FB59

One thing I couldn't understand while watching the game (I know, armchair quarterback 2nd guessing the eventual outcome) was continuously feeding the ball to #3 right into the teeth of the defense. If this guy is the best prospect in the state next year, why wasn't he popping outside against the flow (shows vision, seeing ahead of the play) instead of running right smack dab into his linemen. The comparison was to A.P., but that dude could cut away a from mass of bodies on a quick cut right or left. They were smoking DHS with the pass. I would have fed the ball maybe once and then hit a quick slant left like they did on one play where he took it to the house, instead of on one possession with the lead they fed him 3 straight times. They were keying on #3 in particular the whole game and I think if they would have thrown a little more, the outcome wouldn't have been as close. They were forcing NS to become one dimensional and they should have obliged them and hurt them over and over. Usually after that happens a long run will eventually pop. Maybe the NS coach was worried about his young QB taking a hit after a pass and didn't want to take the chance. I know NS blasted through their entire season until this game, but I saw better tackling from Canadian and LV (those 2 teams went through the ball carriers, they didn't wait on them until they got in their vicinity to make the tackle) than from this 6A squad. I know the quality of opponent was better, but they were overrunning plays, not staying in their lanes, taking bad angles in pursuit, etc. One thing they definitely had more of was speed. Not one DHS guy could completely outrun them on big offensive plays.

Unless they get transfers from the University or Waco High area (so they can play for a winning org) into La Vega they will eventually run out of athletes. This is a very old town with a finite area. Demographics has changed considerably in the last 30 years. Within 15 years it may be known as a soccer town, if you catch my drift, but it "will" run out of football prototypes.

There offense will be fairly potent again next year. I think they are losing too many key components on defense. Defense is what's made La Vega relevant the last 4 years. Very hard to replace a #15 (4 year starter), #11, #4, #35, #52 , and even #18 all at one time. You don't get that type of quality at defense in the 4A level all together at one time very often. The defensive line play was what made it easier for the 2nd level to generate all of the tackles. Against the passing teams, they had enough shutdown DBs to exert pressure on the opposing QBs and would force them to run or throw bad passes. Every good team they played that had decent passing attacks , probably had their worst games of the year for passing yardage and completions. When you play defense that well, especially against all of the spread offensive teams, then it'll keep you in games you could possibly otherwise lose.

Now that's how you play defense. Woohoo! I was worried about scoring too quick and having the defense go right back on the field. But those guys are tough and showed a heckuva lot of tenacity. Impressed to say the least. Congrats to my former school!!!

2 face mask penalties on LH's TD drive hurt LV.

I have a feeling that Canadian team will be there again. That coach gets maximum effort with whatever he has on the field. I can't imagine how with all the talent that Newton team had, they only won by 5 points. There was a play on a 3rd and 1 near the end of the game. I said well, Newton is going to run a QB keeper like on a previous play and get 4 YDs again. Instead they run a RB sweep to the left (which Canadian had previously defensed well throughout the game) and was stopped short. Not only that, but he ran out of bounds. I was like WT*. Congrats to Newton for going back to back!

Well all I can say is...I don't know how my grandson's team (West) beat that team. Must've been a fluke.

Takeaways after the game. 1. lionpride08 was on the money on his 14 point pick. 2. Did any of you see the dirty shot the Malakoff kid threw at the GV kid near the end? The roundhouse punch to the helmet that knocked off the kids helmet. 3. GV's 6'7" DE is just a sophomore (#1)...and the RB #7 that was dragging tacklers is just a JR. 4. Impressive GV coaching job against a team with more overall talent.

I don't see them trying to even field a punt unless they get a comfortable lead. They may not even do it even then, in the event of a fake punt by the LH, if they get too far behind. They seem to muck up the receiving like that did in the SC game in 2015. They seem to be looking downfield before they have secured the catch. It's surprising that the dude who does most of the punt returns, with the speed he has and the hands to snag balls out of the air of opposing pass receivers, can't square himself up with a punt. Maybe the opposing team tries to punt away from him, but anyway, they let a lot of balls hit the ground and roll, even if the returner is in the vicinity. I don't know what the deal is but I don't think they work as hard on special teams, except maybe for kickoff/punt returns of the opposing team. They usually cover that pretty well. This is a game where they need to make all the PATs, although which they typically miss quite a few during the game. You'll probably see LH going for a lot of 4th downs if they cross the 50, so that would negate a punt attempt anyway, unless they're in an insurmountable down and distance on 4th down. Then they might try to pin LV inside the 10 with a punt.

