Texski

Melissa wins game 1 over Kilgore 2-0. Mel had 7 hits (6 off Hampton thru 5 Inn) and no errors. Kilgore had 4 hits and no errors.

I was wondering how the location came about, but you are most likely correct that Melissa lost a flip, or perhaps Kilgore wanted a 1 gamer and Melissa agreed to come down east for a 3 game series. The 35 mile trip for Kilgore vs. 130 miles for Melissa is a little nuts but Melissa travels decently and I get off work at 3Pm so myself and several die-hards will make the trip. Guessing Kilgore throws Hampton game 1...or are they ballsy and save him for game 2 knowing if they win game 1 without using him their chances in game 2 to win are very probable.

Melissa lost game 2 against Sunnyvale 5-1... they trailed game 3 3-0 then erupted for 5 runs bottom of 6 to win 5-3. PG-Kilgore winner next opponent will be Melissa.

Same for Melissa vs Sunnyvale. Melissa won game 1 4-0 behind 70 pitch 2 hit (no walks) CG shoutout from big junior lefty Sam Crain.

Even with Canton and Bullard gone region 2 is loaded with talented teams... Melissa (25-10) Sunnyvale (23-4-2) Kilgore (26-5) PG (25-4) Crandall (24-9) Benbrook (24-4-2) S H (21-10-1) Van (14-12) I think every one of these team except Van was ranked in the top 25 in 4A at some point this season I would say everybody but Van has a shot...but then watch the Vandals win the whole dang thing LOL

Also tonight at the same Melissa complex Melissa HS will be playing vs. Kennedale HS....and in a bonus for Carthage fans the Dawgs softball team will be playing round 3 at 6PM game vs Robinson. It was moved from Madisonville due to weather concerns. Last Thursday at Melissa complex all at the same time were 1st round baseball games between Melissa/North Dallas (4A), Pottsboro/Bells (3A) & Bland/Tom Bean (2A). I watched some of the games with the seating for fields less than 50 yards apart. Was quite the HS baseball fans treat as will tonight. All Carthage fans should be able to check out your softball teams action between your baseball teams games or since you are already wearing red come cheer on Melissa's baseball team, unless you feel bad for the beating your football team laid on Kennedale 2 years ago and cheer for them LOL. And if Carthage softball fans were dismayed about losing the opportunity to visit the Buc-ees in Madisonville do not be sad as Melissa has it's very own Buc-cees that opened last week! Safe travels to all.

These guys do a real good job with this web-site and rankings. I look at it multiple times during baseball season. However, there is one big head scratcher in the rankings. In 25-4A Fulshear is 19-3-1 (11-0 in district) and Sealy is 17-7 (7-3 in district) and Fulshear has won both matchups with Sealy, but Sealy is ranked #20 and Fulshear is #25.

Friday 2/22.. Girls 4A region 2 semifinals (4th round) in Commerce 5:30pm--Dallas Lincoln vs Pleasant Grove 7:30pm--Canton (35-1) vs Melissa (17-16) ...don't let Melissa's record fool you. they have won 8 in a row after starting 11-16. Their non-district slate included seven 5A schools and they went 2-5 in those games. Canton is obviously the favorite and their D is stellar as they held almost every opponent to under 40 points. The Eagles only loss was to Mount Vernon.

Melissa should be solid with studs back at QB & RB but lost a couple very solid OL so not thinking top 10 in D1 but maybe top 15. Cards will also have back starting OL & DL that were lost most of 2018 due to injuries. Losing #4 at WR will hurt but IMO #88 will step up big this year. The D lost some good players but have some good guys coming back. Another unknown is the coaching with new guy stepping in but he was the OC so may not be too much change there. The JV was solid and the numbers are there with 120+ kids in program and enrollment rising to 882 from 825 in 2018 vs 2017.

Speaking of Shaow Creek I just noticed they are in the same ISD as Manvel who HP defeated in title game last year. I wonder how many SC players (if any) started out at Manvel?

Thanks for sharing that Coachkells. IMO LV #15 was one the best defensive players I've seen all year including 6A games. From this interview you can tell he's a great young man too.

Argyle, Paris, Melissa and Celina are all better than Decatur. The Decatur run has been impressive but ends in a big way Friday... LaVega 61 Decatur 22

I have seen both teams play and IMO if they played 100 times Argyle would win 99 times...but who knows maybe tonight will be the Bobcats night.

Great game so far. Paris has quite a few players going both ways. Wonder if LV will wear them down.

Injuries- Yes.. but which Melissa kids were kicked off the team ?

