffs start, you're more than likely traveling every week from the first round through the state championship. Teams in the major metro areas in general don't have to travel much early on because they're usually playing teams from another part of that same metro area. Places like SETX, East TX, West TX (especially out there) and way down south are traveling like crazy pretty much from jump. Home-field advantage plays a factor, to say otherwise seems silly to me. But these teams have to win 5 games just to get the HFA at state. Now, there are some teams that play at AT&T Stadium throughout the playoffs, just like the Alamodome and NRG. If you play there once or twice before state, you're used to the stadium and the little things about it. 89falcon seems a bit arrogant about DFW, but they do win. They have a lot of built in advantages that other parts of the state don't seem to have. HFA by itself won't win a game. But it is an advantage.

Doesn't East Chambers also have an indoor facility?

Wish I could go, but school doesn't get out for us until Friday. So I'll be tuned in Thursday & Friday.

So what's the lowdown on Gunter? Clearly really good but does anyone know more about them? And how Newton will match up with them?

How does Manvel match up against Denton Ryan or Highland Park? They look like an unstoppable force right now

I'm not a small-town person at all lol but I love Newton, probably my favorite small town ever. People have been great to me up there. And coach Johnston, even through his sickness, always welcomed me with open arms up there (even when I wrote about him criticizing the Newton fans the last season they went to state). I said that to say, congrats Eagles! Finish the job this time, I know yall can do it.

This one's about over so I'm gonna switch over to the WOS/Wimberly game since it's still close. Congrats Eagles!!!!

Darwin Barlow with a 63-yard TD run. Eagles fans, start packing for Arlington. XP is good, Newton leads Boling 56-28, 4th quarter

TD Newton, Darwin Barlow. Eagles starting to blow the game open. 2 pt conversion is good. Newton 49, Boling 28.

Newton defense with a big 4th down stand to turn Boling over on downs. Eagles ball. 9:30 left in the game

TD Newton. 2 pt conversion good. Eagles lead Boling 41-28, start of the 4th quarter

I hadn't seen this Jackson kid before. I googled him tonight and my goodness. I see why he's going to Bama.

Vernon Jackson with a 19-yard TD run on 4th down for Boling. XP is good. Newton leads Boling 33-28, 3rd quarter

Boling can't hold onto the ball tonight. Newton recovers the fumble on their own 13-yard line.

HALFTIME: Newton 33, Boling 21

Boling fumbles again trying a trick play and Newton recovers it

XP no good. Newton leads 33-21, almost halftime

Josh Foster to Noah Williams, TD Newton. Ran that 2 minute offense to perfection and only needed about 45 seconds.

Newton forces a Boling 3 & out and a punt, first of the night

Hook & ladder gives Newton the lead. 27-21 Newton leads Boling

Boling fumbles again and Newton recovers it.

TD Newton. 2 pt conversion is no good. 8:29 left in the first half, Boling 21, Newton 20

Newton's offense has awoken.

TD Boling. XP is good. 21-14 Boling early in the 2nd quarter