I think you're way over on the point spread. Going to be from single digits to 10 or a little over. That's if it's a relatively error free game on both sides. LH usually motors in the 2nd half against stiffer competition when the defense gets fatigued. That's opposite in the 2 games from last year between the 2 teams. They had some success in the 1st half of the 1st game last year because it was the HC's 1st year at the helm. Same scheme but the HC was the offensive coordinator for LH back in 2006-07. In the 2nd half adjustments were made and LV had time consuming drives that kept LH off the field for extended periods of time. LH had over 300 yds rushing in that game. The 2nd game they knew what to expect so LH only had around 150 yds. LV doesn't have the benefit of playing them once already like they did the year before, so there will be an adjustment phase as the game progresses. I wouldn't be surprised if LH scores on their 1st drive out of the box, unless they have some unforced or forced errors. It'll probably take LV a little time to get acclimated to their style of offense again. The 7 seniors on LV's defense at least has seen their style of offense and played against some of their counterparts on the other side before. On LH's side, I'm almost positive they haven't seen a defense, the entire year, this athletic, fast and with sure punishing tackling ability . Maybe they already have and are prepared for it. They always break a lot of long runs for TDs regardless of the opponent but I think those will be limited to 2 or less in this engagement. Motivation could be a factor for LH, as they were stopped in 2015 and 2017 at the regional finals by LV. You'd think that would have helped Denton Ryan get over the hump too. Now with another year under the LH HC to perfect his scheme I figure there will be a few wrinkles and some surprise passing attempts. They didn't do that in 2017. They did stuff in that Carthage game that they didn't do in the prior game. I think it'll be pretty close in the 1st half, unless one team makes some monumental mistakes. The 2nd half will be which coach makes the best adjustments. For the players in the 2nd half, it's who wants it more and can play through fatigue. LV uses 5 to 6 RBs so they never get tired and are always fresh. Sustained long drives is the key for either team to win. You can burn out your defense if your offense scores too fast, especially with run heavy teams on both sides, unless either side gets some 3 and outs. Between the 2 teams the only one I believe that could alter the scenarios laid out above would be LV only because of the difference in the quality of defenses between the two. If LH shoots it's own foot too many times it could get ugly in a big hurry. That could also happen to LV too, but they do have the overall tools to attempt a comeback if necessary. I like watching old time hard nosed football. If you like that style then this is the game to watch of all the State Title games.

Wow. Nah, going to be real conservative I would think by the LV coach. If LH can limit the huge runs in chunks by LV and gets a hold or false start calls to stymie their drives it could be a tight game. I really would like to flip the script and have time consuming drives by LV instead of huge TD runs, keeping LH offense on the bench for a long time to keep the defense fresh for LV. I imagine that they will probably use multiple defensive linemen in the game to keep them fresh for the entire game. I don't think either team will score more than 35 in part from their recent history. I may be wrong. LV will have to maintain gap integrity and also force some fumbles with solid hits like they usually do. I think that #10 and #42 will be held up at times so a LB or safety will try a hammer shot down low to force turnovers. LH guys keep trying to churn for more yardage on each run. In this game they better take what they get and get down, because believe you me, these dudes at LV will hammer a dude with a shot when available. I've seen players on the opposing teams the last 3 games take awhile to get up off the ground after a vicious hit.

All I hope is that LV feeds the "beast" the ball more than 10 times. If they do then it will be a very interesting game indeed. I really enjoy watching that human bowling ball plow over people. Oh yeah, also limit the mistakes. This LV coach seems to try and limit mistakes by young kids who sometimes try to do to much. One thing is at times is not having a receiver back on punt returns. They've had problems in the past with returners fumbling the ball. In that Decatur game they didn't even attempt to field a punt until the game was well in hand. I don't think this time LV beats themselves. LH could win the thing, but it will take maximum effort and mistake free ball to come out on top. They would have to at least double their rushing total of 152 YDs from last years playoff game in order to win. I just noticed that they have another runner named Blake Simpson who wasn't on their team last year. Anyone have any info on his HT / WT? He seemed to bulldoze those Carthage kids at times. Be interesting to see how well Jared Rodgers and the Hayes brothers stack up against this guy.

When I saw that comment the other day, I knew you were right. The only thing I wondered in this game was whether or not LH would fumble the ball as much as they did the last game. If they would have I figured the homers from Carthage would be correct in their prognostication. If they didn't and LH could get a few stops (which happened mainly early on from the receivers inability to make catches; I was impressed by the Carthage QB's accuracy and velocity of his throws) they might be able to get a lead. If you can't defensively stop that type of attack, which is different at this level than 4AD2, then you're behind the 8-ball with the clock regardless of the quick scoring offense you might have. Plus by the time you're in the 2nd half you get very tired with the continuous hammering by that type of running attack. You have to match that offense with brute force and speed. Different offense, but kinda like Navy in college. Teams aren't used to a wishbone type offense.

Ask Argyle and Midlothian Heritage how good that passing game thing works? Man they have an absolute vacuum at safety and the other 3 back there aren't too bad either. Against that Heritage QB that torched Carthage he only had 143 YDS passing against LV.

You probably will win it next year. Although LV brings back almost the entire offense, the defense loses 7 guys. Mainly #15 and #11. Their defense is what got them where they are today, regardless of what the offense has done the last 4 years.

Yeah they know that offense intimately . The thing that really amazes me is the speed of LV's defense. I saw a right defensive tackle run across the field to the left in tonight's game and tackle a receiver for a loss on a bubble screen. They just explode to the ball and through the ball carriers.

You never know how the ball bounces until it's the final whistle. If LV makes the same mistakes it's made in previous years it could hand the game to LH. They play a fairly clean game and they may can possibly pull it out. I am almost possitive they won't manhandle them. I've seen some really nasty hits the last 3 ball games. Jaw breakers.

I meant to say on my previous comment that LH had a problem with Carthage running the ball. They didn't stop you're running back very well.

I said earlier they played Liberty Hill twice last year and held them to 152 YDS rushing for the entire game in the state quarter-final game last year. They had over 400 yds rushing tonight.

I'm surprised Carthage didn't continue running the ball more. Seems like LH had a problem with the running game. Wait till they get a load of #17 next week. He's better than last year when he hammered them for 164 on 15 carries.

Liberty Hill kid should've have just fell down at the 3 and not scored. They could have just run out the clock then. Pretty dumb.

I think...Game Over

They have to be manhandled at the line and have good linebacker, corner back play. basically just knock the bejesus out out them to take away their will.

LH was in LV's district the last 2 years. They know their offense. I really think LV's defense is better this year than it was last year. WuhWoh.

Whew...thank goodness for the refs. Stopped that drive in the nick of time.