KFDM COOP Posted November 9, 2007 Report Posted November 9, 2007 www.panews.comKelly, St. Pius may be state preview By Larry Bodin The Port Arthur News BEAUMONT — Rarely does a coach think, much less say on record, that his upcoming game should be a preview of the state championship game. But when third-year coach Mike Long’s undefeated Kelly Bulldogs (8-0, 2-0) travel to Houston tonight to tangle with defending TAPPS 6-A state champion St. Pius (8-1, 2-0) before a sellout gathering, this just may be the case.Both Kelly and St. Pius have already secured berths in the TAPPS big school eight-team playoffs. So tonight’s battle will only settle district championship bragging rights.But there’s bigger fish to fry for these two talented private schools — a state title.In the eight-team playoff bracket, the two schools are in different brackets and would only meet again in 2007, after tonight, if each advance to the state championship game.Kelly’s Long thinks both teams are the best two private schools in Texas, so he had no problem saying tonight’s contest, “should be a preview of the state championship game.â€Losing only to New Orleans’ Rummel High several weeks ago, St. Pius appears to be a mirror image of Long’s Bulldogs.?hey?e really good. St. Pius has talented athletes on both sides of the line of scrimmage,†Long noted. “TheyÃre similar to us; actually they are a mirror image of our team in many ways.â€St. Pius defeated Austin St. Michaels last week by the tune of 64-26, and senior four-year starting quarterback Billy Noonan played only a half and completed 9-of-14 passes for 220 yards and five touchdowns.This year Noonan has thrown for 1,427 yards and 18 touchdowns, but he’s also been intercepted 11 times.?t. Pius’ skill people are really good, starting with Noonan, and they also have two outstanding receivers who catch a lot of balls and average 20 yards a reception,†added Long. Landon Johnson has 24 receptions for 594 yards and nine scores, while teammate Howard Risher has catch 17 for 334 yards and five TDs.?ther than their loss in Louisiana, most of their eight games haven’t even been close,†Long said. “But when we get together tonight, I think it will be the best team either of us has played this year.?n reality, I think we’re the top two teams in TAPPS and I believe this game is just a tune-up for the state championship.â€Long, a former Lamar University quarterback and longtime Port Neches-Groves offensive coordinator also said, ?his game is one of the biggest IÃve ever coached in.
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