HDBobcats9

I promise you, Evadale has nobody who can stop Tre Smith one on one. They can gameplan to stop him, but it may take the whole secondary. Unfortunately for the Rebels, the Bobcats run 4 and 5 WR's and they all run 4.5 40's and under. I dont' know if Evadale has any kids that fast, much less 5 or 6 of em like the Bobcats have. I know it's not all about speed, but it helps. Heck, Buna double-teamed Tre and look at the team they have. We really dont' have anything to compare HD to Evadale this year oppenent wise except Beaumont Legacy. Evadale beat Legacy 27-20 after going into the 4th quarter tied 20-20. The same Beaumont Legacy team that HD lead 58-6 going into the 4th quarter. I was a little too sarsastic in my previous post, I'm just tired of everyone doggin on HD this year saying we're "down" this year. We have a complete new coaching staff, completely new. We're running a system that is light years away from what Barbay did last year. This preseason was all about figuring out who fits better at what position and what works and what doesn't. I dont' think a 1A team who's two losses are to two 2A schools with a combined 9-1 recored (Buna and Kountze) is enough to classify having a down year. HD will finish 8-2 or 7-3 just like we always do......lol.

You're right about the possibilty of it being the entire staff, not just the head coach. If a program doesnt' have that "winning tradition", it takes a special coach to bring that along. That has happened to numerous schools in our area. Teams that weren't used to winning, and one coach comes along and the rest is history. A history of losing can take a toll on the kids psychologically, but it can be turned around. As far as the rivalry you're talking about I'll give you a good example. Hull-Daisetta vs. West Hardin is a big rivalry, and if you're not from around here, you really dont' know. It's our little version of midcounty madness every year. For years HD dominated the rivalry. From 1980 to 2000, I believe HD lead the series something like 17-3. I think a point came where WH didnt' know if they could win that game, they still played hard, probably the hardest they played all year to win, but mentally, a block was there. The coaching staff that is now in placed has turned that around. West Hardin has won 3 years(maybe 4) in a row if I'm not mistaken. The WH kids now not only feel that they can win the game, but that they should win the game. It may have been a couple years of great athlete classes coming through WH, down years at HD, or just gettin out there a leaving it all on the field, but the bottom line is that the coaching staff there either created that momentum or has kept it going. Now they dont' have that mental intimidation factor. HD is still a big rivalry, but now they're just another team that the Oilers feel they should beat. Every school can do that, but it takes something special. Most of the time it's a special coach or coaching staff that comes along and changes everything. What coach Haynes is doing at Hardin is a perfect example. Last year Deweyville beat Hardin 53-14, and this year Hardin won 48-6. Last year Hardin was 2-8, this year they are 5-0. I don't think pure athleticism on the field can change things around that quickly. It's their mental outlook that has changed how they perform on the field. The Hornets are playing with mental toughness and not intimidated by anyone. East Chambers will be a real test for them, to see if they can come out confident, but not cocky. It's a fine line that a great coach knows how to teach. The best coach I ever had taught us to respect everyone, but fear no one.

That's definitely a sad story. I caught up with an old EC friend (and coach) last friday at the Hardin/Deweyville game, and we were talking about coach Gamble and his self destruction. When I was in 8th grade at HD, coach Gamble accepted the head coaching job at HD. Brian hung out with us for a few days (he was a 7th grader) and we looked forward to playing with him, since he was already a big kid and awesome athlete. Out of nowhere Lucky decided Daisetta wasnt' the right place for him to be and left eventually taking the head job at Alto. We had decent teams while I was in HS meeting up with coach Gamble in Alto in the playoffs and lost to them. I believe his record was something like 48-6 during the 4 years I was in HS. It would have been interesting to see what he would have done with the talent HD had during the mid '90's. (not to mention having his son, a 5 time all-state player on our team). I want to say Coach Gamble started his career back at High Island, leading their 1979 team to the Class B state championship game. That guy has won everywhere he's been........

