Corona_with_Lime

Good win for Hardin. Heard Kountze looked good in their scrimmages. (Lots of athletes which is typical). Congrats to Ned and the Hornets. 

I think you’re right about those missing kids, lots of huge holes out there tonight that you’re just not gonna fill with quality athletes at a 2A-II school. Somerville definitely didn’t look like a 3-6 team from last season. SV still wins handily with those kids in uniform but it’s definitely more competitive. 
 
Now on top of those kids being out don’t forget Junior Landon Victorian moving to Louisiana  last minute (HD leading rusher as a freshman in 2019) and HD’s do it all Junior scat back/DB Devante Broussard who also moved to Goose Creek Memorial over the summer. Along with Jeremiah and Sellers, that’s 4 key defensive starters out and 4/5 of your playmakers on offense who were expected to be out there (other than Dawson Victorian). 
 
On the same note note,congrats to Devante for a heck of a 5A debut for the Patriots against Klein Forrest leading GCM on offense with 11 receptions for 114 yards. That kid is hard to replace and he’s proving it at higher level competition. 

And who is this certain coach you speak of? Inquiring minds want to know!
 
And btw, it’ll be for district champs, not runner up 😉

That is a good question. I’d think most years at HD (or any very small school with limited numbers for that matter) it’s more difficult to pull off running a spread offense due to personnel (capable OL and QB namely). I think with the experience and athleticism of Sellers at QB (20 or so starts at QB as a FR/SO) and the kids they’ll have on the line, Bird could pull it off. Now they won’t look like Jasper, but they definitely have some playmakers that can do damage in space. With that said, I think this late in the game (will be July before arriving) they’d stick with the Slot-T or some variation of it. Most if not all of the current coaching staff will remain which is another chip towards sticking with the old offense. Plus Bird knows it and ran it at HD in years past. It’s hard to install a new offense period….. much less one that’s complex…. With limited time…. And with little or no assistant coaches familiar with it. Just my $.02

I’ll be the 1st to tell you, I gave Hodges a hard time in the past when it was needed, I also praised him when it was deserved. As the keeper of the gates, a 5th generation Bobcat, it’s my responsibility. Stan Hodges was my coach at HD back in the 90’s, I supported and voiced my support of him coming back to HD as HC/AD, I talked with board members, talked with parents and the community, I was there to congratulate Stan as he was hired. Stan Hodges is like a dad to me, heck the man has stayed under my roof a time or two, sons and dads fight sometimes yes, I”ll say this, Coach Hodges done his job with integrity and never wavered in his stance to graduate young men of good character, that are trustworthy. HD was not a dominate team on the field that often under Hodges, but HD was respected as a program and definitely held its own. I will miss you Coach Hodges, we have both spent many years as Bobcats, it’s a special place, one of the best small school coaching jobs in the State. The new HC/AD will inherit a very talented young team, Dawson Victorian the stud Sophomore has D-1 talent and freakish size, has the potential to be all-state as a Sophomore, Junior Landyn Sellers, Junior Landon Victorian and Senior Cayden Weeks will led HD to a playoff push, HD’s O-line will be the best we have had in many years. I definitely voiced my support of two men many years ago, to get the HD job, one was Stan Hodges, the other was my former HD Bobcat teammate Randy Birdwell, I hope Coach Bird gets an opportunity this time around, to become the HC/AD at his Alma Mater. From what I’m hearing there is a long list of candidates, it shouldn’t be a surprise, after all HD folks love their football! Good luck at Odessa Coach, I’m sure I’ll come visit, ride for the brand! HD Nation! 
 
Sincerely,
Mr. Bobcat 

Family reasons may play into it, but Hodges leaving is clearly tied to the drama that ended with the HD principal leaving for Liberty. 
 
