JimThorpe

They have been blocking.  They start kind of slow, Giddings and WOS were clogging it up at the beginning, but as the game wears on the Tigers just get stronger and bigger holes start materializing.  Especially in the 4th quarter where they have been dominant.  We've outscored our last two opponents 49 to 14 in the second half and 32 - 0 in the 4th quarter.
 
 
 
 

Getting a couple of scores down is our strategy to lure an opponent to sleep.  Then we strike late leaving him no time to recover.
And it's worked beautifully for two weeks in a row. 
We play a more subtle game with West Orange.  It's almost frighteningly elegant.  We let them roll over us during district play so that they can convince themselves that they are much better than we are.  And then, when it matters, in the postseason, we set the hook.  They never see it coming.  
 

Yea we had them right where we wanted them and then the game was called.

The Tiger Cubs were just too pesky and didn't give the Wolves any real good chances.  
The team on the floor tonight was the smallest Silsbee varsity I've ever seen at any point in the last 25 years, with or without the football kids.  They really did look like the Tiger cubs.  They are hard workers though and that makes up for a lot.

Silsbee at No. 8?  It's fine with me but perhaps reputation is a big part of that equation.   

It wasn't 5 TD's, it was 4 TD's and 2 field goals and one very exciting and unusual looking 2 point conversion to tie the game with only a few minutes left.
It was a strange 4th quarter.  You kind of had to be there. WOS seemed to be in control with a 28 - 17 lead going into the 4th and then the wheels just came off.  Big plays, unlikely plays, a 48 yard field goal, a fake punt that shouldn't have worked, a lateral option pass that shouldn't have worked.  A Tiger defense that had been porous all night suddenly stiffened into a brick wall.  It was just one of those things.   Fate took a hand.
 

It wasn't 5 TD's, it was 4 TD's and 2 field goals and one very exciting and unusual looking 2 point conversion to tie the game with only a few minutes left.
It was a strange 4th quarter.  You kind of had to be there. WOS seemed to be in control with a 28 - 17 lead going into the 4th and then the wheels just came off.  Big plays, unlikely plays, a 48 yard field goal, a fake punt that shouldn't have worked, a lateral option pass that shouldn't have worked.  A Tiger defense that had been porous all night suddenly stiffened into a brick wall.  It was just one of those things.   Fate took a hand.
 

They have a good shot.  They just scored 35 points against the best defense in the state.  
The place where the Tigers had the edge was in the kicking game and that proved to be decisive.  Our place kicker scored 10 points and sent most kickoffs into the endzone.  Other than that it was a toss up.
Clearly it was the breaks and the big plays that decided that game.  As Yankees pitcher Lefty Gomez said back in the 30's, "I'd rather be lucky than good."
Anyway, It's been a great two years.  Even if both games had gone the other way it still would have been great.  But now Carthage has moved down into Div II and all bets are off.  We could both be in for a dry spell.  Our last debacle against them still hurts.  It was like Pearl Harbor.  We had no warning.
 

They have a good shot.  They just scored 35 points against the best defense in the state.  
The place where the Tigers had the edge was in the kicking game and that proved to be decisive.  Our place kicker scored 10 points and sent most kickoffs into the endzone.  Other than that it was a toss up.
Clearly it was the breaks and the big plays that decided that game.  As Yankees pitcher Lefty Gomez said back in the 30's, "I'd rather be lucky than good."
Anyway, It's been a great two years.  Even if both games had gone the other way it still would have been great.  But now Carthage has moved down into Div II and all bets are off.  We could both be in for a dry spell.  Our last debacle against them still hurts.  It was like Pearl Harbor.  We had no warning.
 

It's simple to explain, destiny took a hand?  
The next two weeks will confirm that one way or another.
One thing I know for sure, it was the zaniest 4th quarter I've ever seen.  Even though the deficit was never more than 11 the comeback seemed bigger, almost epic.  A season full of unlikely plays in one quarter.
 
 

I'll just say that the 4th quarter tonight was like the Ben Hur chariot race of thrilling high school 4th quarters.
 

