PackAttack

This will be a game where Lufkin hopefully can rest some of their walking wounded, maybe hold out other injured players another week to get them healthy for the playoffs. The Panthers were beat up and shorthanded last week against PAM, lost a couple more during the game. Healthy starters may play the first half this week, then backups will get their chances. This team needs to get well. We lost our QB twice this year(scrimmage and BH) and starting DI LB in week #2, they will not be back. Lost starting WR in Week #4. Then week #8 lost 4 more to injury, also starting Safety to grades. We have been running on back ups stepping in getting the job done, good experience for them. I was very concerned going into the PAM game last week with so many key people not there, that was one tough game. We can't let United sneak in and make this a game. We may or may not cover the point spread, just winning to move on and secure at least the #2 seed is the most important thing this week.

Well, PAM came into this week ranked #17 and Lufkin #14, In fact it was PAM who was pre season #10 in the polls, while Lufkin was #15. Lufkin had missed tackles and had TOs too. No busted kick coverage, that was about the 5th or 6th KO/punt return for TD by Lufkin's #2 this year. Both sides made mistakes and had penalties. I think that was a darn good win on the road with 8 or 9 starters out and our OC down in the Bahamas at his son's wedding. PAM had their opportunities roll with a win at HOME, you had everything in your favor.

Good hard fought and physical game by both teams. We need to find a way to hire that officiating crew up to Lufkin for a better homefield advantage. I think they called back 2 or 3 Pack TDs. Lot's of penalties, on both sides to go around. Lufkin needs to get healthy, especially on offense, missing your #1 WR changes up your approach, missing two really narrows it down. #2 Taylor really has been making plays all year, he had to carry the load last night. Plus the Panther OC was down in the Bahamas at his son's wedding. The Lufkin WR coach Gunnar Quick, HC Todd Quick's son called the plays last night. That 4th quarter ended up being an exchange of TOs . The kid that had two INTs in the 4th was sophomore backup DB Sam Smith. Our QB Coutee is a very good WR having to play QB because #1 QB has been injured most of the year. Lost our #1 starting LB against Nacogdoches. We need to get healthy, but that is one good football team to win like that with so many pieces down or out of place to play and beat good team like PAM. That game could have gone either way, PAM had what they wanted early for sure. It was close, the score indicates that, a play here or there and we could be talking about a PAM win. That's football, a game of inches sometimes.

Thanks

Is the parking at Memorial Stadium the same as it was in 2005 with the one parking lot at the North end?

DCTF does an early point spread on the team schedule. Stepp will have his point spread later in the week and then a DCTF/ Pigskin Prep computer pick too. It's confusing. I think this will be a tough game for Lufkin., PAM is by far the best team they have played to this point since their Longview game.

Everyone has this misconception that travel bothers Lufkin, it doesn't. It's just what we have done for decades, it's built into our DNA. We are a long way from anyone we play, except Nacogdoches (20 miles) every other year. We have already been this year to Tyler (85 miles), Texarkana (170 miles) and Beaumont (125 miles), didn't make a difference. Think this is going to be a close game. Don't make game predictions, I always let the players work that out on their side of it. PAM is a +1 point favorite by DCTF. All you need is one more point that the other guy and have never minded a win like that.

Did not say you weren't aware of Lufkin, you had mentioned to the NS fan we had some sort of history with them, and we don't. You are correct in 2005

Lufkin has little history with NS. They have played three times, Lufkin won in 1966 (7-6) and in 1967 (27-6). North Shore won the most recent meeting 28-21 in 2008. That a Lufkin 2-1 advantage historically speaking.

Strange night of football. Sterling had maybe 35 fans and did not send a band or cheerleaders or anything else to Lufkin. There was only the football team. Can not remember that ever happening that way at ABE for a Varsity football game. We may have had past instances where the visiting band did not show up or had to leave right after halftime because of UIL competition the next day, but never with zero student body representation from a school. BS sent no one else, just the 35 fans and the football team.

Lufkin 54 Baytown Sterling 7 Lufkin 558 yards total, 383 rushing and 105 passing. Sterling had 150 yards total, all passing yards.

Turf fields are easier to maintain, they are playable in wet weather. The technology has gotten much better over the years. Grass is better IMO, the downfall is maintenance, not all grass fields are the same or maintained the same. Wet and cold weather is a problem. Most schools do not over seed their fields, so you have a brown field with painted dirt later in the fall. If you have ever played in the mud on a cold night, well you will remember it. I do. As far as early turf days, playing at Sam Houston, you might as well have been playing in the parking lot. IMO there are more ACL, high ankle sprain and turf toe injuries today with turf, than a player would have from playing on a well maintained grass field. It's a toss up economically, however you do see more NFL and College teams reverting back to grass. The turf technology will get better, just don't know how close the turf manufacturers can get to REAL grass.