I was there and I can and will...super slow and bored at work today These are strictly my opinions and it has been nearly 2 months since I've seen Paris so take them for what they are worth. Also Melissa's best DL 6-3 310 lb #90 played a great game vs Paris but was out for the season with foot injury after that game. Cards wouldn't have beat LV with him but game would have likely been closer. IMO LaVega is better but not by a wide margin. IMO Paris is very good but LV is great but I would completely throw the results against Melissa out the window. Offense- QB- slight edge to Paris. The Cats QB is underrated and if Paris needs to throw in this matchup I think they can effectively. Saw very little of what LV QB can do as they were so busy beating the Cards brains in by running the ball at will. RB- edge to LV. LV is very deep and talented at RB..unusually deep for a 4A team. Paris also has some playmakers here. OL- edge to LV. The Pirates OL is the best I've seen this year...even better than Argyle and better than a handful of 6A playoff teams I've seen. WR- even. Just like QB didn't see enough from LV to know for sure what they are capable but did see some real nice physical down field blocking on run plays and love when I see that from the position. The Paris WR made some nice grabs on 4th down plays are a very capable group. Defense- DL- slight edge to Paris. Was very impressed with both team. #12 for Paris is a stud and the interaction between him and LV OL will be fun to watch. Both really contained Melissa RB and QB from running much at all. LB- edge LV. #15 for LV is another stud. He was best defensive player I've seen all year. Paris has a nice group here too and they played great in 4th q vs Melissa. DB- edge LV. All I have here Melissa tossed the ball effectively vs Paris thru 1st 3 q's but had barely 50 yards passing and zero points vs LV until midway thru 3rd q. Another interesting matchup here is that each team can really stop the run so if that happens and teams are forced to throw it more how will each teams secondary perform? Special teams- edge Paris. Cats ran a kickoff back for TD (I think #4) vs Melissa but was called back for penalty. I just felt like on every kickoff or punt somebody might take it to the house. LV had numerous punt returns against Melissa but did nothing. Paris kicker missed 2 medium range FGs but has a nice leg and they will call on him if needed. He could do well in the indoor environment. Paris punting was good but not sure about LV as they never even punted one time against Melissa. LV mostly kicker did his job on PATs. Coaching- even. Really impressed with what Paris coach has done there. They've always had good players but really put it all together this year. I think many felt LV would drop off when Williams retired but the in-house hire has worked a out great. Overall think this game will be a war and I will be attending. Feeling a very close game thru 3 q then LV pulls away. Paris is the underdog but they have embraced that role very well and are running with it so I win by them would not be surprising. This will be my first time at The Star and really undecided as to who to full for so likely just stay neutral. Might wear a Melissa Cards shirt and hope nobody yells 'We beat your team why are you here!' LOL. Good luck to both teams. My prediction- LaVega 40 Paris 23

I'm just not on the Paris bandwagon. The Cats always have talent and they have put the pieces together this year to form a very good team but IMO not a championship level team. I'm a Melissa guy and the Cards lead Paris 19-7 at half and 26-9 late in the 3rd quarter before they completely imploded in the 4th and the Cats pulled a stunning comeback. The Paris D is stout and #12 is an absolute stud but not sure the Cats will have enough offensively to go past the 3rd round. They only scored 27 on Anna (6 at halftime) and 21 on North Lamar and those teams had zero D when I witnessed them play. IMO Argyle is far better than Paris and I was shocked Paris turned the ball over 7 times and only lost by 1 score. I have a slight glimmer of hope Melissa can compete with LaVega on Friday afternoon... but given the Cards recent lack of run D somewhat attributed to #90 injured and out for year after Paris game I'm thinking round 3 will be LaVega-Paris. If this is at a neutral site somewhere in or near the Metroplex I will be there. My top 4 are Argyle, Carthage, Liberty Hill and Lavega. A potential dark horse is Sealy...has anybody seen them play? are they legit?

LSGI does a good job....but I'm having trouble with a 4-3 Stephenville team being ranked ahead of a 6-1 Midlo Heritage team when Heritage has defeated Stephenville.

I think was actually #12 on Paris D (not #11) that was so impressive. Argyle look out for that dude!!

As much of homer as he seems at times I really think highly of regaleagle. He displays a great about of passion for his team an you can tell he is just general fan of HS football. He spent a lot of time over on the 'downlow' site talking to himself about Argyle football but not sure if anybody really ever read much of it LOL About this game. Looks like most of heavier rain supposed to move out of Denton County area by 6-7pm so the sky may be dry for this matchup but the field probably wont be. IMO this outcome will be Argyle by less than 12. They certainly get the edge in special teams and passing game, think the teams are very even in run game but perhaps a slight edge to Paris, and I think Paris also perhaps a slight edge on D. The key matchup to me is the Eagles OL vs Paris defensive front. Melissa led 25-9 with a minute left in 3rd and then never gained another first down until less than a minute left in game. The reason was that Paris DL..they were dominant in that 4th quarter and I think it was #11 that really impressed. I will say if Argyle beats both Paris this week and Melissa next week by 16+ points than TCU44 may actually get something right for a change.. they may really be the best in 4A

Speaking of JV in this district Celina JV beat undefeated Melissa 42-7. There is some serious talent on that Celina JV team. The QB plays smart has a really nice arm and #41 & #44 on D have a very bright future. IMO Celina fans should be excited about the next couple years.

They were big.. strong and fast and strong...and fast

Paris was forced to throw the ball on several occasions against Melissa and did so well. They converted 3 or 4 4th downs in 2nd half with pass completions and once on a real nice scramble by the QB. the last conversion was on 4th and 3 inside Melissa 20 with under 2 minutes left. QB rolled to right and threw a dart to a well covered receiver on sideline to convert. If pass incomplete Melissa wins the game. I saw Celina last year and Paris this year..that doesn't mean much as lots of different faces on each team. But based on the personnel and schemes I've seen I believe Paris is better team, and think they are likely better than the Nolan Catholic team that defeated Celina with relative ease. I wish Celina-Liberty Christian hadn't been washed out as I think that would tell us more about the Bobcats. I agree in lower scoring game and going with Paris 23 Celina 17.

Any stadium without a track..I'm very fond of Gopher-Warrior Bowl (although parking ###), Newsome, and Collins in Denton.