HDBobcats9

As someone stated earlier, this is a great matchup of contrasting styles. Kountze spreads you out and gets players in space and doesn't mind slinging it downfield. CC on the other hand is pure smash mouth small school East Texas football. CC has played Trinity who is a much improved club as well as Centerville who's the Region III 2A-D1 favs. CC wore both of them down in the second half. I'm not sure that CC will contain Arnold, Harper and Warren all night because those kids can go. On the other hand I feel very confident that Kountze will not be able to slow down the Bulldogs offense. Taking nothing away from HJ and Shepherd which are very good higher classification teams, but I can assure you that Corrigan will be more physical than both those teams. Before I get yelled at, I know they system HJ runs and I know they pound on you with big bodies. These CC kids are flat out nasty, block thru the whistle and hit you in the mouth every play. Mitchell and Arnold cancel each other out offensively in my mind. I'll be pulling for Kountze again but just don't see them slowing down that in your face running game.

Kountze - 36

Corrigan-Camden - 54

There's a couple things you have to remember here.
We're talking about 15-18yr old kids who we all were at one time This is 2A football, the smallest 11 man classification in the state Point being, we all are well aware that when you're dealing with kids, to expect the unexpected. You never know if kids are gonna show up mentally or emotionally ready every Friday. We take that for granted from time to time and base our opinions off past results and athletic abilites and matchups....but don't forget the human element.
 
Secondly, we're talking small school football. I'm by no means saying that Centerville is a one man team. They have a very good "team" and that's what makes them the favorite. But don't forget this is schools that have no more than 210 total kids in grades 9-12, so maybe 100 boys in high school, so that's probably 65-70 males grades 10-12. Even if 60% of those kids play football (which is hard to believe but true in a ton of small texas schools), we're still talking about 30-40 kids playing ball TOPS. Factor in that maybe half of those kids are truly athletes, and you'd be hardpressed to find a 2A team with more than 12-15 SOLID players with about the same amount of decent reserves (if you're lucky). I'm saying all this to get to the point that you never know who or what a tiny team is going to be in 4-8 weeks. You lose a couple of those solid kids to injuires (usually happens), one or two screw up and fail in the classroom, and another one catches an attitude and quits or gets kicked off the team..... all the sudden out of those 12 really good players.... over 40% of them are gone. Sometimes the competetion level is low enough to where those backups are better than starters at some of the same schools in the district or area. Sometimes it's just the team that goes unscathed (no injuries, grade casualties, personal issues, attitude problems etc) that win it all.
 
Everyone gives HD55 a hard time about the "4 Horsemen" but at this level, 4 or 5 really good kids can make a huge difference. I tell you this, do I like HD's chances against Centerville if both teams have everyone playing and clicking on all cylinders? Heck no. Do I like HD's chances if Centerville's top 5 players aren't playing and HD is at full strength? Absolutely! I don't wish injury or bad luck on anyone, but just bringing it to light. While on the topic of Centerville, they are a perfect example. They had a two-headed monster at QB last year who were both named 1st team all-district as juniors last season. One of them is focusing on his baseball career and isn't playing. That's a solid 2 way starter down. One of their big OL/DL who was  stud last year..... neck injury in the first game and I don't think he's gonna get to play anymore. That's just a couple examples that all these little schools face as reality.  
 
HD is fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to be in a district that has 3 of the top 21 ranked 2A-DI schools currently. Plus Groveton who can showup and always has solid athletes. Just like the SA, Alto, WS districts of the last couple years, whoever comes out of D12 will be battle tested. I like HD's chances as they are getting back to health and gelling as a team.
 
So to say Centerville will blow everyone out in district play really is counting your chickens before they hatch.

That's a bold statement, only time will tell! I think HD has a tough road in front of them but Im definatly not counting them out, good luck to the bobcats this year!

Prayers sent for an injury free ball game!

Now that's funny! :lol:

Good deal. Hate to see any kid get hurt, especially a player of his caliber. We're pretty excited to get Doucet back in our backfield in our next game.

You ain't right man! lol .......1998 was a loooong time ago!

Can't blame ya there...

Haters gonna hate MBG! :blink:

55 has gotten alot better.

Bobcats9 seems like a cool guy.  But HD55 is a different story....