It's simple to explain, destiny took a hand?  
The next two weeks will confirm that one way or another.
One thing I know for sure, it was the zaniest 4th quarter I've ever seen.  Even though the deficit was never more than 11 the comeback seemed bigger, almost epic.  A season full of unlikely plays in one quarter.
 
 

It is 4A after all.  A small team can make headway if they play smart and with confidence.  I wouldn't be that surprised to see Silsbee make it back to the Region Tournament.  They may not make it through district undefeated but that will just make the next couple of months more interesting and more fun.  
 

Oh, I do hope you'll need your rain gear.
Who else is superstitious about sports?  I certainly was when I played back in the ancient times.  Silly.  I had to eat a grapefruit on Thursday night watching a particular TV show or else I would jinx us.  Don't remember the show, don't remember how it got started.  
Last night I felt I had to change seats at the half because the Tigers were flat.  Seemed like the Buffaloes had the formula.  The Tigers weren't out of it by any means but they needed some breaks and some big plays.     So I changed seats and look what happened, 28 unanswered points in the second half.  My rational brain tells me that it's happenstance coupled with the fact that the Tigers stepped up and performed.  But my primitive brain tells me it was all because I changed seats.
Last year at Legacy there was a moment when it looked like Cuero was about to take control for good.  The grandkids were with us there at Legacy and they are big Harry Potter fans.  Cuero had just scored and was driving again so I told them needed something so they should cast a spell.  Happily they obliged.  They consulted among themselves and came up with a hex and chanted some Potter stuff and waved their arms and the next play the Tigers recovered a fumble and ran it back for a touchdown.  I mean the very next play!  Remember the play?  It was hilarious!  You should have seen their faces.  "Granddaddy!  It worked!  It actually worked!  We did it!  We did it!"  It's become legend in our family already.
See?  That's how these things get started.
And now it's the rain.  If it rains the Tigers will beat the Mustangs in playoff situations.  The quality of the teams has nothing to do with it.  It's the rain you see.  I was there in 98, wasn't it at TJ stadium?  My daughter was a senior.  I was there last year when it was obvious to everyone that WOS looked very uncomfortable right from the start but the Tigers seemed to be thrilled thrilled that it was storming.  Weather is the great equalized and that's factual and reasonable.  But what day it decides to rain is happenstance.  And I love it.  And why not?Usually these things are decided in delivery rooms 17 or 18 years ago or by who moves to what town are by who can find and keep the best coach.  But every now and then fate rears it's disturbing head. 
I wonder if the Mustangs would trade every single one of those regular season wins for the two Tiger postseason wins?  Oh those lovely intangibles.

Anyway, PM showers on Thursday but it will have moved off by Friday.  Oh well.  Doesn't mean the Tigers have to lose.  Does it?  I'm calling the grandkids.

Yes they do.  You've got Silsbee and Wimberly and then 6 top ten ranked teams.  But really it's anybody's to win.  They are all good games.  The best out of the 4 looks to be No. 1 Pleasant Grove vs. No. 6 Gilmer in a rematch of the district game which PG won 37-24.  Gilmer played well against Carthage in a 24-15 loss and and beat Newton 16-0 in preseason.  And you know what Newton did to Silsbee in preseason - is was a blowout.  But Silsbee is not a good early season team.  It's like two different programs, one before Halloween and one after.