What bullets said. Starting the kids out young helps alot. I think there's a few other things as well. As silly as it sounds, school spirit and tradition is a big one. When I was in elementary all i wanted to do was grow up and be a Bobcat, and all of my classmates felt that same way. At a young age we were taught it wasnt' "OK" to lose to Hardin and West Hardin, among other schools. Schools like Nederland, PNG, Newton ect. have great school spirit, pride and tradition. Athletes staying in the same area is also a big deal for the smaller programs. If Dad, Uncle Joe and Cousin Jim were all great players on the '81 championship team, it helps if they still live in the district, passing on their genes and knowlege of tradition to thier children who will probably be decent players. The last and most important thing (other than just having crazy atheltes) is a coach that can get in the heads of the players. If you have a head coach that can convince every kid on that team, that they will not lose, they will be successful. Trust me, dealing with 16-18 year boys, it's just as much mental and emotional as it is physical. If a coaching staff can make the guys honestly believe that they cannot and will not be beat, winning teams will come. I have never played for or been around Coach Hooks from WOS, but I believe that is how he produces great teams year in and year out. Coach Barbay at Newton is the same way. They may not be the best X's and O's coaches in the state, but they know how to motivate kids and make them believe in something greater than just playing a game. That's just my .02 cents.

HD is not down this year. They played a horrible game against a much improved Kountze team and ran into a buzzsaw in Buna. The district championship will come down to WH and HD just like the past few years. The good thing is that 3 teams get to go to the playoffs so all Evadale has to do is beat High Island and Sabine Pass which they should do. That'll get you a first round ticket to the playoffs in the weakest district in all of Texas highschool football. Not knocking Evadale this year who seems to be improved, but it wont' be much of a game. The talent HD has is superior to Evadale's. It wont' even be close. P.S. I appologize for not naming the jersey number of everyone on HD's team, but trust me, they do have jersey #'s. It will be the same result as every other year HD has played Evadale........blowout.

I think any Deweyville list should have Levi Moore on it. He played on bad teams and was about the only reason they won any games. He was a stud.

I'm from HD and I have nothing but respect for Buna and their staff. They were beating us 42-0 at halftime and I guarantee they could have hung 80 on us with their dominating line. They kept alot of their starters in, but also played alot of reserves in the 4th quarter. They were running base vanilla plays for the most part and not tryin to run it up. They even kicked a field goal on 3rd down when they got the ball down to the 1 yard line. They kept their starting defense in from what I observed, but hey they were shooting for a shutout, so I understand that. I'm of the opinion if you dont' want the score ran up on you, improve your team. HD will go back to the drawing board and look to put 50 up on Buna next year!!! ;D

I think alot of the kids that aren't big time recruits in the area would play for Lamar in a heartbeat. If you consider the homegrown talent in the golden triangle, there is no way that lamar wouldnt' field an excellent team. Put 'em in the Southland conference with SFA, Sam Houston, McNeese ect. and they could dominate. Too many kids from this area dont' go play college ball for various reasons. I think if Lamar had a football team, alot of those kids would end up being a Cardinal. Another benefit it would have would be for the smaller schools in the area. Just think of the talent that comes through schools like Newton, EC, BC, HJ,OF, HF, Libery, Anahauc, DWYVL,Warren, HD, WH, Warren,Silsbee, Hardin and on and on. ect. Alot of these kids could play 1-AA ball but never get the chance because lack of recruiting from colleges outside the area. Lamar would have the best backyard recruiting of just about any single college in the nation. Granted the studs are gonna go where they're gonna go, but alot of kids would rather stay local. Beaumont is not an attractive college town for recruits outside of this area, but for local talent, they would land a ton of great players. Coming out of Hull-Daisetta I was recruited by alot of the Southland conference teams and ended up going to SFA. I wished the whole time I was in HS that Lamar had a football team. I would have loved to play there and I think alot of locals kids now feel the same way.

Offensively EC does not have as many "deminsions" as Hardin. Granted Tramain does his thing week in and week out and they have a talented tailback this year as well but they dont' compare to the system that Hardin runs. In the two games I have seen Hardin play I was blown away with the complexity of their offense. Precise routes in the passing game, zone blocking the cutback in the run game and so on. Tramain brings something to the table that nobody on Hardin's team does but pure X's and O's, EC is much more straightfoward, lineup and beat you than Hardin. With all that said I pick EC big in this game: East Chambers - 48 Deweyville - 13

Warren does have a pretty good defense, but they havent' faced an offensive scheme like Hardin runs, and they have pretty darn good athletes in the system. Coach Haynes seems to be a miracle worker of sorts. Nobody besides Buna and EC will slow down the Hornets O this year: Hardin - 42 Warren - 12

Halftime score is the latest I heard: Dibol - 42 Liberty - 13

I heard the final was: Buna - 48 Anahauc - 7 Not a for sure, but that's the score announced at the Hardin/Dwyville game.