Dang guys, y'all are hard on those HD boys.  I know that HD55 has brought alot of that on himself but the other HD guys usually are not as boastful and do show respect to the other teams.  Let'em breathe a little bit!

If Burkeville wins.....it will be a long season for HD

I hope for HDs sake they win this one. I don't care how much Burkeville is improved. If HD loses this game...we will likely see ridicule like never before. Self inflicted of course.

Hardin - 29
 
Huntington - 20

Hardin - 29
 
Huntington - 20

The Ranch Hand Cafe on 105 between Tarkington and Cleveland is down home cookin with just about whatever you are hungry for. If you go away hungry it's your fault. Also, Rock N R BBQ is very good, on the corner of 105 and 321.

Geauxlden (Goldman), shhhh!

Good game so far

give me liberty or give me death. how many times more will liberty score than hardon tonight
 
i'll take 4 to 1
 
I once ate at a Mexican restaurant in liberty named mas amigos - heard it was shut down the other day. wasn't high on the food but salsa was LEGIT and I know salsa !
 
Signed
TexMex

Here we go again with the almighty SA Woverines lol. I can PROMISE you that HD has a more talented backfield with more speed than SA this year. Yes I know ya'll have JMike, but we've got an all-state QB too who rushed for 1800 yards plus two RB's that both run sub 11sec 100m.
 
 
SA, WS, Groveton, Alto etc consistently have more speed in the backfield than HD. That's not the case this year. Now speed doesn't equal wins, but I promise you we won't be boring.
 
 
And I'm sure it won't be nearly as exciting as Alto dropping 84 points on San Augustine last year, but we'll still have fun I'm sure. (and yes, I'm talking about football not BB)

I don't think my statement is anywhere close to silly. Doucett ran a 10.66 at the area meet. That would have won state if he wouldn't have had a bad showing at regionals and ended up one spot out of qualifying. DeBlanc is probably a 10.9 kid himself. Huck won area in the 110 hurdles, but he's not a true speed demon but he packs a load at 6'3" 210lbs. I agree that SA probably has MUCH more depth in the backfield and their secondary will be flying around. Same with West Sabine. I know HD doesn't have the number of athletes, but the quality of the starters is just as good. If those three stay healthy, they will all rush for 1200+ yards, all of them can take it to the house 80 yards on any given play.
 
Unfortunatley we haven't played any of the east texas schools except for Alto. I'm pretty sure those guys will agree that HD can compete with with those schools.
 
We'll see against West Sabine in Week 5. I don't think HD is as good as WS, as I think they are one of the top teams in Region III.....but then again that's why we play the games.

The only thing I'm serious about is TexMex FOOD, bubba
 
Don't get your wod in a pantys. But no, the kids from HD are very talented, as well as the WS qb.
 
Arnold has a long season ahead of him to carry his troops. I think he's up for the challenge tho

Tex wasn't being serious..

Here we go again with the almighty SA Woverines lol. I can PROMISE you that HD has a more talented backfield with more speed than SA this year. Yes I know ya'll have JMike, but we've got an all-state QB too who rushed for 1800 yards plus two RB's that both run sub 11sec 100m.
 
 
SA, WS, Groveton, Alto etc consistently have more speed in the backfield than HD. That's not the case this year. Now speed doesn't equal wins, but I promise you we won't be boring.
 
 
And I'm sure it won't be nearly as exciting as Alto dropping 84 points on San Augustine last year, but we'll still have fun I'm sure. (and yes, I'm talking about football not BB)

I agree, but I just dont believe that they will improve enough to be legit contenders for the district title.  I do think that they will fight it out for the second or third spot (more than likely third).  Last year the WS vs Shelbyville final was 60-21 with two of Shelbyvilles scores coming late 4th when WS had subs in.  Offensively WS will be just as fast if not a little faster this year as whole than they were last year.  The defense may slow a little but they will be bigger and stronger.  I really dont think there will be any decline for WS, so will Shelbyville improve by say 40 points??  I honestly dont think so.  I do see that game being a little tighter to the tune of a 3 score differential. I think it will be something like 42-21 WS.  If SA can tighten a little on defense they will also come out on top over Shelbyville.  SVille will not be able to hang with SA speedwise.  Joaquin and SVille will be a good one, the winner of this game gets 3rd.