Oh, I do hope you'll need your rain gear.
Who else is superstitious about sports?  I certainly was when I played back in the ancient times.  Silly.  I had to eat a grapefruit on Thursday night watching a particular TV show or else I would jinx us.  Don't remember the show, don't remember how it got started.  
Last night I felt I had to change seats at the half because the Tigers were flat.  Seemed like the Buffaloes had the formula.  The Tigers weren't out of it by any means but they needed some breaks and some big plays.     So I changed seats and look what happened, 28 unanswered points in the second half.  My rational brain tells me that it's happenstance coupled with the fact that the Tigers stepped up and performed.  But my primitive brain tells me it was all because I changed seats.
Last year at Legacy there was a moment when it looked like Cuero was about to take control for good.  The grandkids were with us there at Legacy and they are big Harry Potter fans.  Cuero had just scored and was driving again so I told them needed something so they should cast a spell.  Happily they obliged.  They consulted among themselves and came up with a hex and chanted some Potter stuff and waved their arms and the next play the Tigers recovered a fumble and ran it back for a touchdown.  I mean the very next play!  Remember the play?  It was hilarious!  You should have seen their faces.  "Granddaddy!  It worked!  It actually worked!  We did it!  We did it!"  It's become legend in our family already.
See?  That's how these things get started.
And now it's the rain.  If it rains the Tigers will beat the Mustangs in playoff situations.  The quality of the teams has nothing to do with it.  It's the rain you see.  I was there in 98, wasn't it at TJ stadium?  My daughter was a senior.  I was there last year when it was obvious to everyone that WOS looked very uncomfortable right from the start but the Tigers seemed to be thrilled thrilled that it was storming.  Weather is the great equalized and that's factual and reasonable.  But what day it decides to rain is happenstance.  And I love it.  And why not?Usually these things are decided in delivery rooms 17 or 18 years ago or by who moves to what town are by who can find and keep the best coach.  But every now and then fate rears it's disturbing head. 
I wonder if the Mustangs would trade every single one of those regular season wins for the two Tiger postseason wins?  Oh those lovely intangibles.

Anyway, PM showers on Thursday but it will have moved off by Friday.  Oh well.  Doesn't mean the Tigers have to lose.  Does it?  I'm calling the grandkids.

Oh, I do hope you'll need your rain gear.
Who else is superstitious about sports?  I certainly was when I played back in the ancient times.  Silly.  I had to eat a grapefruit on Thursday night watching a particular TV show or else I would jinx us.  Don't remember the show, don't remember how it got started.  
Last night I felt I had to change seats at the half because the Tigers were flat.  Seemed like the Buffaloes had the formula.  The Tigers weren't out of it by any means but they needed some breaks and some big plays.     So I changed seats and look what happened, 28 unanswered points in the second half.  My rational brain tells me that it's happenstance coupled with the fact that the Tigers stepped up and performed.  But my primitive brain tells me it was all because I changed seats.
Last year at Legacy there was a moment when it looked like Cuero was about to take control for good.  The grandkids were with us there at Legacy and they are big Harry Potter fans.  Cuero had just scored and was driving again so I told them needed something so they should cast a spell.  Happily they obliged.  They consulted among themselves and came up with a hex and chanted some Potter stuff and waved their arms and the next play the Tigers recovered a fumble and ran it back for a touchdown.  I mean the very next play!  Remember the play?  It was hilarious!  You should have seen their faces.  "Granddaddy!  It worked!  It actually worked!  We did it!  We did it!"  It's become legend in our family already.
See?  That's how these things get started.
And now it's the rain.  If it rains the Tigers will beat the Mustangs in playoff situations.  The quality of the teams has nothing to do with it.  It's the rain you see.  I was there in 98, wasn't it at TJ stadium?  My daughter was a senior.  I was there last year when it was obvious to everyone that WOS looked very uncomfortable right from the start but the Tigers seemed to be thrilled thrilled that it was storming.  Weather is the great equalized and that's factual and reasonable.  But what day it decides to rain is happenstance.  And I love it.  And why not?Usually these things are decided in delivery rooms 17 or 18 years ago or by who moves to what town are by who can find and keep the best coach.  But every now and then fate rears it's disturbing head. 
I wonder if the Mustangs would trade every single one of those regular season wins for the two Tiger postseason wins?  Oh those lovely intangibles.

Anyway, PM showers on Thursday but it will have moved off by Friday.  Oh well.  Doesn't mean the Tigers have to lose.  Does it?  I'm calling the grandkids.