I just left the game with 10min left in the 4th qtr. Hardin - 41 Deweyville - 6

I was definitely impressed with Buna's backfield. Smith is thier leading rusher and is the best athlete. Brian Holmes is just big, strong, and nasty. He's very hard to stop. The most impressive of the group had to be Blanton Craft. Dude looks to be about 5ft nothing and is just slippery. Doesn't have breakaway speed but he runs hard, can find creases and is a great cutback runner. Didn't see enough of Carrell to get an impression. Also, that dominant offensive line helps!!!

No the Panthers aren't, but Buna is really good. Buna will take this one.

Guys take note: BUNA IS REALLY GOOD!!! I really felt like the Bobcats could play with these guys and I was totally wrong. They were bigger, stronger, just as fast and much more fundamentally sound. The Cougars dont' really have any stars, just a really solid team. I personally think that HD can play with most 2A's in the area (with the exception of probably EC and Newton, that'd probably be ugly), but I was wrong. Buna could have scored 80 on HD last night. Their offensive line's is one of the best in the area and blew HD off the ball every snap. Their team defense swarms to the ball as well. HD didnt' play their best game, but it wouldnt' have mattered. We were outclassed against this Buna Cougar team. The team and coaching staff from Buna was nothing but class last night in my opinion. You guys deserve a great season. Good luck in district Buna Cougars. P.S. Those stats listed above were through only 3 games....... A.Smith, B.Craft, and B.Holmes all put up big numbers last night against HD.

Looks like some KILLER picks for sure MM. I look for HD and Liberty to keep their games a little closer than you predicted, but overall they look DEAD on!!!!

I dont' know if the Bobcats can pull this one out, but they should be even better then they've been in the first three weeks of the season. From what I understand, this week they will have alot of new players then havent' played thus far in the season. Tyree Patterson who was their leading rusher last year (5'11 210lb) will be back and starting in the backfield. A transfer from Liberty should make his debut this week as well and he's a 4.4 forty kid. (I've heard people question his toughness but he'll instantly become another speed threat for a very fast Bobcat squad). Two new offensive lineman who've been waitin to get cleared to play will also be playing this week. Just a little update for you guys. If HD can somehow draw some stalemate's on the OL/DL with Buna they can win this game. Buna is much more physical then HD and they will have to figure out how to get their athletes in space to make some big plays. UPSET OF THE WEEK: Hull-Daisetta - 28 Buna - 24 * If my pick was unbiased it'd probably be Buna by 14, but I'm going with the Cats in a big upset*

I think West Hardin is better than people are giving them credit for. They played Groveton tough as expected, could have easily beaten Warren, and Hardin is a heck of a lot better than anyone expected them to be. Kountze is much improved as well considering what they did against HD. They have alot of athletes (as they always do), but these kids are finally playing hard and believe in what they are doing. I think the Kountze/HD game was alot closer than the final score showed and I feel WH is the same calibur team as HD. This one can be close if they contain Kountze' speed. Kountze - 28 West Hardin - 12 in a hard fought game.

If you guys havent' seen Franklin "Tre" Smith play for Hull-Daisetta, you should. Kid's about 6'2" 185lb with 4.5 speed and adjusts to the ball in traffic as well as any reciever i've seen in the area over the last 5 years or so. He'll be playin ball on Saturday's somewhere. From what i've seen and heard the WR from West Brook is the real deal as well.

My wife left the game with 7min left in the 4th quarter.... HD- 52 Legacy - 6 Not sure if that's the final either, but 38-6 was halftime score.

HD - 8 Legacy - 0 Early in the 1st qtr.

Last I heard, it was 24-14 Kountze Lions. HD's QB is taking a beating tonight. Supposedly HD has thrown the ball over 30 times while only having 5 OL and 1 RB in the backfield to protect Sam. Not good the way the Lions were bringing the heat tonight!!!!

HD drives down inside Kountze's territory and fumbles during a good drive. Kountze then lights the Cats up on a 85 yard pass for paydirt!!! Lions - 17 Bobcats - 7 8 min left in the 3rd quarter.

Burkeville aint' what they used to be, but I believe this Buna team is legit. The Cougars will be a team to beat in SE Texas this year.....