I’m curious if Ned Barrier might be interested in this one. His wife was just hired as the principal at HD elem and he has a lot of history in the community. He would be a slam dunk hire and since he’s not the AD at Hardin, it should come with a healthy pay bump. Not to mention, have you seen his soon to be 8th grade son? That boy is going to be special. He’d look good in red and black. The community of HD needs this right now. It’s fractured. The barrier family could begin to repair the damage done recently and being new life to the high school. 
I like Bird just fine, but if HD had a shot at Barrier, a proven HC (see Brazos), then they have to take it. 

Ned Barrier @ Hardin and Randy Birdwell @ Jasper were the first two names that popped in my head. Maybe the HD legend Joe Allen Slack comes back for a second time…..
 
All I know is that if all the drama and heartburn with Hodges didn’t run off too many key players, HD will not be challenged in district. And yes, that includes Deweyville. I have zero doubt that someone will inherit a district championship team at HD. They’ll finish somewhere between 7-3 and 10-0 in the regular season barring major injuries. 

Da Hodges era was average, he definitely wasn’t Coach Finney or Coach Copeland from the past. Hodgy wasn’t a players coach at all, but he held players accountable and always did da right thing. Dis HD team has 2-3 seasons of being real good, loads of young talent. Da new HC will be very successful starting off. 

Horsemen ballin!!!!!!!!

Tenaha is the only 2A D2 team I’ve seen that is remotely comparable to Mart athletically. If DV gets past Chilton (which i think they will) they won’t be a pushover for the Tigers. They’re physical and grind on you. Slow down the game with 4 yards and a cloud of dust approach. To compete with Tenaha either of these teams will have to limit the big plays. 17 yard first downs are ok but when they end up going for 67 yard TD’s.... it’ll be a long night. 

Bremond couldn't stop the thunder and lightening of the 5 different running backs Tenaha put on the field. The only thing that has stopped Tenaha is turnovers which led directly to their 2 losses. The Tigers are loaded, like never before, at the skilled positions. 

I think this is gonna be a good game. I like the Pirates chances (the ones from DV). I said last week that if HD and DV get past WS and Cushing, they’ve got a clear path to the regional semi’s. The Bobcats couldn’t pull it off but WS will stroll past Sims Bowie by 20+ points. The battle of the Pirates will be closer but i think The ‘Ville brings home a close victory. 
 
And if that does happen, they’ll catch Tenaha or Bremond who aren’t invincible this year.... especially a week after they beat up on each other. (I honestly think Tenaha turns it into a track meet and takes Bremond to the woodshed) 
 
Good luck Deweyville from HD!!

I would like to commend the Mustang players, band and fans, although outmanned, they gave it their all. They never gave up and fought to the very last play. The Mustangs and community are winners.     

Good season HD. Real talk

I was a supportive observer tonight, but a district rival of HD's...The young men played hard, as always. In my own opinion...should've been 7-6 at Half. Why in the world do you take a shot on 3rd and long from your own 4 with 39 seconds left in the 2nd qtr. in a 7-6 game? Run the ball, roll the clock and go take a 28 minute break. I'm not sure how much they can chew...but the kids played hard and put themselves in a good position. WS definitely has some big play weapons and they definitely earned their victory tonight. Great season for both programs and good luck to WS!

Good job WS, good win. 

Really thought HD defense looked the best it has all year. There are several plays that come to mind but two big plays that stand out that really hurt HD was the 1Q fumble when HD was inside the red zone of WS and the in the 3 Q when HD fumbled inside the 15 of WS. Those were game changing plays that should have resulted in points. But regardless these kids played hard and WS got the W. So congratulations and good luck to WS. 

Can’t say enough about HD! Tremendous play by these kids regardless of the outcome. Very optimistic about this young teams future. 

Thanks for updates!
 

Cats looking hungry!

Oh, Just sittin here on the 40 swinging my HD terrible towel supporting my district. 🤣

Deweyville definitely wins this one...44-8. 

44-8 early 4th
So much for district 12 getting swept by 11... bring it home DV

44-8 early 4th
So much for district 12 getting swept by 11... bring it home DV

Final!!!  44-8.  These young men were hungry...and they made DHS history.  Congratulations Pirates!!!!!