La Porte vs Deer Park: 65th Border Battle - 8/29, 7:00 p.m., Bulldog Stadium

[OlDawg]

A little early, but ready for the new season in the new digs.

This meeting marks the 65th Border Battle between these two heated rivals. The rivalry began in 1946, and is one of the oldest town vs. town, big school rivalries in the state.. It was honored as one of the Great American Rivalry Series Games in the nation in 2015. La Porte leads the all-time series 32-31-1. Deer Park has won the last 4 contests. This will be the first time the game has been played at La Porte since 2022. Not a more fitting game to initiate the new Bulldog Stadium than this long time rivalry. The capacity of the stadium will be tested right off the bat.

La Porte finished last season 10-4 in 11-5A D1 with a second consecutive District Championship under Coach Berneathy and staff, and eventually lost to district mate Angleton in the R3 Finals 24-21. They return a solid core of players with an eye on a bigger prize in 2025. Gone is the three-headed monster of Barnes, Sandolph & Simon. So, it will be interesting to see how the offense is adapted with Simon as the feature back. La Porte returns 7 on offense, and 7 on defense. La Porte is ranked 6th in the State in 5AD1 by DCTF.

Deer Park finished last season 8-3 and 6-1 in 24-6A and lost to North Shore in Bidistrict. They will have new--but talented--skill position players. They return solid, experienced, big (as always) lines on both sides of the ball. The Deer return 4 on offense, and 5 on defense. DCTF is predicting a 3rd place finish for the Deer behind Dickinson & Clear Springs, and another playoff appearance in 6AD1.

This rivalry game always has some unexpected twists and turns. It's like NASCAR having Daytona right out of the gates to start the season. Emotions are always high for both teams. But, this year may have added incentive as La Porte will want to record a tone setting inaugural victory even more at the new Bulldog. Deer Park will want to ruin the opening with a win of their own.

Deer Park won the last meeting in 2024 at Abshier 25-22.

The game should be broadcast on the free LPSportsnet YouTube channel for those not lucky enough to get seats.

[Big Daddy Cool]

Been fortunate to attend this one a number of times. As you never goes as is expected. Deer Park will definitely want to spoil the grand opening of the new Dawg House. My pick is La Porte in another close one.

[Coachbearoso]

Tremendous rivalry, I was lucky to get to coach in one and we gave it away by shotgun snapping from the goalline/ fumble and missed field goal. I am old school, when you are at the one, quarterback sneak!!!!

[OlDawg]

18 hours ago, Coachbearoso said:

Tremendous rivalry, I was lucky to get to coach in one and we gave it away by shotgun snapping from the goalline/ fumble and missed field goal. I am old school, when you are at the one, quarterback sneak!!!!

That was the only call I questioned in the Regional Finals last year. The toss vs. a sneak. May have cost them a trip to the State Semis. The staff played to win all year (vs. not to lose), so I appreciated that aspect. But, when on the 1 yard line, trying to ice the game, a long toss type play seemed a little strange with the speed of Angleton's D.

But, the staff knows more about the matchups they were facing than I do. They made the call they thought would work best. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. I still have great faith in the LP staff. They've done an outstanding job bringing the program back in a very short time, and I think it's only going to continue to improve.

Coach Berneathy and staff have gone 5-5, 8-3, and 10-4. Improve by 2 more games again this year & they're at the Promised Land.

I'm ready for this season, and this rivalry to start. Seems like it's been a long off-season. Probably the anticipation of the new stadium & some true home games again.