Oh, I do hope you'll need your rain gear.
Who else is superstitious about sports?  I certainly was when I played back in the ancient times.  Silly.  I had to eat a grapefruit on Thursday night watching a particular TV show or else I would jinx us.  Don't remember the show, don't remember how it got started.  
Last night I felt I had to change seats at the half because the Tigers were flat.  Seemed like the Buffaloes had the formula.  The Tigers weren't out of it by any means but they needed some breaks and some big plays.     So I changed seats and look what happened, 28 unanswered points in the second half.  My rational brain tells me that it's happenstance coupled with the fact that the Tigers stepped up and performed.  But my primitive brain tells me it was all because I changed seats.
Last year at Legacy there was a moment when it looked like Cuero was about to take control for good.  The grandkids were with us there at Legacy and they are big Harry Potter fans.  Cuero had just scored and was driving again so I told them needed something so they should cast a spell.  Happily they obliged.  They consulted among themselves and came up with a hex and chanted some Potter stuff and waved their arms and the next play the Tigers recovered a fumble and ran it back for a touchdown.  I mean the very next play!  Remember the play?  It was hilarious!  You should have seen their faces.  "Granddaddy!  It worked!  It actually worked!  We did it!  We did it!"  It's become legend in our family already.
See?  That's how these things get started.
And now it's the rain.  If it rains the Tigers will beat the Mustangs in playoff situations.  The quality of the teams has nothing to do with it.  It's the rain you see.  I was there in 98, wasn't it at TJ stadium?  My daughter was a senior.  I was there last year when it was obvious to everyone that WOS looked very uncomfortable right from the start but the Tigers seemed to be thrilled thrilled that it was storming.  Weather is the great equalized and that's factual and reasonable.  But what day it decides to rain is happenstance.  And I love it.  And why not?Usually these things are decided in delivery rooms 17 or 18 years ago or by who moves to what town are by who can find and keep the best coach.  But every now and then fate rears it's disturbing head. 
I wonder if the Mustangs would trade every single one of those regular season wins for the two Tiger postseason wins?  Oh those lovely intangibles.

Anyway, PM showers on Thursday but it will have moved off by Friday.  Oh well.  Doesn't mean the Tigers have to lose.  Does it?  I'm calling the grandkids.

Okay.  Anybody know any good rain dances?  If it had rained last year at Legacy the Tigers would have gone to Dallas.

Yates is a good team but they are here because Silsbee self destructed in the second half last Saturday.  Oak Cliff is a tested team and have played a much tougher schedule and a postseason that's arguably tougher as well.  The middle is not going to be porous like it was against the Tigers so outside shooting will be critical.  If they are shooting well it's still no guarantee but if they aren't they won't win. 
It's a "career" magnet school (please, I may have been born at night, but not last night!)  against a "charter" school.  I tend to go with the lesser of two evils which is Yates.  But then I'll be pulling for the winner of the Decatur - Liberty Hill game in the final because those schools are from towns.  And 4A schools should be from towns.  One high school districts.  You know?  Like Sour Lake or Bridge City or Lumberton or even Silsbee.

Yates is a good team but they are here because Silsbee self destructed in the second half last Saturday.  Oak Cliff is a tested team and have played a much tougher schedule and a postseason that's arguably tougher as well.  The middle is not going to be porous like it was against the Tigers so outside shooting will be critical.  If they are shooting well it's still no guarantee but if they aren't they won't win. 
It's a "career" magnet school (please, I may have been born at night, but not last night!)  against a "charter" school.  I tend to go with the lesser of two evils which is Yates.  But then I'll be pulling for the winner of the Decatur - Liberty Hill game in the final because those schools are from towns.  And 4A schools should be from towns.  One high school districts.  You know?  Like Sour Lake or Bridge City or Lumberton or even Silsbee.

It's a state supported charter school.  TEA allows them to draw from about 16 surrounding districts in Dallas and Ellis county.  But it's not like it's an area of 3 million people or something.  In fact it's probably not much more than 2.8 million.  

It's a state supported charter school.  TEA allows them to draw from about 16 surrounding districts in Dallas and Ellis county.  But it's not like it's an area of 3 million people or something.  In fact it's probably not much more than 2.8 million.  

It's a state supported charter school.  TEA allows them to draw from about 16 surrounding districts in Dallas and Ellis county.  But it's not like it's an area of 3 million people or something.  In fact it's probably not much more than 2.8 million.  

I remember last year.  The Tigers beat Connelly by only 9.  I was wondering how they could possibly beat that powerful Yates team playing the way they were.
And then the next day they beat Yates by 17 scoring 120 points.  And I think most would agree that that Yates team was a little better than this one.  It was the greatest effort I'd ever seen in 4A basketball or maybe at any level.
We'll see.