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.

[Coachbearoso]

9 hours ago, OlDawg said:

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.

I understand that you want to have faith in coaches, and he has turned it around in 3 years. But after coaching almost four decades I hate it when coaching ego or "the Franklin way" causes teams to lose. We as coaches can always blame the kids, but often it is the coaches stubborness or lack of innovation or just plain common sense that costs us, and by us i mean the team, coaches, school,administration and town. Right now Jackson Dart who may be a good quarterback from Ole Miss and now at the Giants, cannot take a snap from under center!!!!! Because EVERYONE offensively believes in the air offense, shotgun snap--whatever you call it. There is just things that go on, like in government, that coaches pull the wool over the publics eyes. Coaches, especially head coaches are the MOST important part of any team sport. And many are great leaders and build character in our young men. But some aren't and it , like society is getting worse every year. I would tell my defense at Crosby after each game, win or lose, to not point the finger but to look in the mirror and ask what I could have done different. I worked for Jerry Stewart, who had great success at Dayton, at Clear Lake in his first coaching job and that was the type of head coach he was. We turned a state champion basketball team Clear Lake (the year after La Porte won State) into a football power.

Anyway,since i am a coach, retired, I know how much control coaches have. I also understand the pressure we are constantly under. I am going to start an online blog on Substack called "Fire the Coach cause we deserve better!" It will come out twice a week. Please follow and tell me what you think. I will start it on August 25 or26.  [email protected]

Isn't it great that football season is almost here!

[OlDawg]

1 hour ago, Coachbearoso said:

I understand that you want to have faith in coaches, and he has turned it around in 3 years. But after coaching almost four decades I hate it when coaching ego or "the Franklin way" causes teams to lose. We as coaches can always blame the kids, but often it is the coaches stubborness or lack of innovation or just plain common sense that costs us, and by us i mean the team, coaches, school,administration and town. Right now Jackson Dart who may be a good quarterback from Ole Miss and now at the Giants, cannot take a snap from under center!!!!! Because EVERYONE offensively believes in the air offense, shotgun snap--whatever you call it. There is just things that go on, like in government, that coaches pull the wool over the publics eyes. Coaches, especially head coaches are the MOST important part of any team sport. And many are great leaders and build character in our young men. But some aren't and it , like society is getting worse every year. I would tell my defense at Crosby after each game, win or lose, to not point the finger but to look in the mirror and ask what I could have done different. I worked for Jerry Stewart, who had great success at Dayton, at Clear Lake in his first coaching job and that was the type of head coach he was. We turned a state champion basketball team Clear Lake (the year after La Porte won State) into a football power.

Anyway,since i am a coach, retired, I know how much control coaches have. I also understand the pressure we are constantly under. I am going to start an online blog on Substack called "Fire the Coach cause we deserve better!" It will come out twice a week. Please follow and tell me what you think. I will start it on August 25 or26.  [email protected]

Isn't it great that football season is almost here!

Thanks for the info. My brother is an LP grad from 46 years ago. I am an LP alum from 44 years ago, and my son is an LP grad from 20 years ago. Nowadays, I just watch for the enjoyment of watching the kids play. I understand the people, kids, and parents more involved currently are really happy with the staff. La Porte has always supported their programs pretty well over the decades.

Of course, Coach Berneathy got his first coaching job at La Porte. So, he's a known, and he knows La Porte as well. I'm sure that makes it easier for everyone.