Your not wrong. They do what your suppose to do to bad teams, and they like to run up scores on those same bad teams when it's unnecessary. I've watched video too, and the AMC game which was a home game for Weiss. A game Weiss actually went up against a good defense for the only time this year. I would put the present healthy Lufkin's D against either one of those teams without a problem.

I totally disagree with Weiss. They have not played but one good team, AMC and lost. The have beat up on three 0-6 or 0-7 teams, and a couple ,500 teams. I don't have a guess who would be there, but it won't be Weiss. they play a 2-4 Lockhart this week before playing CS, who I think will beat them like AMC did.

I will say this, if BWB plays as hard against Sterling as they did towards Lufkin last week, they may win this game by 2 TDs.

I would be, no one to this point has slowed them down. They seem pretty potent on both sides of the ball. Up until last night I didn't think their SOS was that great, but after demolishing PAM? I think they are legit.

BWB came out strong early on but Lufkin D and O adjusted to everything and just controlled the tempo of the game. Although the QB Anderson got off 3 or 4 long runs and Lufkin gave up a couple long drives, the Panther D never let them score a TD. At no point did I think WB would win this game, and it was a home game for them. Lufkin decided to pound the rock for some reason last night, not there typical approach, but BWB probably had something to do with that. Lufkin missed a close FG, had two other drives turned over on downs inside the 5 or the score difference could have been more. Panther D made 2 or 3 BWB stops deep in their own territory too. By the way DCTF picked Lufkin by 26, Lufkin won by 26. Spread covered. The other folks in the district yet to play BWB need not overlook them, they will make you play for the win.

BWB has improved, they are a tenacious and hard playing group. Also didn't help Lufkin not getting any points on three drives inside the red zone. BWB QB Anderson is a fast and elusive runner, as are all their RBs, they all run hard. Not much of a passing game, at least not against the Panther D.. Lufkin O took a workman like approach rushing the ball for 300 + yards. Game was over by 9::20 PM and I was back in Lufkin at 11:40 PM. BWB could be a pretty good team next year, they have a few good athletes. Lufkin came out in basic mode tonight with a few starters still out, just trying to get to themselves to the open week, to get healthy and ready for the last four game stretch for the playoffs. Wasn't pretty, but a win is a win they say.

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Barbers Hill by 30, who is going to stop #2 Morton? That dude is so much faster in person than on film. I think the BH running game will have much success too with their OL. Sterling can throw the ball but had little luck against GB last week. BH - 47 BS - 17

Lufkin wins this game, maybe not 56-7, will see.. West Brook is playing at home and Lufkin is coming off the big win over BH, and the Bruins have had two weeks to prepare. The travel won't bother Lufkin, because they've traveled forever as a program. Lufkin has already traveled to Texarkana 3 hrs to play Little Rock SW (W 57-12) and 1.5 hrs to Tyler (W 39-27) . This one is no problem either. The head scratcher in the WB schedule is they played a close game against Eisenhower, then barely beat Lumberton and lost to Silsbee. Something is not quite right when a 5A DI program barely beats a 4A DI school Lumberton and then loses to a 4A DII Silsbee. I think the BWB defense might be the strength of their team while the O struggles to score. Just saying Lufkin, PAM, BH and Ball win over those two 4A teams by several scores and sit the starter after the half. Lufkin will be without a few starters again this week, LB, WR, QB and maybe a RB. Thankful the team has depth this year. Looking forward to off week after Friday to get healthy. Anyway this could easily be a let down game for Lufkin if they are not careful, I think they already know this and are preparing for that not to happen.

We had our own #2 tonight Kevo Taylor to counter BH #2 Morton.

No we righted the ship, our D and special teams really were the difference tonight. BH came out strong but the Lufkin D adjusted late in the 1st half, BH missed on a couple opportunities to score. Lufkin missed a TD in the end zone and a FG. Both teams had kids go out banged up. Lufkin played without their #1 starting WR and starting MLB, starting QB went out again, so I was happy to see how well the backups filled in. BH is a good football team and they play hard. They get themselves in trouble talking too much or hitting after the play, our kids were told before the game to not retaliate or trash talk and just walk away. It paid off tonight. Our coaches are pretty strict about that stuff. There will be some sore guys in the morning. Hard fought game tonight. Much respect to Barbers Hill.

Thanks. Also do the Lufkin Panther Sports FB and X pages too. All volunteer effort for the last 22 years. Someone else may need to pick it up and run with it after this year or next. There always has to be an end so something you do for a long time. Again, safe travels.

That was a tough loss however although I don't like it much, the Lufkin coach has always puts the best players on the Varsity, therefore we have 6 SOPHs and several JRs who would normally be starting on a JV team starting on the Varsity. It's a complicated system that I don't understand, so our JV sometimes takes a lot of lumps and is not indicative of Varsity play. Good luck tonight, may the best team win. Lufkin by +1 and the W.